4 Interview Tips for Recent Dental School Grads

Getting through dental school is a big accomplishment, and once you’ve graduated, you are probably eager to begin your career. For some, that means preparing for a dental residency or specialty program. For most, that generally means interviewing for a number of positions, which can be stressful.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prepare for interviews that will make it easier to complete the process and find a dental practice that’s a good fit for your future. 

Let’s begin with laying the proper groundwork for your dentistry interviews:

Before You Submit Your Resume

You’ll want to consider a number of factors before you begin applying and interviewing for associate dentist positions, including: 

• Where do you want to live and work? Remember, licensure varies from state to state!
• What career path do you want to follow? 
• What practices are in the area you want to work and best fit your career needs?

These may seem like obvious things to consider, but in the rush of wanting to begin your career, they may be overlooked. This can lead to career shifts in the long run, so be sure to take the time to think through where you see yourself in both the short-term and long-term. 

Once you’ve thought through those career-direction questions, it’s time to begin applying for positions. Take time to carefully prepare your resume, customizing it for each position.

At the same time, you can prepare some additional items for your interviews. Here are some important tips to consider before you have your first interview: 

4 Dentistry Interview Preparation Tips 

1. Create an “Elevator Pitch”: Introductions

Almost every job interview starts with the classic “Tell me about yourself” prompt. In the heat of the moment, this question can be one of the hardest to answer quickly and concisely.

Knowing that your dentistry interviews will begin with similar questions, it’s helpful to prepare a short statement that highlights key aspects you’d like to share with the interviewer. Reflect on what motivated you to apply, as well as standout experiences from your education, externships, or leadership roles. 

This is also a chance to show some personality; after covering your professional background, consider adding a light mention of a favorite hobby or interest. It offers the interviewer a glimpse of who you are beyond your qualifications.

2. Start the Conversation: General Questions

After introductions, the interviewer will ask general questions about you, your education, and your experience. As part of your interview prep, anticipate the questions that will be asked outside the initial “Tell me about yourself” icebreakers and plan how you want to answer them. 

Practicing your answers to some common questions can relieve some of your stress during the interview and allow you to focus on answering tough questions that may come later. Here are a few examples:

• What three adjectives best describe you?
• What experiences or strengths do you feel make you a good fit for this position?
• Where do you see your dental career heading over the next several years?
• If you found yourself in a disagreement with a colleague, how would you approach resolving it?
• Can you share a professional or academic accomplishment you're especially proud of?

You’ll also want to bring questions along to ask your interviewer about the practice. Remember, they aren't just interviewing you for the position they have open — you're also interviewing them to see if the practice is a good fit. The more prepared you are, the more you can learn about them.

For example, you may want to ask the interviewer about the practice’s vision and goals for the future. If your vision for your career doesn't align with that of the practice, you may not be the right fit for one another. Another question you can ask is where the practice hopes to be in ten years. You want to work with a practice that's intent on growing, so you have the chance to grow with them.

3. Understand the Practice: Specifics

Next, anticipate the specific questions that you could be asked during the interview that directly apply to the role of associate dentist. While these may or may not be brought up during the interview, having an answer for pointed questions or specific processes or procedures will bolster your confidence. 

• How do you know if a patient needs an X-ray?
• Which local anesthetics and administration techniques are you most comfortable using in routine procedures?
• Can you share an example of how you've helped a nervous or anxious patient feel more comfortable during treatment?
• How do you typically explain treatment needs, like a filling, to help patients understand and feel confident in their care?
• On average, how long does it take you to complete a routine tooth extraction?

Conversely, small details about a practice can have a big impact on how that practice will treat a new employee. Generate a few specific questions to ask to help you understand the environment of the practice and what you might expect if you were to join their team.

For example, if you're interviewing with a practice that has been run by three generations of the same family, you may ask about that family culture and how it impacts the day-to-day operations, core values, work-life balance, and more. 

You may also want to ask about the existence of mentorship opportunities or if they are open to mentorship-to-ownership. Being mentored can be a highly valuable way to learn more after dental school. Engaging in programs like this shows that the practice is committed to the growth of its employees and providing knowledge to younger dentists . 

4. Clarify the Day-to-Day: Your Role 

During your interview, you’ll want to discuss what an average day could look like for you if you were to join the practice. There are a number of dentist interview questions you can ask potential employers about this topic, including: 

What would a typical day look like in this role? Pay close attention to the response you’re given to this question. In particular, be aware if they provide you with vague statements, as that could be a sign of disorganization within the practice. 

How would I be assigned patients in this role? There should be a plan for how patients will be assigned to you, especially if there's currently only one other dentist in the practice. Will you be responsible for finding them all on your own, either as new patients or as referrals? Are they evenly split between the dentists in the practice? 

How are performance reviews handled? Since your assessment at one dental practice could affect your ability to get hired at another one later on, you want to make sure there is a sensible process. You should know what they're looking for and how they gauge whether you're meeting their expectations. 

By asking these questions, you can avoid unfavorable situations at work, especially when you're just out of dental school and searching for your first position in the field. 

What To Know About Life After Dental School

After dental school, you’ll likely have a number of questions as you begin your career. One of them may even be: where do I start? 

Download our Post-Dental School Survival Guide to find out about starting your career, decisions you can expect to make, additional skills you may want to learn, and more!

About Treloar & Heisel

Treloar & Heisel, an EPIC Company, is a premier financial services provider to dental and medical professionals across the country. We assist thousands of clients from residency to practice and through retirement with a comprehensive suite of financial services, custom-tailored advice, and a strong national network focused on delivering the highest level of service.

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