There is, of course, no way to guarantee a dental hygiene job interview. But, using this week’s tips will probably bring you as close as anything else out there.
I’ve written a lot about the specifics of creating job-seeking materials such as resumes, cover letters and so forth so they really stand out for you. Believe it or not you can do one more thing with those documents that gives you a leg up.
Most dental hygiene job seekers create a basic resume, send it off to job openings and cross their fingers. When everyone else is doing the same thing, it’s hard to stand out. So going the extra mile with your documents and then putting them all together to create an organized and creative package will almost guarantee you get an interview.
I call this a resume kit – a suite of documents (resume, cover letter, testimonial sheet, CAR sheet and business card) encased in a professional and even creative-looking package such as a folder or eye-catching clip.
Extra work? Extra time? Extra expense? Yes. Yes. And yes.
Employers believe the extra work, time and expense translates into an employee that will do more and be more on the job.
So let me share with you four key tips for creating a great resume kit.
Consistency
Make sure the design, fonts, colors, and paper are all in agreement with one another. The entire kit should look intentional – as though you carefully planned it all out. It should look like a family of documents.
Don’t Skimp
If your kit looks like you took the easiest path (cheapest paper, no color, standard font(s), little or no design) it won’t have the affect it could. Granted, it will be good, but not great.
So spend a little bit on paper, consider having your documents printed with a laser printer (either one you own or at an office supply store). And most important, invest some time or money into the design of your documents.
In-Person Delivery
There’s only one thing better than thoughtful resume kit and that’s a thoughtful resume kit that is hand-delivered to an office. Whether you are applying for a job or just sharing your materials without an opening, there’s no replacement for getting the chance to see the great person you are live and in the flesh.
Being able to meet the front office person and possibly others when handing them the resume kit completes the package so they can put your materials with your face and personality. It helps create and build on connections that are critical to you getting hired.
Holding it Together
Some will either paperclip or staple these documents together. That certainly works, but take it a step further and finish your resume kit with professional looking folder or some other binding that grabs attention and makes you look like you are organized. You can get a black (or other color) folder for about dollar each at any office supply store or online.
Summing it up
Again, this yet one more way to stand out and differentiate yourself from other job applicants. Going the extra mile requires a little bit of extra time, expense, and effort, but it’s what all but guarantees lots of job interviews and opportunities to land a great dental hygiene job.
