Tips for the new dental school grad

What advice do you have for new grads interviewing with a DSO for their first job?

New grads will be hitting the streets this May and June. I spend a lot of time speaking with new graduates and here are some of the common problems and pitfalls I see them experiencing. A lot of them get “trapped” into specific things that end up being a huge barrier for their first year of success. I also see that most new grads end up leaving their first practice in less than a year of being there because it really wasn’t what they had anticipated.

Tip number one: Be open to different locations. I’ve noticed many dental school graduates have decided they want to be in a big city, someplace accessible by public transportation. There are a lot of city dentists out there. There’s a lot of competition. They’re just gung-ho about location versus trying to find a practice where they will build a good skillset and get the mentorship and the experience that we’re looking for as recruiters. They will have bigger earning potential when they leave that type of practice to relocate. So, keep an open mind. Maybe live in the city and travel outside to practice. 

Tip number two: I notice that today new grads consistently ask about a salary. Dentists don’t really work on salaries. It’s better to be on a collection or production-based model because they end up having a bigger earning potential. So, beware of places that only offer a salary or a per diem, because you could end up just being a set of hands to do dentistry for them and nothing else. You’re just going to work hard there, and not actually make what you’re supposed to earn. So, any place that only offers a salary, run the other way. 

I like to tell the new grads, don’t be scared of being on a collection basis. If you’re at a busy productive practice, you will make money. Don’t be worried about those per diems. None of that stuff should matter if there is a good patient base, and if you truly are confident in what you do.

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Tip number three: during the interview process, make sure you truly listen, and don’t make judgmental comments. I talk to candidates all day every day and they have these preconceived notions about what they want, and what they’ve heard through their friends. My advice is, go to an interview with a clear mind. Just listen to the opportunities, hear more about what that recruiter or hiring manager is telling you. Truly listen, don’t put what your friends’ experiences are into your head and have a biased opinion. Just listen and have an open mind about these opportunities. In the end, you will need to “trust your gut” to make a decision. 

Tip number four: be clear in your communication. I have noticed that a candidate will say, ‘I would love to come in for an interview Wednesday after 12.’ What does after 12 mean? If you get out of school at 12, you really can’t get to the practice until 2 pm, right? Be truly thoughtful in your thinking, be strategic, and be clear and concise. Be a great communicator. And if you can’t make it, don’t just ‘yes’ it out. If there are things that you don’t want to do or can’t do, don’t just ‘yes’ these people. It’s not okay. Be clear and concise when you communicate and are scheduling interviews, during the interview, and with any follow up. 

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Tip number five: ask questions during the interview. I’ve noticed that a lot of dental school students sometimes get nervous and say they don’t have questions. But you do have questions! After the interview you’ll have even more questions. Which is fine, but don’t you think you could have saved yourself, and everyone else, some time if you had done more research and asked those questions during the interview? New grads may get shy about who to ask what questions during interviews. They think that they can’t ask the recruiter specific things, but then they can ask the hiring manager specific things. Then they hold back on asking the third person they talk to something else. My advice is to just write out all your questions, put them all on one sheet of paper, and then hammer them out during the interview. 

Then, whatever doesn’t get answered, make sure you highlight those questions and figure out a way to get them answered. This goes back to communication. Do your research, write it out, take the time, don’t just do these things halfway. Dental school students often just go in for the interview to see what it’s like without doing any research. And the next thing you know, they’re signing an agreement for the worst place ever and it ends up not working out. So, take the time to do the research, ask the right questions, communicate clearly, and think things through.

 

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Remember, there’s no right or wrong decision on where you want to work, be it a small private practice, mid-size group practice, or a medium to large sized DSO. As a new grad, you need to find a place that will help you develop your skillset, become more confident, have mentors, and be able to better market yourself to start or own your own practice (even at a DSO!). When working at a DSO, you do have all these options because typically there is more than one doctor at a practice, which allows for good collaboration, mentorship, and the ability to become more confident during your first year out of dental school. 

 

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About the Author

Priyanki Amroliwala, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition at 42 North Dental, is a seasoned Talent Acquisition Leader who has been working with 42 North Dental for almost seven years. She specializes in talent acquisition/doctor recruiting for 109+ practices across the New England/Northeast/Mid-West region for 42 North Dental, focusing on doctors and specialists. Priyanki has 15 plus years’ experience, most recently in healthcare including the private duty home care and senior care sectors. She graduated from the University of Baltimore, Merrick School of Business, in 2006, specializing in Marketing Communications.

Priyanki is well-known in the dental and healthcare industries and believes that recruiting is her calling. One of her passions is to be “at service for others,” which is why she loves helping her clients and candidates. She enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, and trying out new foods at local restaurants.

42 North Dental is a leading dental support organization supporting over two dozen practice brands in over 109+ locations. Our mission is to eliminate barriers to quality patient care by providing business and administrative support to dental practices. We present opportunities that help doctors and their teams professionally advance while growing the business to its fullest potential. We are a partner that offers dental providers clinical autonomy and equity ownership, as well as non-clinical solutions and the business support needed to increase the value of your practice.