After you have graduated and satisfied your province's regulation requirements, your focus will naturally
turn to finding
a job as a dental hygienist. Where to find such a job, however, requires knowing where to look. Below are
some
ideas to get you started in your job search.
Resumes
- Before you begin to write
Before writing your résumé, sit down and make a list of your skills, experience, and abilities that are relevant to the position you are seeking. Your résumé is the most important tool in your job-seeking arsenal. Research the position you are applying for, put yourself in the employer’s shoes to identify what they may be looking for as an employee, and tailor your résumé accordingly.
- Format
Choose a résumé format: chronological, functional or hybrid. The chronological format is the most popular where it lists your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent jobs listed first. A functional résumé is organized around your transferable skills and abilities rather than your work history. It helps you downplay your lack of experience as a new graduate and showcases other skills that will make you an attractive candidate. Finally, a hybrid résumé is the best because it showcases both your work history and your transferable skills. Male sure your résumé is engaging, well written, includes action verbs that showcase your abilities and value.
- What to Include
At the top of the résumé, write your full name, permanent address (at minimum include the city), phone number with area code, and email address. Make sure your email address is professional, if not, use your school email address if still active. It is suggested to create a LinkedIn Profile URL and include it on your résumé.
- Summary
Begin your résumé with a concise summary and/or your career objective tailored closely to the position and organization you are applying to. You can also include a summary of your work experience, skills, and your most remarkable accomplishments. Also, make sure to highlight your skills in areas such as communication, interpersonal relations, time management, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.
- Education
As a new graduate with only a few years of work history, include the institution names, the dates attended, the major and degrees and diplomas obtained. List your education in reverse chronological order with the most recent appearing first. Include GPA if it is complimentary but remember to put it in context (different schools have different GPA standards, from a scale based on 4.0 to a scale based on 12.0). List any academic honours you have received. If you have not finished your degree or diploma, use words such as "eligible," "in progress," or "anticipated."
- Experience
Give an overview of your work experience that has helped you develop your skills and abilities in reverse chronological order. Use action words like "facilitated," "supervised," or "assisted" to give an idea of what you contributed to the office or organization. Give the name of all organizations you worked for, their location, phone numbers, dates of employment, the title of your position, and their website, if available. Underneath each job, list your relevant responsibilities and achievements. Do not underestimate the value of unrelated work experience. Think about how some aspects of it may translate to the job you are applying for.
- Other Information
Another section of your résumé can be devoted to certifications, awards, distinctions, leadership experience, volunteer experience, and participation in extracurricular activities. If you have published any papers or articles in newspapers, newsletters, or journals such as the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, refer to them in this section. Volunteer work or community service, especially in a field related to the job you are applying for, is of great value to an employer. It is common practice to also include your professional registration information (registration with which regulatory body/province) and lists your memberships with professional associations (e.g., Member of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association). Another valuable addition to your résumé includes listing the languages you speak. Also, specify whether you are you fluent, proficient or conversational in each language. And lastly, include hobbies and interests if they are relevant.
- References
References must be chosen very carefully. Most employers today check references following the interview process. You do not need to include references in your résumé but be prepared to supply a Reference list on demand with at least 3 different person that know you well and able to speak to your character, your skills and abilities. A very important rule is that any reference should be consulted prior to being included on your reference list and must give you permission. A separate reference sheet includes each reference’s name, title, and organization, contact information (phone number and email), and a brief explanation of your relationship to them. Ideally, meet each reference ahead of an interview and inform them of the position you are applying for, when you are going for an interview, and when they can expect to receive a call from a prospective employer. Share your résumé with each of your reference, to ensure they can represent you well during their interaction with the prospective employer.
- Editing & Design
When you are finished writing the draft of your résumé, ask others—friends, family members, professors, or résumé consultants—to proofread the résumé. Most, if not all, colleges and universities have career services personnel who will look over your résumé for you and make suggestions. It is extremely important that the résumé be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Also be aware of mixed tenses, and make sure that the résumé is easy to read. Proofread your résumé more than once, before sending.
The design of the résumé should be professional, simple and clear. Use plain or off-white paper of good quality, but avoid pretentious-looking stationery like parchment paper. Use a non-decorative font (e.g., Times Roman, Arial, Helvetica) around 11-12 pt for optimal readability of regular text and 14-16 pt for section titles, and avoid gimmicks like changing fonts, using tables, columns, unnecessary graphics, embellishments or shading. Avoid italics and underlined words. Lines (horizontal or vertical, which could break up the copy) are not necessary. Unless absolutely necessary, keep the length of your résumé to one page. Use a laser printer and avoid folding the résumé. Use a large envelope if you need to mail it to an employer. Use 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper and print on one side only.
Cover Letters
- Before You Begin to Write
Think about the cover letter as a quick snapshot of your skills and experience. You want the employer to be interested in what you have to offer and want to know more by looking at your résumé. The cover letter must be customized for the position you are applying for and the practice you are applying to. Avoid the common mistake of focusing entirely on "I…" by keeping the needs and goals of the practice in mind. This requires research—look at the employer's website, promotional materials, newspaper articles, pamphlets or brochures, and any other place that you might be able to find insight into the practice. A very good resource is the internet; type the name of the dentist or the practice into a search engine like Google and do a search in LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Often, even small companies and professional offices have websites and are referred to in news articles. Talk to employees for insight into the practice if you can. Your cover letter should show the employer how you understand the practice's goals and would fit well into the practice's direction.
- Tone & Focus
Have a clear picture of how you want to be perceived by the employer and make a mental list of your best-selling points. Remember, the cover letter is your first impression to the employer. Be sure that it is well written and professional.
Be professional in your writing, but also be friendly. Remember that you are being considered for your personal skills and attitude as well as your knowledge and skills. Demonstrating that you are good-natured and desirable to work with is much more effective than claiming to be so.
Brevity is important when writing the cover letter; not more than one page. Don't leave out important information or ideas, but try to be as concise as possible. Remember to keep to the point, and keep paragraphs short.
- Introduction
In the upper left corner, include your contact information with full name, address, phone number(s), and email address. Address the letter to the specific individual who will be reading it (e.g., hiring manager, dentist employer). If the job posting doesn't include the person's name, do some research or phone the office. Ideally, you should find out the name of the hiring person and greet them directly. Also make sure to use the name of the company or practice and use the title of the position you are applying for.
- Opening
The introductory paragraph should be very short, two to three sentences at the most. Refer to the position you are applying for and how you found out about the opening. Think about your opening sentence as your opportunity to grab the hiring person’s attention and get them excited to learn more about you. Outline what differentiates you from all the others applying for the same position. State concisely how your qualifications make you the top candidate.
- Body of the Letter
The body of your letter should be two or three paragraphs, where you need to sell yourself. This is where you expand on how your qualifications make you the top candidate. Pick out the most important experiences and skills that you have, and elaborate on how they will enhance your performance at this job. Be specific, provide examples of measurable accomplishments that support your abilities that you outlined in your résumé. Only include the most relevant, current and positive information about yourself.
- Conclusion
In your concluding paragraph, you want to inspire the employer to pursue an interview with you. Firstly, thank them for their time and point them in the direction of any other documents (e.g., résumé, website, portfolio). Be professional in expressing your availability for an interview or a face-to-face meeting by reiterating your contact information and adding times that you can be reached. Refer to your enclosed résumé. Thank your reader for his or her consideration.
Close with a professional phrase such as "Respectfully," or "Yours sincerely," and add your name.
- Editing
Perhaps the most important step is the last: proofreading. It is extremely important that the cover letter have no errors in grammar or spelling. Get help in proofreading from others, like friends, family members, professors, or résumé consultants.
Interviews
The interview is an opportunity to show the employer your interest in the position and, in turn, the energy and expertise you will bring to the job. Getting to the interview stage shows that the employer has deemed you as qualified for consideration, and the interview is your chance to show that you will put that qualification to good use.
- Preparation
One very important aspect of preparation for the interview is research and preparation. Hopefully you have already done research on the employer for the cover letter, but if not, it's not too late. Find out about the office, its staff, and its practice policies. Gather information about key staff and the size of the practice, and know the appropriate salary range. Find any literature available about the employer and/or the practice, and if there is any such literature at the office, you may want to read that while you wait. Familiarize yourself with the job description and use it to prepare yourself.
Another important preparation is self-examination. Develop a clear picture about your skills and interests. You know that there is an excellent chance that you will be asked about your strengths and weaknesses, so think about them and write down what you are going to say. Recall certain situations you have found yourself in at school, other jobs, extracurricular activities, and volunteer activities. Keep key accomplishments in your mind, as well as times when you made the wrong decision or took the wrong action and think about what you would change. Think about your long-term goals.
Practise is also a key part of preparation. Most people benefit from a role-playing interview with friends or peers where uncomfortable questions are asked regarding your skills, abilities, soft skills, experiences and how you would react in difficult situations. The more practice you have, the more comfortable you will be in front of a stranger asking you those hard to answer questions. Perfect practice makes perfect! You want an easy and smooth interview. Options to think about include meeting with a career counselor, practising with a friend, and videotaping or audiotaping yourself in a mock interview. From this practice, you can develop an interview strategy that you believe will show you in the best light and allow you to give more complete answers to the interview questions posed and feel good about your interview when done.
- Presentation
It is important to dress professionally and conservatively, but without misrepresenting your true self. The rule "less is more" is very appropriate and applies to everything from make-up to heels for women, and cologne and perfume for everyone. Be neat and polished.
- Finding Out if the Job is Right for You
Keep in mind that you are interviewing for a dental hygiene position as a professional. The focus is very different from interviews for a part-time or summer job, in that the objective is no longer solely to impress the employer and get a job. If this position is the beginning of your career as a dental hygienist, you want to make sure that the position and the organization are right for you. In most cases, the dentist will not only be your employer, he or she will be your professional colleague and co-worker. The interview marks the beginning of a working relationship, and it is important to get a feeling that all parties will benefit from this relationship.
Don't let the interview be one-sided. Ask questions, be sure you are aware of details such as responsibilities, what type of clientele you will see, what kind of equipment and instrumentation will be made available to you, the appointment scheduling practices, vacation, sick days, other benefits, working hours, and other office policies. Ask about the staff and the office. Request a tour of the office and note details such as its equipment, layout, and supplies. Picture the office as your workplace and evaluate it from that mindset. Ask about staff turnover rates and reasons why they left the office.
- Communication & Etiquette
Be aware of interview etiquette. Arrive early, ask for the correct spelling of the interviewer's name, and get their title. Shake the interviewer's hand firmly at the beginning and the end of the interview. Make sure you demonstrate good verbal communication skills throughout the interview. Smile and nod frequently and at appropriate times. Be always pleasant and as calm as possible. Show interest through body language and careful listening. Maintain eye contact and sit up straight. Be enthusiastic.
Listen carefully and answer thoughtfully and concisely. Ask for clarification if you don't understand what is being asked and give the interviewer answers that are as complete and specific as possible. Use proper grammar and try to avoid words like "um", “ah”, and "like". Don't be negative about past employers and co-workers, and especially about yourself. This is the time to be positive and shine! Be always courteous.
Be aware that non-verbal communication is very important and says a lot about your character. Be conscious of it and stay in the moment. Keep in mind the image and qualities you want to convey while you are in the interview. Provide examples whenever possible and appropriate. Anticipate behaviour-based questions; questions about past experiences and incidents are designed to give you a chance to show how you deal with problems, interact with people, and learn from experience and mistakes. Let certain topics such as salary expectation and benefits be introduced by the interviewer.
- Concluding the Interview
Be aware of clues from the interviewer as to the length of the interview. When it is over, thank the interviewer for their time, and restate your interest in and qualifications for the position. Offer a firm handshake. Ask when you might expect to hear from them and convey your eagerness to speaking or seeing them again soon.
Send a short thank-you letter directly after the interview. This is both a courtesy and a way to refresh the interviewer's memory of you. Restate your interest in the position. If any new questions come to mind, phone the office.
- Working Interviews
Working interviews are sometimes used for dental hygiene positions. If your interview is a working interview, don't be more stressed because of it; think of it as a first day on the job (which is the object of the application and interview process, after all) with no obligations. In a working interview, you and the employer have the opportunity to experience working together in order to determine whether the fit is right. When confirming the day and time of the working interview inquire about the employer expectations in terms of hours worked, amount of time scheduled per client, the number of clients seen during the day, the type of treatment you will provide, and the compensation for the work done. Following the completion of the working interview, send a short thank you letter to the employer and the entire staff with a few positive notes of your day/time spent with them.