You have the interview. What should a associate dentist candidate prepare for?

Congratulations, you have the interview and you need to prepare. Any job candidate should not just "wing" it. Preparation is key. Here is a short list of tips to consider for your interview.

1. Be open to a variety of opportunities. Go to every interview you can. It never hurts to talk, and an opportunity may turn out to be more than you expected. You can learn from each interview even if it doesn't lead to a position.

2. Be open to other locations. The Law of Supply and Demand applies to career and practice opportunities. Typically, the farther you get away from a Dental School, the better the opportunities. Many of the best opportunities are located in great communities just forty-five minutes to three hours away from major Dental School cities. Typically you can increase your earning potential from 10% to 100% by settling in a city or community that is underserved.

3. Get your references ready. They can be former employers, co-workers, or teachers. Contact them to let them know to expect some calls. Have all their contact information in one place.

4. Have your production numbers ready. If you do not have production numbers, then have something that will give the hiring doctor a good idea of your skill set, speed, and experience. If you are just getting out of dental school or a residency, your procedure log may be a good substitute.

5. Consider preparing a “Proof Book” containing:
a. A current CV/Resume
b. Case presentations
c. Before and After photos
d. Production numbers or equivalent
e. Accomplishments
f. Treatment plans
g. Letters of Recommendation
h. References
i. Blank paper for notes
j. Questions for the practice
k. Blank Thank you notes
You may never have to open it, but it demonstrates preparedness and professionalism; this will set you apart from other candidates the practice may be considering.

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.

What are hiring dental practices looking for?

What are you feeling while trying to find a job when all the ads you see are for “experienced” general dentists. I speak to GPs everyday that are in the same situation. Don't sell yourself short. If you are seeing the same job ads I am then you should apply to what you see. In this market you cannot restrain from applying to the ads out there. Especially if you are in markets like Southern California, Southeastern Florida, Boston Metro, New York Metro, Atlanta, Metro, etc.

The first step is getting noticed by potential employers. Luckily most practices do not have computers searching CVs for keywords. They are looked at by an actual person. Usually, this is the doctor or office manager. Practices look at resumes for a few things first: Where did you go to school and when did you graduate. Next, they scan over for notable CE, GPR/AEGD programs. They are also looking to see if they know who you are, or if they know any of your references if you listed any.

Everyone is going to put on their cover letter or resume an objective stating how great they are with patients and staff, that they are team oriented, willing to learn, etc. You need to tell the practice what you can do to better their bottom line. Production averages, can you do molar endo, implants, surgical extractions, and more. In this current climate GPs are looking for ways to keep anything they can in house. You have to sell yourself in numbers, as well as in patient care standards and personality. Your personality will come out in a face to face or telephone interview, but you have to get them to take a serious look at you first via what is in your CV and/or letter.

Another important step in increasing your possibility of finding a great opportunity is in networking groups, study clubs, and local dental associations. These are really the way to meet these owners face to face and introduce yourself as an up and coming star in the area. You need to be a networking pro. It is fine being a member of an association on paper, but reach out and start introducing yourself today.

A final note: from experience, when great jobs openings exist with great practices they are rarely advertised on job boards. They are filled by word of mouth. Most of the job openings that I uncover as a recruiter are not listed. I keep in touch with practice owners constantly. When they have a need, it is my job to figure that out from what they are saying, and help they fill that need.

New Dentist Compensation

Most new dentists I speak with ask rather quickly in our conversations about compensation. I don't recommend bringing this topic up immediately in your interviews, but it is an important point to discuss when exploring various opportunities.

Compensation offers do vary from place to place. When talking to other doctors, sales reps, or recruiters ask what they are seeing in your places of interest. Various factors affect what practices are willing to offer in their compensation packages. Some factors: number of dentists in the area looking for jobs (basic supply and demand); particular skills or experience levels desired by the practice; is the office fee for service or HMO/Medicaid driven; how badly does the office need the position filled.

As a new doctor you should be able to find an opportunity where you can make at $120K your first year. A common example of a compensation package is $500 per day guarantee or 30% of collections (whichever is greater). The usual first year production expectation is about $300K to $500K.

There are a lot of great paying opportunities out there. Pay attention to what other job seekers are talking about. You will need some point of reference in order to determine if you are getting a fair offer.

There is a great survey conducted by Dental Economics each year that is great. It takes a look size of local, productions, and compensations. Here you can find the 2008 Survey.

Things to Consider as Graduation Approaches

The date is quickly approaching. Dental students will be graduating in May, and Dental Residents will be completing their programs in June. It is an exciting time. New jobs, possible relocation, and the beginning of a whole new life doing what you love to do.

If you are fortunate and have already found a great opportunity, then congratulations. Many future doctors, however, are still on the hunt. As an independent recruiter, who specializes solely in the dental industry (www.etsdental.com), I would like to share what I am seeing across the country. This will most likely take several postings.

All the doom and gloom regarding the economy should not be ignored completely, but you should not dwell on it. In fact, embrace the challenges and new opportunities the transforming economy is going to create.

Nationwide, the the most challenging places to find great opportunities are in the major metro areas. Especially, those that have dental schools. These cities have a lot of competition for jobs, and you are not just competing against other new grads. There are a large number of experienced doctors looking too.

Look at areas one or more hours outside of dental school cities. You will find some great opportunities with successful private practices. I speak with a large of number practice owners in these areas who are looking for new doctors interested in future ownership. Their practices are well established and continue to grow, but they really need an associate to keep up the pace. The challenge for these practices is their ability to promote the opportunity due to doctors not actually looking in these locations.

Everyday I speak with current and future dentists that are frustrated by their unsuccessful job searches in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Miami, etc. Pardon the cliché, but think outside the box. Discover the terrific opportunities that exist outside of major metro ares.