The Dental Associate job market is improving across the country. However, it is still competitive and often challenging in many larger metro areas in the U.S. There are not enough jobs available for the number job seekers in saturated areas such as Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. At ETS Dental, we speak with dentists everyday who are having a very hard time finding opportunities.
Don’t Get in Your Own Way: The biggest disservice you can do yourself is to think you
are the only qualified applicant for the job. In a saturated market you have to
sell yourself much more than the practice has to sell itself to you. For
example, I just posted a job opening in San Francisco, CA. I had 10 applicants
within 2 hours. By the end of the week I will have at least 50 to 75. Your
resume, cover letter, attitude, and the things you say have to express what you
bring to the table to benefit the practice. What skills and experience do you
have that will benefit the practice? What sets you apart? Can you speak
Spanish? Do you love working with kids? Can you place implants? Can you bring
new patients into the practice? Don’t move the conversation straight to how much
they will pay you. You don’t even have the job offer yet, and this approach can
cost you the job.
Expand Your Options: Most job seekers we speak with would much rather work for
a private practice or small group practice. Corporate dentistry is a last resort
or often not something they even want to consider. However, large group and
corporate dentistry is growing and here to stay. These practices can offer you
stable employment, great training, a guaranteed minimum salary, and benefits.
If private and small group practices are not hiring in your area, don’t limit
your options.
Use an Independent Recruiter: A few dental recruiters, like ETS Dental, have contacts
with practices throughout the U.S. Most often we are working on openings that
are not advertised in any other channels. Our clients entrust us to locate the
right talent to grow their practices. We speak with job seekers in order to
understand their goals and experience. We have the ability to market strong
candidates to practices with whom we have built relationships with over the
years. Sometimes it’s who you know, and recruiters are good to know.
Volunteer: Many new graduates can benefit from this in difficult
areas. Volunteering can help build or maintain skills. It helps you learn chairside
communication and build patient rapport. It can even help you connect with
other practitioners, and possibly lead to an employment opportunity. Look for
volunteer opportunities in free dental clinics or giving your time by
participating in free dental care days that may be offered in your
community.
Shake Some Hands: Go to dental society meetings. Get online and join
discussion groups such as Dental Town. Get on LinkedIn. Hand out business cards
to every dentist you meet. Drop in and say hello to offices and leave a
resume/CV. You can’t be shy in a saturated market. Let people know who you are,
and let them know you are looking for an opportunity.
Multiple Part-Time Jobs: Most saturated markets have more part-time openings
available than full-time. You should definitely consider trying to get 2 or 3
part-time jobs if you need a full-time income.
Relocate: It’s an extreme measure
for many, but for some it can mean the difference in having a career or several
short-term, part-time positions or nothing at all. Relocating expands your
options exponentially. Just make sure you are not expanding your options of
relocation to another heavily saturated area. Check out some earlier articles
on this topic:
Written by Carl Guthrie, Western
Region Account Executive and Dental Recruiter. Contact at
cguthrie@etsdental.com or 540-491-9104
