RESUME
The first step in getting any job is to have a stellar resume. Your resume will not only give a summary of your job history, you want to use all parts of your job history to stress how it will help you in dental assistant jobs. Stress your people skills from other positions that have required you to work with the public, technical skills that make you more marketable overall, as well as your technical experience.
You should list any skills and certificates that you may have as the main points on your resume. Employers are not going to search through your resume to find out if you are qualified. Your resume should have your skills highlighted so when employers are skimming through multiple resumes yours stands out. Ask a friend or professional resume writer to help you fine tune your best attributes.
If you are just beginning to wonder about working in a dental assistant job, you may be wondering what kind of technical certificates would go on your resume. It is essential to be qualified for this job, so you need to know what to do so you are qualified.
SCHOOL
In order to get a dental assistant job, you will need to attend a technical school. While in this program, the instructors will make sure that you know what kind of tools to use, the structure of the mouth, and other job requirements. You can usually attend school part time for about one year, with length varying among different schools and days attended.
Aside from being a requirement for this type of position, having your certificate provides you the opportunity to work with the job placement office to help find a position. Your counselors will be able to advise you on what employers are looking in your area, as well as being a great source for resume help.
EARNINGS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
So, if you think you have what it takes to work in one of these dental assistant jobs, you might want to read up on working conditions and income. The setting for dental jobs is a clean, well lit, and sanitary office environment. Dental assistants will have access to gloves, masks, and eyewear in order to protect from potential infectious disease contact.
Most dental assistant jobs require employees to work between 35-40 hours each week. Some of these hours may be evenings or weekend hours to accommodate patient schedules. Dental assistant jobs also require employees to take precautions and safety procedures because of the exposure to radiographic equipment for x-rays of the mouth. While there are the inherent risks associated with any medical profession, dental assistant jobs are usually fairly low risk.
WHAT MAKES YOU PROFICIENT
Working in dental assistant jobs does not mean that you merely need to go to school and impress your employer with a great resume. While those things will help you get the job, this is more than just a technical field. You will be dealing with people having work done on one of their biggest assets; their smile.
Having some prior knowledge of the dental assistant job responsibilities will help your candidacy for this position. If you have had experience working in a medical setting, it can contribute to your success. The importance of being able to comprehend medical tools, terminology, names of drugs and x-rays are all very important to people going into dental assistant jobs. Without prior knowledge, you will have to be able to comprehend a large amount of information quickly, as the dental assistant jobs present unique challenges.
If you have the real desire to make a difference in someone’s life, working in dental assisting jobs can definitely give you the satisfaction you are looking for. Giving someone a smile that they are proud to show is one of the most rewarding things you can do for them. It’s a cosmetic difference that has health benefits as well, since poor dental care can spread to other parts of the body.
The outlook for getting a dental assistant job is good. As the baby boomer generation ages, dental care is becoming more and more of a necessity. The demand will not be shrinking any time soon, and forming a relationship with your dental office and patients makes getting a dental assistant job a great career choice.
