Pursuing a career in the dental industry is incredibly rewarding. Interacting with patients, helping them achieve a beautiful and healthy smile, and working with a professional dental team makes every day interesting, exciting, and worthwhile.
To get your foot in the door of your dream dental job, you need a fantastic CV. Your CV is your very first point of contact with a hiring manager, so you need to make an excellent impression. You also need to stand out from all the other applicants so you can make the shortlist for the interview stage.
Read on for a guide to help you write the most appealing and attractive dental hygiene CV.
Personal Statement
Recruiters spend an average of 10 to 20 seconds looking at every CV that crosses their desk, so you need to make an impression immediately. The top of your CV should be concise, specific, and should be a good summary of your qualifications.
The personal statement is arguably the most challenging part of writing a CV. These 3 to 4 lines can be why you get interviewed or can send your CV to the recycling bin. It’s best to leave it for last, after you’ve written out all your work experience and education.
Your personal statement should show how you meet the requirements listed in the job post you are applying for. You should summarise your relevant experience and specific skills that your potential employer is looking for.
Work Experience
Your previous work experience should be listed in chronological order, with your most recent position at the top of the list. You should include the following information:
- Name of the practice
- Your position
- Time period and location of your employment
- Are they private, NHS, or mixed
- Procedures and specialist activities you performed
The final part is essential because it gives your potential employer a summary of your expertise. A bulleted list of procedures and other keywords related to your experience is effective and eye-catching.
If you’re gunning for a dental hygienist or dental associate job, don’t include work experiences that have nothing to do with the dental industry. However, if you are applying for an administrative position in a dental clinic, you should include all the administrative experience you have over the years. Again, it’s important to answer what the employer is looking for.
Qualifications
Include all relevant degrees, courses, and memberships from the most recent onward. If you have a long list of qualifications, just make sure to include all the qualifications that are most related to the dentistry job you are applying for.
Skills
Your list of skills will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants. If you learned advanced skills and procedures in internships, put them at the top of the list.
You can also include soft skills that will help you with the job you’re applying for. If you have an aptitude for teamwork or excellent communication skills (two crucial requirements for a person seeking a position in a dental clinic), you should list those.
Conclusion
The dental industry is booming, and there are many job opportunities available for all kinds of dental professionals. However, this doesn’t mean that the job application process will be easy. To get an interview slot, your CV should prove that you have the experience and qualifications your employer is looking for.
This simple guide will help you craft the perfect CV that will make hiring managers want another look at you!
Dental Talent is a job board for dentistry positions all over the UK. We are partnered with the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and we can help you save time and reduce recruitment costs. With over 8,000 monthly users, we are the best place to advertise and find the perfect candidate for you!