6 pieces of career advice that can help hygienists succeed

Let’s face it: Navigating the job market is no easy task. From job hunting to networking to nailing an interview, there are so many aspects to juggle that the idea of advancing your career can quickly become overwhelming.

Whether you’re looking for a new job opportunity at your current office or a different practice, we’ve put together six pieces of advice that will position you for success. With a little time and effort, you’ll be one step closer to landing that job you’ve always wanted. 

Read more: What are you doing with your life?

Continue to the next page to see the first piece of advice.

Making your dental hygienist resume stand out

To get hired as a dental hygienist, you need to show the world what makes you different.

I’ve seen many, many dental hygienist resumes that were average. But only a few stood out. Obviously, a compelling resume is a must. And it does take a good deal of time and effort to craft it. But a strong resume will set you up for strong interviews. So, it’s not just about improving this piece of paper; it's also about being able to clearly express your value throughout your entire job search.

Continue reading to find out 7 ways to make your resume stand out.

Professionalism in the dental practice: Are you acting the part?

Some people say I’m old and I’m not “keeping up with the times.” The truth of the matter is, being a professional and acting as such is timeless. The way we talk, how we speak, what we wear, how we conduct our social media pages … it’s all about looking and acting professional.

Dentistry is a conservative profession. Although gone are the days of stark white coats, dental assistants wearing white dresses, white hose, white shoes and even a “nurses” hat, we still need to look and act professional.

Let’s look at it from our patient’s perspective. What do they see and hear when they come into our office? Have you ever looked at your office as your patient would? We have always known the first impression tells a person a lot about our office and our team.

Click here to learn how to make a good impression.

How to find the perfect job for you

Today, there are many avenues to help you search for your next job. The job hunt has evolved and many job seekers start searching on their computer. Online job searching makes the job hunt much more accessible than traditional methods.

Years ago, the Sunday classifieds was about the only way to find out about job openings. It was time consuming to scour through multiple job ads and circle the ones that appealed to you. Next came with waiting until Monday morning to call the hiring dental office and let them know of your interest in the job position.

Today, jobseekers can search multiple online job boards like YourDentalConnect.com and find openings in their area. They can apply to jobs directly through the job board’s website any time and any day of the week. You can search by distance or by job category or even set up job alerts, so whenever new jobs that match your criteria become available, you will be notified first about the job position.

Continue reading to find out how to become a pro at job hunting.

How valuable are you to your practice?

Does this question keep you up at night?

Or do you lie there wondering about your job security? Maybe you’re questioning why you’re not getting a raise? To the latter question, I can certainly relate.

I want a raise! I deserve it. That was what I thought. But when I approached my boss, her question to me was, “Why? Why should you get a raise?”

It’s a valid question. Why should you get a raise? I’d love to just respond, “Why not?” But I’m guessing that’s not the best answer. Instead, I went to the experts.

Click here to learn how to determine your worth as an employee.

The best way to ensure you hear 'you're hired!'

Have you applied for a dental job recently and learned they are doing something called “behavioral interviewing?” It isn’t the typical old-school questions about weaknesses or strengths. Now, they are asking for examples of what you have done in the past. Why? Because past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Before you get all nervous about this style of interviewing, think about how it actually takes pressure off of you. You get to tell stories of your choosing. But, you need to be prepared.

So, how does one prepare to answer behavioral interviewing questions? Answers should be two to three minutes in length. Going on and on isn’t in your best interest. Some places use a STAR response. This is very helpful, because it keeps you focused when you are interviewing. Keep in mind; some practices are scoring your answers based on that style of answering. Yes, there is a whole point system, and you don’t even realize that.

Continue reading to learn more about behavioral interviewing tips.

Simple ways to advance your career this year

With a new year comes new possibilities. Whether you’re hoping to make some extra cash to make up for overspending during the holidays or you’re unhappy with the current practice you work for, there’s no better time than the present to start thinking of ways to advance your career this year.

While the thought of advancing your career may seem frightening or overwhelming, there are some simple steps you can take to position yourself for success. Strategically planning and thinking about areas where you need some improvement can go a long way.

Click here to find out 5 ways to advance your career in 2018.