Things You'll Need:
- Resume paper
- Your work and school records
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Step 1
Do some research about who the dental office is looking to hire. Make contact with dental assistants and dental offices, and find out which types of people did well in this position, what qualities make a good dental assistant, and what types of things may have caused incompatibilities. Don't be shy; you'll be surprised what people will tell you if you just ask. Email is a great way to go in this case because it gives your contact a chance to think about their answer, and give you the most useful response.
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Step 2
Gather your information. Have all of your work and education history together before you begin writing; this includes any pertinent dates, job titles and educational program names.
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Step 3
Expand upon your experience. You are not filling out a job application where you simply list where you worked and for how long. For each item in your history, whether it was a job or a degree you earned, ask yourself, "What did I accomplish and earn during my time there?"
For example, instead of just writing "Receptionist at John Smith Dentist Office," follow it up with a couple of bullet points saying things such as, "Implemented new filing system. Assisted in follow up communications with patients. Mastered proprietary scheduling system." This lets the potential employer know your capabilities. -
Step 4
Include as much as you have to, but no more. If you have little or no experience in the dental field aside from your education, don't be afraid to include other, seemingly unrelated jobs on your resume. These jobs show that you are a hardworking, reliable candidate. There are skills that carry across the different industries.
This being said, if you have work experience at three dental offices, you may want to leave out that you were working as a waitress at night or that you were a lifeguard when you were eighteen. Try to keep your image as professional as possible. -
Step 5
Show the employer that you know what he or she wants. This is where your research comes in handy. In your resume and cover letter, make it clear that you understand what the job duties are and what type of person is good for the job. Then, highlight the qualities you have that fit this description. It will not only make you a more attractive candidate on paper, it will show the person doing the hiring that you are serious about your interest in the position.
