Dental hygienist and dental assistant jobs are about more than just assisting the dentist; these professionals focus on helping people. That may be one reason these careers (and others, such as dental nursing) are so popular—those who work in dentistry are true helpers. Of course, to really make a difference, you need a job.
If you’ve been watching the job outlook for dental hygienists, dental assistants and dentists, you may feel like you’re getting conflicting reports. Most reporting agencies, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, say that job growth in dentistry is above average and that the job outlook is good. At the same time, many dental professionals feel frustrated and believe that the market is saturated.
During the Summer of 2016, the Bureau of Labor released their monthly jobs report that stated the U.S. added only 18,000 jobs in the month of June and ZERO in the month of August! With over three hundred million people in the U.S. that statistic is quite an eye opener!
There are many resources available to new and established dentists to better the quality and performance of our practice but a lot of us do not take full advantage of them. A significant untapped source of information is the advice provided by successful dentists who evaluated the state of their business and made decisions to take their practice to the next level. These tips are presented here to help business owners increase their profitability while decreasing stress, creating accountability and leading to a more balanced lifestyle.
Regardless of whether you’re starting a new office or if you’ve been in dentistry for many years, the importance of hiring quality employees is the same. Whatever the case may be, you need to hire good employees you can trust. Otherwise, you may find yourself with employees that are wasting your resources and money.
(and this does NOT refer to financial productivity)
How would you describe your team? Are they productive, focused and efficient? Or is it a challenge to keep them on track and working together toward the goals that have been established for the office?
First of all- a very well deserved congratulations to you! After weeks or months or years of obtaining the proper education and training and finding the right job, you have been offered the one you were looking for all along.
But now what? Even though you have the position more or less secured you should be considering if you are getting the salary and other “job perks” you not only need to survive, but deserve and will allow you to progress as a worker in your field.
Below we have some suggestions for how you can properly and expertly negotiate the right salary and benefits for you with your new employer.
While it is not often spoken about explicitly, it is well known that every dental professional looking to hire or be hired has a secret list written down in their mind. For the employer, they know what the desired characteristics the best employee for the job will have. You come to a consensus with the others responsible for making this decision and bring on the person best suited for the position because let’s face it: an employee is an investment. You are spending your hard-earned money on an employee you think can not only execute the particular tasks required but one that can also be a contributor to the growth of the office.
When you work the Front Desk at a Dental Office, you’ll need to know how to put patients at ease.
Interviews can wreak havoc on your nerves, but knowing what you should say to the interviewer beforehand can help boost your confidence. When you’re interviewing for a dental receptionist position, keep your answers focused on how your skill set can fit the office’s needs because combined with a cheery personality, this can help you land the job. Dental offices typically want a receptionist who can greet clients, answer questions and keep the office organized so stress your skills in these areas.
