Hiring an Associate Dentist – What to Look for on a Candidate’s Resume/CV

While large corporations in other industries may rely on automated applicant tracking systems to sift through resumes and attempt to identify the best candidates for an open position through keywords and algorithms, most dental practices employ a much simpler approach of reading through candidate resumes and CV’s manually. As the doctor or office manager, it can often be a challenge to identify the best candidate for your open position based off of a single document.

As a dental recruiting firm, we know all too well what it’s like to read through giant stacks of resumes and CV’s. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, filtering out the best candidates can quickly turn into a very daunting and frustrating task. Over the years we’ve come to recognize several key areas to pay attention to that will most often indicate very quickly whether a candidate is a good fit for your practice. So what should a doctor or manager look for on a candidate’s resume/CV?
Here are some items on a candidate’s resume/CV to pay particular attention to:

1. Education (school and graduation date) – Knowing when and where a candidate received their degree is the first indicator of whether or not he or she is a good fit for your practice. How long ago did the candidate graduate? Did he or she graduate with honors? If a practice is looking to bring in a new grad as their next associate, this is the first place to look.
   
2. Notable CE/GPR/AEGD Programs – Continuing education courses can have a positive impact on a candidate’s ability to treat patients, grow the practice, and meet state licensure requirements. Making sure a candidate is licensed to work in your state before scheduling an interview can help avoid many unforeseen issues and prevent wasting time on unqualified candidates.
   
3. Quantifiable Accomplishments – It’s likely that almost every candidate will put an objective statement on his or her resume claiming to be great with patients and staff, exceptionally team oriented, very willing to learn, and so on. But what can the candidate do to better the practice’s bottom line? Good chairside manner is essential, but a friendly candidate with a terrible production average isn’t going to help grow your practice. Let the numbers do the talking on the candidate’s resume. You’ll have a chance to observe the candidate’s personality during the interview. For now, focus on the numbers in front of you and the value he or she can add to your practice.
   
4. Special Skills and Training - What special skills does the candidate have? Can he or she do molar endo, implants, or surgical extractions? Hiring a candidate with additional skills means keeping more cases in-house, which directly affects your practice’s bottom line.
   
5. References – Take a look at the references listed on the candidate’s resume/CV. If you’re in a smaller dental community, chances are you might already know the candidate or at least one of the references listed. If everything else on a candidate’s resume checks out, go ahead and reach out to their references. Sometimes doing so can provide incredibly valuable insight into a candidate’s character, professionalism, skillset, and personality before they ever sit down for an interview.
   

If you’re looking to hire a new associate or staff member for your dental practice, consider reaching out to us at ETS Dental! We’re regularly in touch with hundreds of dentists, specialists, and dental staff every day. Contact your local recruiter now and let us start searching for your next great team member!

Dental Residents - How to Find a Job Coming Out of your AEGD or GPR

Congratulations! After spending your whole life in school and residency you can finally see the end in sight. Now it is time to start putting all that education to use, but finding a job is a lot different than applying to programs. Do you know how to get started?

This is an attempt to provide a centralized resource to help you land a job.

Step 1. Make a Plan.
As outlined in the following blog link, the key is to be flexible. It is best to determine what your options are before narrowing your focus on the best fit. Job Hunt Tips.

Obviously location is important, but don't waste the crucial first years of your career in order to live in the heart of the city. Here is an overview of area limitations on a job market: Where are the Jobs?, and a real-life example is outlined here: The Grass is Always Greener. If you absolutely have to live and work in a saturated market, here are some strategies to help you land a job: Saturated or Difficult Markets.

Step 2. Prepare Your CV and Cover Letter.
Generally speaking, CV/resumes are overrated, as are cover letters. Still, they are a necessary evil when breaking into a job market. It is important to stand out from the crowd, but make sure that it is for the right reasons. You likely gained many marketable skills in residency. Did you place implants, get sedation certification, and perform full mouth rehabilitations? Be sure to highlight those experiences.
Here is an example of a well-written cover letter: Cover Letter Sample.
And here are instructions on writing your CV/resume: Resume for Dentists.

Step 3. Applying.
Here are several online sources for dentist jobs:

• ETS Dental Job Listings
• Indeed.com Job Listing Aggregator
• Careerbuilder
• DentalTown Classifieds

Step 4. Interviews.

The Telephone Interview:

• Return your phone messages and emails promptly. It speaks to your motivation, interest, and courtesy. Don't let returning phone calls or emails become an issue or an obstacle to getting an interview. Even if you don't think you will be interested in an opportunity, return the call. On more than one occasion we have seen a candidate get a call from Practice B when he was already talking with Practice A. The candidate puts off returning the call to Practice B. Two or three weeks later, the opportunity with Practice A does not work out and now Practice B will not consider the candidate because no calls have been returned.
• Your main goal in a telephone interview is to get a face-to-face interview.
• Ask for the interview. Take the initiative to set a time. Say something like, "From what you have told me, I would be very interested in meeting with you and coming to see your practice. When would be good for you?"
• Smile- even on the phone . You really can tell when someone is smiling.

Here is some additional reading on phone interviews: Tips for Phone Interviews.

The Face-to-Face Interview:
Don't go in blindly. Be sure to prepare in advance. Look over this article the night before: Preparing for the Interview.

• Treat the staff with courtesy and respect. A practice owner often feels like his or her staff is like a family and will listen to their opinions, especially if they are negative. On more than one occasion, we have seen excellent candidates not offered an opportunity because they treated a staff member poorly.
• Smile and show some enthusiasm. More candidates are hired because of their personalities and positive attitudes than because specific clinical skills. One high-end cosmetic practice told us they had interviewed six different dentists. They hired the candidate who smiled and appeared to truly enjoy being a dentist, passing on more experienced candidates with less personality and enthusiasm.
• Show sincere interest in the hiring dentist's situation. Understand that the dentist needs to solve a problem. Maybe the practice just lost a key associate or partner. Maybe the practice is growing and cannot keep up with patient demand. Maybe the dentist needs someone to take over the practice when he or she retires. You need to get a clear understanding of the dentist's true motivation for adding an associate. Once you truly understand the needs of the hiring dentist, you can mutually determine if you are the solution.
• Send a thank you note after the meeting. Here is a great example of a post-interview thank you: Thank You Note.

Still nervous? Here is a full blog post on interviewing: Interview Tips.

Step 5. Reviewing Contracts.
A good overview of contracts may be found here (the most relevant information is on the last page of the article): Compensation Considerations.
Do you have all the information you will need in order to make an informed decision? What to Know Before You Accept an Associate Position
Not satisfied with the offer? Don't be afraid to ask for more. Here are some tips on Negotiating Your Offer.

Step 6. What Can You Expect to Earn?
There are several good sources covering realistic dentist earnings. Here is our own: How Much do Dentists Make?
The ADA puts out its own numbers, also: ADA Income and Gross Billings.

Step 7. Plan Your Relocation.
If you need to relocate, be sure to plan it ahead of time. Here are a few key points to ponder as you plan: Relocation Tips.

Finding a job can be an intimidating process. I hope these resources will help make the process easier. Please feel free to call us should you have any questions. We are always happy to help. For more updates, tips, and helpful information, follow us onour Facebook fan page,Twitter, LinkedIn or on our blog.

Posted by Morgan Pace, Vice President and Senior Dentist Recruitment Consultant with ETS Dental. To find out more, call Morgan at (540) 491-9102 or email at mpace@etsdental.com .

Resumes That Give You the Edge

A resume or a curriculum vitae (CV) will serve as a vital and necessary tool in your career as a Dentist. I have seen thousands in my time as a Search Consultant of dentists across the U.S., and I would like to share some tips on what to do when preparing yours.

1. Know the difference: Resumes are a summary of your employment and educational background and experience. CV’s are meant to be very detailed, and should outline everything associated with your field of study including: education, research, publications, continuing education, employment, etc.
   
   
2. When to use Resume versus CV: Resumes are more appropriate for gaining employment in clinical practice. When practices are hiring for new Associate Dentists, they want to quickly review a candidate’s background. An easy to read-at-a-glace resume is what you want to provide. A lengthy CV would not be appropriate in these situations. CV’s are used primarily in the areas such as academia and research.
   
   
3. Resume content: Again, a resume is a summary. Keep it to two pages if possible, three at most. I advise all job applicants with lengthy resumes to cut back on the “fluff” such as hobbies, personal statements, family info, or other personal info not relevant to the job search. For a very simple yet effective layout visit our sample at http://etsdental.com/articles/curriculum-vitae.html
   
   Note to new graduates: one page is fine. Don’t create content that doesn’t really help you just to get a second page. Highlight your achievements in dental school.
   
   
4. Don’t include personal data such as marital status, age, national origin, social security number, etc. This information can lead to possible discrimination or worse, identity theft. In the United States, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sets rules for what information employers are allowed to use when making a hiring decision. Learn more at http://www.eeoc.gov/.
   
   
5. Make your resume readable and proof your grammar and spelling. I don’t recommend using complicated resume formats or layouts. Often times these layouts hurt you rather than help set you apart. Most employers and recruiters use databases and software that will scrub for information, and if the format is not straight forward it may not get seen as you would hope.
   
   Follow this order:
   
   1. Name and contact info
   2. Education
   3. Work History
   4. CE
      
      
6. Measurable achievement sets you apart. Share facts when possible. The questions I get from employers generally are: A) How well did he/she rank clinically in dental school? B) How much does this doctor produce monthly in his/her current role? C) How many molar root canals does this doctor perform weekly/monthly? D) Does the doctor speak Spanish?
   Success and ability are measurable. Make a point to know and share what you bring to the table.
   
   
7. Skip the fluff: As stated in point 6, measurable data is best. I will give you some insight into nearly every resume and interview I’ve seen or done: Every doctor is “great with patients and the staff”. They all say it. When I ask, what set’s you apart? They tell me their “patients want to follow them wherever they go.” If you’re a nice doctor, we’ll get that in the interview by meeting and speaking with you. The points that get you into an interview are the measurable ones.
   

The information I have shared above is very basic, but so often I see doctors overcomplicating what should be a very simple summary of their careers and education. You should know what employers are looking for when reviewing resumes. They are looking for work experience, education, and measurable achievement. Give them that information in order set you apart from other applicants.

Written by Carl Guthrie, Senior Account Executive/Dental Recruiter at ETS Dental. For more information, contact Carl directly at 540-491-9104 or cguthrie@etsdental.com.        

Dental School Graduates - How to Find a Job Coming Out of Dental School

Congratulations! Now it is time to start putting all that education to use, but finding a job is a lot different than applying to programs. Do you know how to get started?

What To Have

A Plan.
Do you know where you want to be in five years? Do you want your first job to put you on the path to partnership or ownership? Are you more concerned with gaining experience than paying down student loans? You need to know where you want to go before you can decide how to get there. Obviously location is important, but don't waste the crucial first years of your career in order to live in the heart of the city. 

The best jobs are often outside the primary markets where there is less competition for patients. Here is great blog outlining the best areas in which to work: Where are the Jobs?’. 

If you are considering a cross-country move, you may want to consider the income potential offered in different regions. This blog article breaks dentist income down by area: What Can an Associate Dentist Earn. 

If you absolutely have to live and work in a saturated market, here are some strategies to help you land a job: Saturated or Difficult Markets.

Be sure to set realistic income expectations. There are several good sources covering realistic dentist earnings. Here is our overview: How Much do Dentists Make?

The Levin Group publishes an annual survey in Dental Economics. The 2013 version can be downloaded here: Levin Group Survey.


A CV and Cover Letter.
Most applicants do not get an interview. Your CV and Cover Letter may be your only platform to distinguish yourself from the competition. It is hard to stand out from the crowd without experience but the way you highlight your strengths can set you apart. Did you take any electives or win any awards to recognition? Did you graduate in the top quarter of your class, attend CE outside of school, volunteer in a community clinical or on a dental mission trip? Be sure to highlight those experiences.

Here is an example of a well-written cover letter: Cover Letter Sample.

And here are instructions on writing your CV/resume: Resume for Dentists.

The Right Clothes
It is better to overdress than underdress. Your future boss will want to know that you take your career seriously. Does your interview outfit make you look like a doctor? This is not the time to go for personality. That can come through later. If your clothes give the wrong first impression, it will take a major effort to regain credibility

What To Do

Finding Openings.
Networking has always been the most effective method for finding open positions, but it is not always practical to meet with every dentist in the area and attend every dental meeting. The internet can be a great tool for finding position. Your dental school and local association may have classifieds, but you will likely find that the listings are limited. Here are several comprehensive sources for dentist jobs:

·         ETS Dental Job Listings

·         Indeed.com Job Listing Aggregator

·         DentalTown Classifieds

Interviewing.

The Telephone Interview

• Return your phone messages and emails promptly. It speaks to your motivation, interest, and courtesy. Don't let returning phone calls or emails become an issue or an obstacle to getting an interview. Even if you don't think you will be interested in an opportunity, return the call. On more than one occasion we have seen a candidate get a call from Practice B when he was already talking with Practice A. The candidate puts off returning the call to Practice B. Two or three weeks later, the opportunity with Practice A does not work out and now Practice B will not consider the candidate because no calls have been returned.
• Your main goal in a telephone interview is to get a face-to-face interview.
• Ask for the interview. Take the initiative to set a time. Say something like, "From what you have told me, I would be very interested in meeting with you and coming to see your practice. When would be good for you?"
• Smile- even on the phone. You really can tell when someone is smiling.

·         Here is some additional reading on phone interviews: Tips for Phone Interviews.

The In-Person Interview:
Don't go in blindly. Be sure to prepare in advance. Look over this article the night before: Preparing for the Interview.

• Treat the staff with courtesy and respect. A practice owner often feels like his or her staff is like a family and will listen to their opinions, especially if they are negative. On more than one occasion, we have seen excellent candidates not offered an opportunity because they treated a staff member poorly.
• Smile and show some enthusiasm. More candidates are hired because of their personalities and positive attitudes than because specific clinical skills. One high-end cosmetic practice told us they had interviewed six different dentists. They hired the candidate who smiled and appeared to truly enjoy being a dentist, passing on more experienced candidates with less personality and enthusiasm.
• Show sincere interest in the hiring dentist's situation. Understand that the dentist needs to solve a problem. Maybe the practice just lost a key associate or partner. Maybe the practice is growing and cannot keep up with patient demand. Maybe the dentist needs someone to take over the practice when he or she retires. You need to get a clear understanding of the dentist's true motivation for adding an associate. Once you truly understand the needs of the hiring dentist, you can mutually determine if you are the solution.
• Send a thank you note after the meeting. Here is a great example of a post-interview thank you: Thank You Note.

Still nervous? Here is a full blog post on interviewing: Interview Tips.

Reviewing Contracts.
A good overview of contracts may be found here (the most relevant information is on the last page of the article): Compensation Considerations.

Do you have all the information you will need in order to make an informed decision? What to Know Before You Accept an Associate Position 

Not satisfied with the offer? Don't be afraid to ask for more. Here are some tips on Negotiating Your Offer.


Finding a job can be an intimidating process. I hope these resources will help make the process easier. Please feel free to call us should you have any questions. We are always happy to help. For more updates, tips, and helpful information, follow us on our Facebook fan page, Twitter, LinkedIn or on our blog.

Posted by Morgan Pace, Vice President and Senior Dental Recrutier with ETS Dental. To find out more, call Morgan at (540) 491-9102 or email at mpace@etsdental.com.

Curriculum Vitae (CV or Resume) for Dentist

I have been receiving a lot of questions lately on what should go in a CV and how/when to present references.

This is simply for the purpose of content. Formatting is not included. Just remember, Keep It Simple. Just because you know how to do some fancy formatting graphics and tables, doesn't mean you should.

CV’s are typically completed in detail and resumes are a summary. Most practices looking to hire want at least a resume, but would rather a complete CV. Letters of recommendation, copies of dental credentials and certifications can wait until later. Do not provide those at time of application.
Curriculum Vitae

Name, DMD/DDS
ADDRESS
City State, Zip
Home Phone
Cell Phone
Email address
Website (if applicable)

Dental LicensesState – Licenses number
DEA license

Professional Career GoalsWrite something that lets potential hiring authorities know what you are looking for professionally.

Education
Dental School, City, State, Graduation Year, notable honors
Undergrad School, City, State, Graduation Year, notable honors
Do not include high school or early education. If you have another post-graduate degree you should list it. Always list degrees starting from most recent to the oldest.
Residency and/or Notable CE
Program Name, City, State, Month/Year completed
Notable CE may be LVI, Kois, Spears, etc.

Practice Ownership and/or Employment History
List by Business Name, Position, Month and year start thru Month and year end. You should also list achievements, strengths, productions, notable skills.

Professional Honors
List fellowships, distinguished awards, etc

Professional Membership
List organizations/study clubs you are part of and offices held. Include location.

Community Service
List community organizations you are involved in and offices held. Include location.

References
List should include people who are professional colleagues, supervisors, or someone from the community who can vouch for your character and work ethic. At least 3 but no more than 5.
Name
Title
Company
Address (at least city, state)
Phone number
Email (if available)
Website (if available)
Your relationship to this person

Please, feel free to share or comment on what you look for or what you put in your CV.

References can make or break your job search

Reference requests should not be a shock to any job seeker. Regardless of experience you should know 3 to 5 people who will be willing to give you a great review. I want to cover several items regarding references that many simply neglect to consider.

1. Notify the individuals, you will list as references, that you are doing so.

I have made many reference check calls where the reference was taken aback by my request on a job applicant. The reference did not realize that their friend/colleague was even looking for a job. In turn the information provided or given is given cautiously and much less detailed because they were not aware if they should be talking to me. This can be easily avoided by discussing with the people you will list that you are searching for a new position. As you apply and receive calls for interviews you should let your references know that they may receive a call from XYZ company.

2. Don't list family members as references.

Family members do not make good references. Several reasons for this, but most of all their credibility and bias is going to be questioned automatically. Why would they say anything bad? You should use past supervisors, business colleagues, coworkers, clients, patients, etc.

3. Stop putting "References Available Upon Request" on your resume or CV.

You WILL have to provide references. No question, it will happen. Simply save a step and put them with your CV/resume when you apply for a position. They probably will not be checked until you have met the employer for a face-to-face interview. However, providing references up front shows you are organized, serious, and committed to potentially working for the company. Never get caught up scrabbling at the last minute to get your references together. I like to look at the references of dentist I interview to see if I know any of them. Often times I or the practice I am working for does know them, and this peaks additional interest from the prospective employer.

4. Do not just list the Names and Numbers of references.

A good reference list contains at least 3 people, but 5 would be great. When listing the contacts you should put their name, title, company, your relationship to them, address (at least city & state), phone number, fax number, email, and website. Reference checks these days can take many forms. Make it as easy as possible for your potential employer to check them.

5. If you want your confidentiality to be kept, do not list co-workers as references.

Simple and obvious enough, you would think. People talk, and if you absolutely need to keep the job you have currently, then you don't need to take the chance of compromising your confidentiality. As well, you should note in cover letters that you are confidentially seeking new employment so prospective employers know that they should not contact your current employer.

6. Don't be offended because you are asked for references.

Several experienced doctors that I have worked with have asked me, "Why do I need references? I have been practicing for 20+ years, and my reputation is impeccable." That may be so, and if you have nothing to worry about then providing references that back up your reputation and career success should not be a problem.

References are vital to a smooth and successful interview process. Employers have to make sure you are the absolute right fit, and this is a good way to reassure them that you are the right choice.

Always remember that references should be chosen carefully, and they should say things that match up to what you have already told the potential employer about yourself. If in doubt about what a reference may say about you DO NOT use them.

Dentist Cover Letter Sample for a New Graduate

We are always looking for great ideas on what to write in a cover letter. New or soon to be graduates are definitely in need of substantive items to show they are not just the next run-of-the-mill new grad.

Check out the following:

Dear Practice Owner:

I am a fourth year dental student at the University of Dental School seeking an associate position as a General Dentist in the Happyville, USA area upon my graduation in May 2009. I am looking to work in a friendly environment where I can contribute to practice growth, while broadening my knowledge of advanced dental topics and procedures. As a hardworking and highly motivated individual, I am open to working mornings, evenings and weekends.

Through externships, research and participation in dental organizations, I have used my time in dental school to gain exposure to all branches of dentistry. I have attended many continuing education courses through my involvement with professional organizations and have volunteered and attended lectures at the Dentist Conference Meeting each year. I have received training to become a certified Invisalign provider and possess clinical and research experience with the appliance. While I am confident that my education and experiences have prepared me to diagnose and treat patients in all facets of dentistry, I am excited to enter the dental world where I expect my learning to increase exponentially into the future.

I strongly believe that my perpetually positive attitude, excellent communication skills (including an ability to speak Spanish fluently) and valuable background in Business Administration will allow me to be an asset to your practice. Before entering the field of dentistry, I earned a degree in Management Information Systems from the University and spent a year as a Quality Assurance Analyst at ABC Co., which has given me a fundamental understanding of business principles and will aid in my transition from student to practicing dentist.

I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my qualifications and experiences in detail. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (555) 555-5555 or via e-mail at email@web.com.

I thank you for your time and consideration and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,


Great Dentist, D.D.S.

This is an actual letter (w/ some obvious edits) received for a new dental graduate. I find that it covers areas not typically noted by some doctors. Make sure to highlight the key training you have recieve. State your goals and aspirations.