How to Land Your Dream Career in Dental Assisting or Front Desk Administration!
Since 2004, I have been interviewing dental staff for our office. I have not only interviewed staff, but I have also spoken at dental assistant schools about how to prepare to become a dental assistant. From my experience, I can share a few things I wish more applicants knew before coming in for their interviews. Below are a few of the most essential things dental assistants and front desk admins need to know/do when looking for their dream career and private practice home!
Some things may sound rude or harsh, but I am committed to telling the truth, as I do in our dental practice.
Mindset
Like a sports team competing for a championship, you must consider your mindset to land your dream job. Teams who win championships have championship mindsets. They think like winners. Decide that you want to be a championship winner yourself. To do this, think like a winner! Yes, you can pick up some tips on interviewing or getting a job, but you act differently when you think like a winner.
When I was a coach, I taught my players that to be successful, they/we need to:
Do the right thing….
The right way…
With the right attitude.
Always commit yourself to doing what is right. I don’t mean choosing not to steal… that’s obvious. I mean, when someone drops the ball, pick it up for them. Be a team player. Do what needs to be done. Don’t be lazy. Do things the right way. When you clean, clean with excellence. When you listen, listen with intent. Always keep the right attitude. If you do this, you will find success.
Make these mindset shifts before you create a resume or apply for a job!
Find the Right Fit
When it comes to the highest level of job satisfaction, finding the right fit place to work is critical. Eliminate the “looking for a job” mentality and replace it with “looking for a professional home.” In today’s marketplace, in most urban and suburban areas, offices are looking for staff. In these situations, you can be selective!
Don’t be Transactional
One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers have made with me over the years is coming into an interview and asking, right up front, questions like what the pay is, what are the benefits, what are the job responsibilities, and so forth. While many interviewers in our field will ask those questions and sound very transactional, most offices will be impressed if you come into an interview with questions about the office culture, the systems, the patient base, the team you would be working with, and what it would take to be successful. Do this, and you instantly set yourself apart from those competing for the position.
Stand Apart
Now that you have the right mindset to pursue your career, reviewing a few things will help you stand out in the job search process.
Over the years, I have read countless number of resumes. Where I am located, most of the resumes I have read are not from native English speakers. I overlook grammar issues on a resume but key in on sloppiness. Finding a resume template on Microsoft Word or Google Docs is easy. You can even find a free template created by us for you at the links provided above.
Where I am in Florida, the native language of our applicants is either English or Spanish. I am not looking to see if the resume has perfect grammar, but I am looking to see if some basics are followed that indicate attention to detail and quality. If the resume looks like it was thrown together without any attempt to make it look presentable, that is a red flag to me. Most of us have a friend we can have who can review our resumes. Always have another set of eyes go through yours.
Having a resume for a dental assistant or front desk job that looks like time was spent on it will stand apart from the many resumes we received that look like they were just whipped together with no attention. This is important if you are looking for a dream career and permanent practice home rather than just a job.
Always Research the Practice Before Your Interview
I am always amazed at how few job seekers come to interviews, having never looked up the office online. This is fine if you are just looking for a job. But remember, this blog post is about finding your dream home and permanent home in private practice!
Nearly every practice has a website and social media presence today. Many of these websites are dental marketing templates that offer little insight into the realities of the practice. However, knowing what the practice promotes itself to be is the most impressive thing you can do in an interview. During the interview process, you can ask a question referencing what you saw or use it as a lead into a statement.
“I saw on your website that you focus on high-quality dentistry. That struck me because I want to work in an office where I can be proud. What do you all do that is higher quality focused?”
-OR-
“I saw on your website that you focus on high-quality dentistry. That struck me because I want to work in an office where I can be proud. I was excited to see that!”
Have Questions to Ask
I am always impressed when a candidate comes in with questions to ask me. I get excited to talk about the practice and to talk to someone engaging. More often than not, candidates do not bring questions. Refrain from sounding like you copied some questions from an interview book and are just doing what you have been taught to do. Ask questions to learn more about the practice, how it started, what its vision is, what the team is like, what the patient base is like, and what is expected/what it would take to be successful there. Asking these questions from a curious perspective signals that you are not just an employee but a true professional.
Never No-Show
The most important thing to never do is not show up for an interview. Let me repeat that. The most important thing to never do is not show up for an interview. There are three really important reasons for this.
The truth is, doing this does not blacklist you in your community. But it will blacklist you from the office you no-showed and potentially others that they communicate with. Remember, the office where you no-show has employees in the industry who are very well connected and may see your name attached to a no-show appointment. The doctor or office manager you no-showed may talk to other offices they communicate with to let them know. While you likely won’t be penalized, I have seen situations like this where past behavior has caused someone not to get the job they are applying to.
One of the things that needs to be discussed more about psychological health is how doing things that are against your conscience affects your self-esteem. If you want to have great self-esteem and feel great about yourself, live purposefully, and stay committed to doing things you know are correct. No one wants to have low self-esteem, wander through life, and do stuff they know is wrong. Here is something you need to know. That little voice in your head telling you it doesn’t matter, it's no big deal, is the enemy of your self-esteem. So, while you tell yourself it is okay, you know it’s not!
You are Hurting Your Profession
The number one thing dental assistants and front desk admin can do to help elevate their pay scale across the board is to be more professional. Dental staff interview no-shows are a chronic problem and reflect a lack of professionalism that harms the profession. The more professional the dental staff is, the more they will be considered professionals by the industry… leading to better overall pay.
Dress for Success
It gets tricky advising on how to dress for an interview. I will keep this simple. There are things you want to do and things you don’t want to do that I consistently see people make mistakes on.
You don’t want to try to look like someone you are not. Most offices are not looking for runway or male fragrance models for GQ magazine. We do want people who look professional in the context of a dental practice. These are my tips on what to do and not do when presenting yourself at an interview.
The easiest way to dress appropriately for a dental interview is to wear interview scrubs. I often interview people who interview in their work scrubs, which are usually very bland and worn-looking. Buy a pair of scrubs just for your interview. You don’t have to spend much money to buy the most expensive scrubs. Many on our staff like Mandala scrubs. They have an excellent color range and are inexpensive; our team says they are super comfortable. Pick a matching scrub top and pants that is a color that looks great on you and you feel great in; make sure it is appropriately sized, and wear nice crisp, clean sneakers, and you will look ready for the job. Stay away from crazy prints. Just go for a solid color to look and feel great.
Wear Properly Fitting Clothes
I have seen a lot over the years, and one of the things I have seen over and over is job seekers interviewing wearing clothes that do not fit well. Make sure that whatever you wear is manageable and never too loose or too tight. Again, the easiest way to get the right outfit is to wear scrubs.
Avoid Inappropriate Attire
Most people know not to wear controversial T-shirts, but what I mean here is don’t wear clubbing or overly casual clothes. If the dress you wear for the interview is one you may wear out on the town, it is probably not the right look for the office. The easiest way to avoid this is to buy interview scrubs (and shoes if possible).
I do not recommend going all out on styling your hair. It is not necessary. Just make sure that it is neat.
Don’t Wear Perfume or Cologne
There is a good chance the person interviewing doesn’t want to smell your fragrance. Also, in a small office, fragrance can be overwhelming. It is best just to avoid it.
It is easier for men to dress in street clothes for an interview. It is OK to wear chinos with a golf shirt. The key is to ensure your shoes look good, your belt matches your shoes, your clothes fit properly, your clothes look new, and they have been adequately ironed or are wrinkle-free. Everything you need to make this look work can be found anywhere from Old Navy to TJ Max.
It Is Not About the Clothes
Just keep in mind, it isn’t about the clothes. It is about how you present yourself. If you look put together, you will stand out!
Relax, Smile, Shake Hands, Stand Up Straight, and Make Eye Contact
As an interviewer, I don’t like interviews. I want to get to know people who want to work in our office, and the traditional interview creates two scenarios that make this hard to do.
Nervousness
Many times, candidates are nervous when interviewing. I don’t blame them; I probably would be, too. The number one thing that helps you calm your nerves is to be prepared! When you are ready, you are confident.
Textbook Interviews
Sometimes, interviewers will ask “book questions.” Sometimes, candidates will offer “book answers.” This is all fake and doesn’t tell you anything about who the practice or the person is. Be confident and prepared, and don’t sound like you got your answers from a book!
As I said, you will be confident when you are prepared and look and feel good. It is essential to use this confidence to relax. There is nothing to be nervous about. You are ready, and the person interviewing you wishes you no ill will. Smile, stand up straight, shake the interviewer's hand, and make good eye contact throughout the interview. If you do this, you will soar in your interview and stand far apart from the others competing for the same job.
Use Private Practice Dental Jobs to Find Your Dream Career Faster
Finding the right job can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We created Private Practice Dental Jobs to help you connect with dental practices that align with your values and career goals. We’re not just another job board; we’re a resource built to save you time and frustration by curating opportunities in private practices where you can thrive.
Our platform is designed with your success in mind. Whether you’re looking for a dental assistant role or a front desk position, we make it easy to find offices looking for YOU. By focusing on private practices, we give you access to employers serious about creating supportive, dynamic environments where their staff can succeed.
Your dream career is closer than you think. We will streamline your job search and find the professional home you deserve. At Private Practice Dental Jobs, we’re here to help you find more than just a job—to help you build a career.
Conclusion
Yes, looking for a new job and interviewing stinks! Most people don’t get excited about going for an interview. But the truth is, if you do a few small things… easy things, you can feel great in your interview and separate yourself from your competition.
Remember, this post is about finding your dream career in a practice home, not just another job. If you want to do that, find the practices you believe would be a great fit and target them. In private practice, we are always looking for great team members.
Dont forget to use Private Practice Dental Jobs to narrow your job search to those naturally set up to be the right fit for you!
Good luck!
Jody Pugh