canadiandentalgroup.com Blog

Words of wisdom for the new dental Assistant.

May 2nd, 2008

So you’ve finally finished your dental assistant studies and it’s time to start your career.
There are many sources to find information on writing a killer resume. Ditto for interview skills and selling yourself. That information is a great help but I’m going to focus on what to look for in an office and what you may encounter in your new work environment.
This is your first taste of working in a dental office aside from your practical placement. You must find some way to look past the excitement / fear of performing in a real office environment. Relax. Take a deep breath and know that with your technical training you will perform at the very least adequately. Hopefully you will have been placed with a staff that knows they have taken on a mentoring roll. You can name all the instruments and have a general idea of what each procedure involves but is it enough??  Most likely not at first but you learn and you adapt. A learning curve is expected. I know it’s easier said than done but don’t sweat it. You’ll find in your career that every office runs a little different and every dentist has a different style and expectations.
You have to use placement opportunities to interview whichever office you’re in. That’s right! I said YOU have to interview that office. It’s a certainty that if there is an employment opportunity you are being weighed and measured as well. Be aware, for example, if you seem disorganized in your placement and then state that you have strong organizational skills on your resume, it’s not going to fly. Conversely, if the office portrays themselves as progressive and supportive of staff but you find out that no one has gotten even a marginal raise for the last several years, don’t walk .. RUN!
A couple of the most important elements to be aware of are office dynamics and the power structure. Many will already be experts at navigating this potential minefield but it may be problematic for some. Just think of any group dynamic you’ve faced in life and you’ll find it in the dental office. Think about the different cliques in school or who’s in or out of the “in” crowd. Again, be aware of the office power structure, where you think you’ll fit in and most importantly if you will be able to thrive in it. Most offices I’ve been a part of, function much like a patriarchy. The dentist is the parent and everyone else are children (sometimes there’s a spouse too). My college friend Sue told me of an incident when she first started working as a dental assistant. She and another assistant were new to an office and one of them forgot to order an item. The dentist scolded them and then finished by swatting them on their heads with a rolled up newspaper. WHAT!!!!!! Isn’t there some kind of law against that??? Maybe, but that was her first job and losing it was not an option for her. Fortunately nothing like that ever happened again and she’s been happily working there ever since.
Be very observant of how staff are treated and how they treat each other. Over my career, some offices ‘ve worked in are an absolute joy to be a part of and be associated with. The staff work together like a well oiled machine. They are cooperative and supportive of each other. Then there are the other offices where the negative energy is almost palpable. Close your eyes and imagine working in either one of these situations for 40 hours a week, 50 weeks year. It’s obvious which one anyone would rather be in. So, it’s essential to keep your wits about you on your placement, working interview or office visit. Observe what’s going on and try to be objective. Another vital tool at your disposal is your intuition. If you are feeling a certain vibe or a certain Je ne sais pas, it may be wise to heed your inner voice.
Having the luxury of being able to pick and choose a job would be a huge advantage in starting a career. However if you have student loans to repay; a family to support; rent to pay or the job market is poor, then you may have to take the first job that comes up even though it might not be the right fit. Use that job for the valuable experience it will provide until you can move into a better situation. As you know, advice is always abundant and available from many sources (including this article). The bottom line is that everyone’s situation is different and the final decision is the one that you will have to make. Just be prepared.
Article contributed by:Rebecca

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