How to Look for a Dental Lab Technician Job

Dental lab technicians make molds of mouths and teeth.

Dental lab technicians make dental prosthetics prescribed by dentists or orthodontists. This includes braces, fillings, crowns, false teeth and mouth bridges. Technicians can specialize in a certain area depending on their training, which usually includes a high school diploma and one year certification program. Competition for these jobs is growing, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. You should follow some basic steps to help you land the job you want.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet Access
• Business Cards
• Resume

Instructions

1. Network with dental professionals as much as you can. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 58% of available jobs as lab technicians are within small and privately owned businesses. Use your connections with dentists and dental technicians to learn about available positions. Have business cards with your relevant contact information available. You can give the cards to potential employers or leave them on the desk of your own dentist's office with his or her permission.

2. Register for online job databases such as ihire.com, careerbuilder.com and monster.com. Employers will post positions to many different sites, so you will find more available positions if you look at several websites.

   You should also search job databases specifically geared towards dental professionals. Sites like dentaltechsearch.net and dentalassistant.net only list jobs related to the dental profession. Make sure your profile remains current.

3. Tell potential employers you are willing to relocate. Doing so will widen the number of jobs available to you.

4. Let friends and family know you are searching for a job so they can help get the word around to dental professionals. Be specific with them about your own credentials as well as what you want in terms of pay and working conditions. Personal connections have helped many lab technicians land jobs.

5. Network online with sites like linkedin.com. These sites are designed for professionals who want to make connections in their field of expertise. You can list your training, education and work experience

6. Browse classified ads on local news websites to see if businesses in your area are hiring. Follow up with phone calls or emails. Always have your resume on hand when doing phone interviews so you can refer to it when explaining your qualifications.

7. Visit companies you know have positions available. Taking the time to stop into the headquarters of a lab might make all the difference in your landing a job. Potential employees will be impressed with your initiative. And you'll have the opportunity to make a personal impression that employers can carry with them when they analyze your resume and credentials.

References

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical, Dental, and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
• CNN Money: How to Find a Job