When you are interviewing for a new job, it’s crucial to be well prepared. Dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, and anyone looking to work in a dental practice will know that these jobs are highly competitive – so it’s especially important to impress at an interview.
In addition to researching the practice in advance, it is also important to think about not only the questions you might be asked, but also the question you’d like to ask the interviewer.
It can be difficult to know exactly what questions to pose. After all, you want to make the best impression possible and show that you are the perfect candidate for the role. But at the same time, you need to find out as much as you can about the position and the practice so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to accept the offer. It can be easy to get caught up in answering questions and forget that as an interviewee, you also have the opportunity to find out more about the role, the practice and the team.
So what should you ask in an interview for a dentist, dental nurse, or hygienist position? As a dental recruitment agency, we know what makes for a good interview and which questions will help set you apart from other candidates.
We have put together a list of our top 5 questions that will help to give you a better understanding of the practice, to make a great impression on your interviewer, and to decide if this is the right job for you..
#1. What does a typical day look like in this role?
This question is aimed at helping you get a good understanding of the role and what your day-to-day duties would be. It can also give you an idea of the practice’s expectations for what a typical day should look like. It's an ideal question to ask if you have any concerns about the role or want to make sure that it is a good fit for your skills and experience.
This varies with different positions, but this is the ideal time to establish the patient split (NHS/Pvt), how full the diary has been, and the average appointment time. As a nurse you may want to know if there are reception duties involved.
#2. How would you describe the practice culture?
When you are interviewed for a new job, you need to be able to determine if the practice culture is a good fit for you and if the practice’s values align with your own. Culture is something that an interviewer can often feel passionate about, so look out for their body language. Do they sit up straighter? Are they smiling and nodding? Is there a smile on their face as they answer you? These are all great signs! You want to work with people who love where they work, so this is an important question to ask.
#3. What dental courses or further education do you offer?
This is a great question to ask - it shows that you care about your own career development. You want to work where employees are supported in their ongoing training with career progression opportunities, and where you are likely to be promoted from within the practice. Dental professionals who are given the tools to grow are happier in their jobs, perform better and stay for longer. Dental practices that invest in employees attract top talent and have low staff turnover. Those with high employee retention will often have more satisfied patients as well.
The answer to this question will tell you whether they will be able to fulfil your needs as a dental professional.
#4. What specialisms do you offer?
This is an important question to ask if you are interested in expanding your skills and knowledge base. Dental practices often have different specialties - they may offer orthodontics, whitening, composites, veneers, clear aligners, digital technology, etc, and it’s important that you know where the practice fits into so that you can understand what learning opportunities you have, what expertise you bring and what kind of patients they see on a daily basis.
#5. Is there anything else I can do or provide to help you make your decision?
This question shows that you are genuinely interested in the role and willing to go above and beyond to make a good impression - it can help you stand out and, in some cases, could even be the deciding factor between you and another candidate.
If you are currently looking for a new dental position, get in touch with our team. We can help you to find the perfect role that suits your needs, skills, and experience with access to jobs nationwide across all dental specialisms.