Here are a few helpful resources for a practice owner or practice administrator preparing to interview associate dentist candidates. For more up to date tips and helpful information, follow up on our Facebook fan page, Twitter, or on our blog. A candidate version is available here.

Before the interview:

• Be sure to check all licenses for disciplinary actions.
• Will the candidate be relocating? Know the advantages of your area.
• Have answers to these commonly asked questions.

• Plan your questions to include a balance of technical, experience, behavioral and opinion questions.

Sample Interview Questions

• What attracted you to my position?
• Where have you worked?
• How long have you been in each position?
• What would your current boss say that you do well?
• In what areas would he/she say that you needed to improve?
• How often have you been late over the last year?
• In which insurances did you participate?
• What was your average production at that office?
• What lead you to look for other positions?
• What kind of notice period do you have to give?
• Do you have a restrictive covenant that would keep you out of this area?
• Are you right handed or left handed?
• Are you familiar with the equipment used in this office?
• What are your clinical strengths?
• What do you prefer to refer out?
• In what areas do you have interest in further training?
• How would you describe your practice philosophy?
• What days are you available to work?
• Are you interested in eventual partnership or ownership? How soon?
• What are your income expectations?
• What motivates you?
• If you have ever been in an office with a light schedule, what did you do with your free time? What did you do to help fill the schedule?
• Which of your strengths and achievements do you feel best distinguishes you from other candidates I may speak with?
• What do you like the most about this position? Least?
• Now that we have spoken are you interested in pursuing this position further?

Be sure to explain what the next step would be and when they can expect to hear back from you.

After the interview:

• Check references before considering an offer. Here is how.

• If you feel that you have found the best available match, move quickly to get a commitment

• Before making an offer, be sure that you know the current market standard. Income potential varies from community to community. Here is an excellent resource for understanding that your associate should be able to earn: are offering market values: http://www.levingroup.com/pdf/desurvey/December%20DE-LG%20Survey%20Story_1_and_2_2010.pdf

• Make sure that your contract is complete: Employment Contracts - What a New Dentist Should Know.

Other factors to consider when writing up a contract include:

· Restrictive Covenant

· Compensation Considerations

Onboarding:

• Make your expectations clear from the beginning

• Make them feel welcome.

Posted by Morgan Pace.

Morgan Pace is the Southeastern U.S. Account Executive and Senior Recruiter for ETS Dental. He can be reached at mpace@etsdental.com or 540-491-9102. ETS Dental is a Dental Recruiting firm specializing in finding and placing General Dentists, Dental Specialists, and Dental Staff throughout the United States. www.etsdental.com

Proper Interview Attire

You may not get the chance to make a second impression if you don’t take the time to make a great first impression.

“His shirt was so wrinkled that it looked like he’d worn it the day before. He didn’t even bother to try and cover it up by putting a jacket over it. My thought was that if he couldn’t even take the time to impress me at our first meeting, what was he going to be like with our patients?”

“He was sloppy and unshaven. At first I thought he was a homeless person coming into the office.”

“She showed up in jeans, a wrinkled T-shirt, and dirty sneakers. I understand that she is a recent graduate but the least she could have done was ironed her T-shirt.”

These dentist candidates were NOT asked back for a second interview.
As a recent graduate or seasoned dentist, you have years of training and experience. So why not make sure to get the offer by backing up your clinical skill set and experience with a first impression that leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that you ARE the right candidate for the job.

Your attire and actions speak louder than words. Even if you don’t feel traditional business interview attire is necessary at the very least chose business casual clothing and be sure it neat, clean, and pressed.

Below are just a few links where you can refer to for proper interview attire.


http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewattire/a/interviewdress.htm

http://healthcareers.about.com/b/2008/10/17/interview-attire-for-medical-professionals.htm

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/interviewimpres.htm



Written by Rob Knezovich, Regional Account Executive/ Recruiter at ETS Dental. You can reach Rob at (540) 491-9117 or rknez@etsdental.com. Find out more at www.etsdental.com.

Get Noticed On Job Boards

Once upon a time, you could hand deliver a resume and even get interviewed on the spot. Those days are long gone. Personal interactions with hiring managers have been replaced with emailing your resume and applying through online job boards. So, what can you do to stand out when you are applying online? Here are a few tips:

Attach your resume as a Word document, if possible. Often companies will invest in software that can harvest Word documents and input your information into their database more easily making your information more likely to come up in a search.

Let us know you are relocating! It can be something as simple as including in italics “Relocating to Florida Summer 2011” under your current address or just adding a blurb to your objective. Recruiters and hiring managers are not mind readers. You may miss out on an opportunity simply because someone thought you had applied for the wrong position otherwise.

Tell us you are bilingual. Being bilingual is a HUGE asset in a lot of markets! Your resume needs to tell what languages and your level of fluency. Many of the job boards will also have a field for you to enter this information in as well; take the time to ensure that this is completed properly because often this gets read before a hiring manager ever even takes a peak at your resume.
Be sure to include all of your contact information on your resume. This includes: phone number (make sure they are working numbers), and email address. I understand that we may not always call at the best time and may need to schedule a time to speak later, but if you sincerely want to work we need to be able to reach you.
• Sticking with contact information; make sure your email address is appropriate. Personally, I love the cheesy work related emails like “2thfairy@...” or “floss4u@...” because to me that shows some personality. If that is not your style, so be it; play it safe and create an account using your name. I do not care how sexy, beautiful, big, small, or anything else you are. We see your email address before we see anything else about you and it needs to relay a level of professionalism.
There are many factors that actually go into getting a job and these tips just barely scratch the surface of the topic. However, these tips may help you to tweak your own information and get your information noticed which is an important first step to getting to that new job. Good luck in your search.

Brush, Floss and SMILE!

I have had the pleasure of working with a few new clients lately who really enjoy what they do, and they are trying to make it contagious. These same, caring Dentists are determined that their staff has as much fun as possible while still maintaining a professional and caring dental office. It's refreshing to call the office for an update or to share some information, and be connected with a voice that is just bubbling with a smile or laughter. In reality, beautiful teeth and a healthy mouth is plenty to make you smile and laugh, and the added health benefits of a happy environment will leave you with that just-brushed freshness.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art29733.asp

Posted by Marsha Hatfield-Elwell, Regional Account Executive/Dental Recruiter. To find out more, call Marsha at (540)491-9116 or email at melwell@etsdental.com.

Considering a Faculty Position?

Five new dental schools to open in the U.S.
To view the full article: http://www.ada.org/news/6174.aspx

Here’s a look at five new dental education programs—three opening this fall, one slated for 2012 and one for 2013.

• East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (Greenville, N.C.)

A component member of the University of North Carolina System. On Aug. 15, the School of Dental Medicine launched its orientation week, welcoming its first class of 52 students. ECU, American Dental Education Association and North Carolina Dental Society officials were on hand to mark the occasion.

• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine (Bradenton, Fla.)

In January, LECOM named Dr. Robert F. Hirsch dean of its School of Dental Medicine, which has initial accreditation and is scheduled to open in 2012 with a class of 100 students. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Hirsch has held faculty and administrative positions at Case, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, and a private practice in Erie, Pa.

• Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine (Downers Grove, Ill.)

Midwestern University CODM becomes the third dental school in Illinois, joining the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in downstate Alton. Dr. Lex MacNeil is its dean.
The private, not-for-profit institution aims to graduate about 125 students a year. Midwestern Illinois has hired its complete complement of faculty for the first year and will hire incrementally for subsequent years, as well as recruit dentists from the community to serve as clinical instructors.

• University of New England College of Dental Medicine (Portland, Maine)

The University of New England has a founding dean for its College of Dental Medicine—Dr. James J. Koelbl, a past chair of the Commission on Dental Accreditation and founding dean of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine in Pomona, Calif., which opened in 2009.
The College of Dental Medicine submitted its application for initial accreditation and has announced a start date of 2013. “We continue to focus on curriculum development; faculty and staff hiring plans; construction simulation and clinical facilities; and student recruitment and fundraising,” said Dr. Koelbl.

• Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (South Jordan, Utah)

In 2007, the University of Southern Nevada began exploring the feasibility of starting the first predoctoral dental education program in Utah. In July of this year, the school changed the name of its campus in the suburbs of Salt Lake City to the Roseman University of Health Sciences CODM.
Dr. Richard Buchanan is the college’s founding dean, and the Commission on Dental Accreditation granted the dental school initial accreditation in August. The first cohort of 64 students began classes Aug. 15.

Posted by Rob Knezovich, Regional Account Executive/ Dental Recruiter. To find out more, call Rob at (540)491-9107 or email at rknez@etsdental.com.