Ace That Interview

Many dental school graduates will look for a job after graduation. Whether it is as a private practice associate or a position with one of the expanding corporate dental practices, getting

the job is a critical step for you. Particularly with the corporate practices in highly desirable areas, you may be in competition for

a well-paying position, which means that your ability to interview will be critical.

Interviewing like a pro in the business world of dentistry takes forethought and keeping the job takes savvy. Here are some tips to help you in this challenging process:

Preparation 1. Have a professional resume. Professional resume writers can be worth their fee to assist you with this important step. Your resume has to pass the stack the recruiter receives in order to be ASKED to interview. Leave out items that are not pertinent to your position as a dentist, such as your hobbies, your religious status and your marital status. Put in any awards, professional affiliations and volunteer dental work while in dental school. Keep the tone active and show your ability to do the job, for example, “Completed 15 crown preparations with perfect marks.” Your resume

should be to the point, not paragraphs of information. 2. Include a detailed cover letter specific to the entity you are applying to (see step 4). Communicate that you are motivated to be productive for them as well as open to learning. If you are comfortable with endo, oral surgery, children or CERAC®, say so in the letter. Include letters of recommendation from any dentist who has mentored you along the way as well as your professors.

3. Clean up or delete your Facebook® page. You cannot be denied a job based on your Facebook® page with photos of you at a wild party, but it is public information and recruiters will likely scout your social media activity. If your Facebook® page shows things about you that could lower your status, take it down. 4. Do your homework. If this is a corporate interview, look up the corporation and study their website. Ask your dental school alumni office if any of the former graduates work there. See

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1. if you can arrange a walk-through to get the vibe of the place. Call ahead and ask permission from the Practice Administrator or office manager. If this is a private practice, look up their website and Facebook® page.

Interviewing tips: 1. Be on time and well rested. 2. Carry an extra copy of your resume in a professional portfolio with a pad so you can take notes. Be prepared to ask questions based on your homework. 3. Dress as a professional. How you look plays a BIG part in an interview. Check out www.janicehurleytrailor. com for professional dental attire. Men should think about being cleanshaven with a neat haircut, wearing a shirt and tie if not a suit, wear polished well-heeled shoes. For women, a great haircut or, if you have long hair, wear it up in a professional offthe-face manner. Wear business dress clothes, with no cleavage showing and no sandals, professional closed toes shoes and (please) wear makeup. 4. Don’t divulge information that they cannot ask, but can influence decisions once the information is on the table. Labor laws restrict interview questions in these areas: • Race, sexual orientation, religion, or handicap • Marital status, maiden name, spouse’s name, or spouse’s work • Don’t say that when your spouse graduates from law school in a year you are moving to Alaska. Smart interviewers will ask you something like this, and you will reveal that which they cannot ask, such as, “What are your plans within the next 3 years?”

You don’t have to lie, just don’t be too transparent.

Birth year, weight, height • Number of children, ages of children, or childcare arrangements • Don’t let on that you soon plan to start your family. Or, that you have four children under the age of 4. Again, this can’t be directly asked, but you might

spill the beans without thinking that it matters to the interviewer.

future. Many corporate practices are open weekends, early mornings and evenings. Some private practices are hiring you to expand their hours. Be prepared, as you begin your career, to work flexible hours. In your interview, if you restrict your available work times, you may not get the job.

Follow-up 1. Send a professional HANDWRITTEN note after the interview, not just a TEXT or email. Thank them for their time and show your interest. If there is something you particularly liked about the practice, share that. Even if you were not impressed and you don’t think you want the position, leave all options open by leaving a good impression.

Learn, Learn, Learn Yes, you are a dentist. However, once you hit the “work floor” you are a student again. Be a good employee and learn from the seasoned dental assistants, hygienists and business staff. Their knowledge can be integral to your success. Enter with a dose of humility and leave any arrogance at the door. Yes, you may have learned some new techniques, but they know the “drill” of real-world work.

Got the job - NOW, Real World 101 Paycheck = Production The lure to a particular corporate position may be the carrot of a nice paycheck. Percentages vary but the norm in both corporate and private practice for associate dentists is 30-35 percent. All practices are in business to make a profit. To make $140,000, your production must be $420,000 for 200 working days per year, $2100 per day, or $262.50 per hour. This pay is based on collections, so the insurance reimbursements affects how much you’ll need to produce to net the paycheck you desire.

You can learn a GREAT deal while you are an employee, if you are willing. Staff can show you the ropes if you respect them. You’ll see what works and what does not. Learn all the systems. You never know when you might want your own practice. Don’t waste time just doing dentistry and checking out. This is your opportunity to learn the business side of being a successful dentist.

You have entered a great profession, and I hope you enjoy all aspects of it throughout your career. And above all, never stop learning. ■

Production = Proficiency You may have a skill shortfall. Your bosses expect that you can deliver quality dentistry. However, if you have only done endo on an extracted tooth, and they expect you to take the endo patients, get thee to a multi-day hands-on workshop ASAP. It surprises dentists to find in the dental real-work world that they are not completely prepared. The best investment you will make initially is to get specific skill training. The larger corporates often plan a curriculum for you to learn missing skills, while private practices may not.

Find out if you need CERAC® training. You can research their website to see if they are promoting “Crowns in a Day.” If this was not a part of your curriculum, then ask if you can come in on off hours to learn the skills.

Time is Money Time flexibility will be a part of your