Dental Hygienist Resume Archives - Page 9 of 11 - RDH Resumes and Career Guidance

E-mail Addresses Dental Hygiene Job Seekers Should Avoid

September 8, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

First impressions are huge for dental hygiene job seekers and one of your first with potential employers is your e-mail address. Is yours making a good impression?

Here are five types of e-mail addresses dental hygiene job seekers should avoid using and two that work great.

All In the Family (example: markandemily@gmail.com)
E-mail addresses are free and most people have more than one nowadays. Never use a shared one – it makes it look like you aren’t savvy enough to create your own, which could lead offices to think you aren’t up to speed on the latest technology. Or they might also wonder if a message will actually get to YOU.

Provocative or Vain (example: 2hot4u@gmail.com or bicardigirl@gmail.com )
It used to be fun to come up with interesting or unforgettable e-mail addresses – sorta like a vanity license plate – but that’s so 1990s. When applying for a job, you really need to portray an air of complete professionalism. The only similar exception to this at the bottom – when it relates to your passion for dental hygiene.

Too Much Information (example: emily1976@gmail.com)
Sometimes when we can’t have just our name we put it in combination with something like an important year in our life. Caution: for those sensitive to age discrimination this may be a dead giveaway.

Not Enough Information (example: emr90@gmail.com)
Some create cryptic addresses or ones that just have initials and a number. These addresses are harder to type in and impossible to remember. If it’s hard to type in, you run the risk they will type it wrong and you’ll never hear from them (even though they tried).

Mixing Work with Personal (example: emily@monarchdental.com)
Some employers give you an e-mail address… for work (servicing clients, communicating with suppliers, etc.), not for personal reasons. You’ll put a bad taste in a potential employers mouth if you use your work e-mail to apply for a job with them. Whether true or not, they might assume you sent it while at work – an even bigger no-no.

Here’s the right way to create a professional e-mail address that helps your chances of getting that job.

Really Good (example: emilyjonesRDH@gmail.com or emily@emilyjonesrdh.com)
Create an address with your first and last name and throw in RDH at the end. There’s a good chance that adding RDH will guarantee you can include your first and last name without any need for numbers or symbols. Your name is your most important brand symbol (think of it as your company name) – you want that in front of potential employers as much as possible so it sticks.

Also Acceptable (examples: emilylovesteeth@gmail.com or smilemakeremily@gmail.com)
If you have a flare for creativity, you can create some fun ones that are memorable and not out of line as a job applicant. I still don’t think this type is best but I also don’t think it will hurt your chances.

Dental Hygiene Resume Objectives that Fail

August 27, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

In my opinion – and I think I’m safe because it’s shared with lots of resume writers – that section at the top of most dental hygiene resumes called “Objective” is by far the biggest waste of space on your entire resume.

At least if you write it like many do.

The number one goal of a resume should be to stand out and be different. Unfortunately, objective statements too often read exactly the same: “To obtain a job in dental hygiene with a great office,” or something similar.

Isn’t that every applicant’s intent – how does that make you stand out?

Simply put, the objective statement on a resume is antiquated. And the worst crime of all is it’s located near the top of the resume – as though it’s one of the most important features.

There’s a better way to use that space that will help you differentiate yourself from other hygienists. So here are five guidelines or ideas for making the most of that space:

Give it a better title. Instead of “Objective” call it “About Me” or even “About Amber” (insert your own name)
Keep it at the top of the page, just below your name (it’s still important). When done right, this statement can help give an employer better insight about you than anything else on the page.
Keep it short. One to two sentences in most cases, and somewhere between 35 and 50 words. If you get too wordy they won’t read it.
Talk about your personal brand – the two or three things that make you especially unique or different (yes, everyone has a personal brand).
Talk about the type of work situation you seek. But do it in a way that continues to sell you. Between the lines an employer should be able to read that you will achieve results for them by working well with the staff and making patients happy.
Finally, one alternative, or possibly an add-on to the statement is to share a story of why you became a hygienist. Stories are both engaging and can give readers great insight into you. Just keep it short and with a point, then go into your brand the work situation you seek.

Simple as that, right?

Well, not everyone loves to come up with this stuff. So here are a couple samples to hopefully get you started:

Example One: “As a focused yet compassionate dental hygienist, I am confident in my skill and ability to create great patient experiences and look forward to working with a fun and awesome team of hard-working dental professionals.”

Example Two: “I became a dental hygienist because I loved how I felt after visiting my hygienist – she made me feel good inside and out. Now I get to do the same for others, sharing my love for oral health with a great team of compassionate professionals.”

Problematic Dental Hygienist Resume Information

August 6, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

Last week I talked about the two most important things dental employers want in an RDH candidate. I promised this week I would cover things they wish you would put on your dental hygienist resume that you might NOT want included.

I’m not aware of anything illegal about these things they want, but recognize that employers are seeking the easiest path to the best possible candidate. Like you, they have their own interests to look after so don’t take it the wrong way but realize this information could hurt you.

1. Multiple Phone Numbers

Why? So if they can’t reach you at one, they can try another. I am all about simplicity – one phone + one e-mail = less confusion less resume space and less chance you miss their call.

There’s a cool thing called voicemail (or even texting). If they can’t reach you at your only number, they should leave a message. Take it a step further, get a free Google Voice account and give out that number to protect your privacy.

2. Salary Requirements

Dental employers will say, “I need this so I know you are a good fit.” That’s true, but some will use it to low-ball their offer. I say, YOU should have just as much say in knowing if it’s a good fit.

Tell them you are “flexible” then immediately turn the table and ask them what the range is. If they are insistent on a figure, go one of two directions.

(1) Tell them you have researched the industry average and that it’s ____; or

(2) Give a wide range and tell them you are willing to negotiate.

In knowing a range, make sure you understand the average in your area. Local dental staffing offices will know, and you can also check payscale.com.

Note: One possible win-win, if they offer something meager, is to agree to that rate, if they agree to a six-month review and adjustment to your rate, provided the review is favorable.

3. Home Address

There’s three reasons they may want this information: (1) If you are close and have transportation issues you still have a shot at getting to work (via a neighbor or mass transit); (2) similarly, if they need you at work sooner than expected or to fill in for someone it can be done more easily; and (3) if you are close, you may already know existing or potential patients thus strengthening new patient marketing and retention efforts.

Unless you live ultra close (a few miles or less), I say leave it off. If it comes down to you and another applicant, the tie-breaker could be who lives closer.

4. All Previous Employers

They want to know everyone you worked for as it may be someone they know – perhaps a trusted colleague they can talk with about you.

If you left a job on a bad note, got fired, or are searching but don’t want the current boss to know, you really need to think about including that information. The dental community is competitive but also tight-knight. If it’s the only job you have to put on your resume then you may just have to roll the dice on including it.

One option is to disclose in your cover letter (in bold) that you would appreciate the confidentiality of your application. To avoid any red flags, include why you are asking for this.

7 Things to Dump From Your Dental Hygiene Resume

June 18, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

I confess, I hate house cleaning! My wife, Tracie, actually kinda likes it – guess that’s partly why she likes practicing dental hygiene so much.

If I had to pick a favorite “I’ll-do-that” house cleaning task it would be emptying the trash. When I gather it up and take it outside it feels like a burden has been lifted – purging junk just purifies the soul, I suppose.

So this week, I want you to do the same with your resume and have listed here seven things to dump from your resume.

1. Dump the Wordiness Write your resume as tight (few words) as you can. Last week we talked about the value of lots of white space in your formatting. The more experience you have, the harder it is to find white space – tight writing can help with that. But you also want to use words sparingly so that your resume doesn’t look as intimidating to read.

Bad: “I started a new patient program that included an office tour and sit-down meeting with myself and the doctor. We improved patient retention by more than 25 percent.”

Good: “Implemented new patient orientation program, elevating retention by 25%.”

2. Discard the “I”s This ties into the last example. Did you notice we started the first sentence with “I” and the second one with “Implemented?” By eliminating the pronoun and going straight to the verb the sentence gets a jump start. Studies show it drive’s the reader’s attention directly to what you did – resume readers are conditioned to look for these active words. Start all your bullet-point descriptions with them. If you’re stumped, here’s a pretty good list of them

3. Trash the Typos! This should go without saying, but it’s shocking how many resumes contain obvious typos – and some employers will hold it against you. We all make them (yes, me too). So proof-read it as much as you can but, your best defense is have one or two others read it also. Consider hiring a professional, if your friends don’t feel confident either.

4. Throw Out the Objective Statement As I mentioned last week, most resumes begin with an objective that is some sort of ho-hum vague statement about your career objective. Get rid of it – everyone has the same objective! Instead, share your personal brand – who you are, what they will get when they hire you, what makes you unique or different. Keep it short (1-2 sentences) and succinct. Think of this as sort of like an “elevator pitch” – that brief statement you make when someone asks, “What do you do (for work)?”

5. Delete the Tasks Many hygienists focus too much of their resume on things that all hygienists do. For example, “Took x-rays,” “Provided scaling and root planning,” or Educated patients.” If that’s all you have right now you can survive with it, but there is much a better way.

Begin thinking about and collecting (over the course of your career) results, accomplishments, achievements, experiences, specialized training, and unique personality traits or mannerisms you have. These are all differentiators – things that are unique to you – and they are powerful to your job hunt, including the interview phase.

I steer my clients toward a functional style of resume (see our article from two weeks ago). In a functional style you have an opportunity to showcase what’s different about you right near the top in it’s own section. Keep track of your differentiators so you can really shine in this section by highlighting results, instead of just listing tasks.

6. Eliminate the Mailing Address Simply put, you don’t need to include a mailing address on your resume – that’s old school! There are two great alternative methods of communication (phone and e-mail) that are faster and more convenient for both you and potential employers.

The second reason is dental offices may use where you live against you – believing that if two equal candidates live 10 and five miles from the office, the latter will have the advantage. There’s a pretty decent chance your physical address won’t even come up during the interview stage, so just leave it off.

7. Remove the “Extras” Aside from your name, contact information, about me, skills/results, work history, and education, most hygienists really don’t need any other resume wording when applying for a general clinical dental hygiene job.

Some hygienists tend to want to add extra things like: references information; licensure/certifications, continuing education classes, awards/recognition, memberships, and component participation, published articles and volunteer service (related and unrelated).

Unless you really need to fill up some space on your resume, I would suggest leaving those things off. If you have lots of extras or have done other dental industry jobs in a non-clinical setting, then you should consider setting up a website and detailing it all out there. Especially if you are seeking something different than just an average clinical position.

Get Hired RDH #32: The Great Picture-On-Your-Resume Debate

May 30, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from hygienists has to do with putting their picture on their resume.

It makes sense on a lot of levels – many feel a measure of vulnerability by doing so.

Let me be clear – putting a picture on a resume is a personal decision. I give hygienists I work with my thoughts on it and then encourage them to decide without another word from me.

I’ve read lots and lots of articles about it and heard most (if not all) of the reasons for and against, so my approach is based on not just actual experience but also many opinions.

Based on what I’ve written, and what many of our products at GetHiredRDH.com indicate, you can probably guess I favor putting your picture on your resume.

Let me acknowledge some of the arguments against. These include privacy concerns, fears of age discrimination, cost or time involved in getting professional pictures taken, and some simply don’t like how they appear in pictures.

Why You Want Your Picture on Your Resume
Before I address those concerns, let me start with the main reason to include your picture on your resume. When you market anything (product or person) you need to create differentiators – things that make you stand out or appear different.

Since not very many hygienists put a picture on a resume it’s a great way to differentiate yourself. Additionally, it makes the document look sharp and professional – like you put extra time into it. As an employer, “do I want to hire the person that looks like they put the least amount of time, effort or expense into their resume or the most?”

Translation: “If they put this much into their resume, maybe they will put extra effort into their job, too.”

When a resume has those qualities of standing out – it will for sure get extended attention and time from the employer. They will look at it longer and (hopefully) notice other things about you – your skills, experience, etc.

Privacy Concerns
Privacy is a serious issue today, but I believe a picture on a resume you give to a select number of people doesn’t rise to the same level as other things we do to – almost without even thinking. We create social media pages and plaster pictures and information about ourselves that potentially anyone could get their hands on if they had the skills and interest to do so (remember, nothing is 100% secure online).

We also routinely give bank tellers, hotel computers, and restaurant servers our credit card information. And most of us use WiFi connections to transmit all kinds of data. Security breaches of these kinds happen all the time and can be very disruptive and distressing.

However, yes, there are legit privacy concerns for some. I had a co-worker that had a restraining order against a former boyfriend who just wouldn’t leave her alone. As a result, she had to take lots of measures to protect herself – I would imagine a picture on a resume would at least make her feel uneasy and I understand that.

Discrimination (Based on Age or Appearance)
Unfortunately this, too, is real. For sure, there are some who will have it set in their head what the ideal hygienist looks like.

First question: Do you really want to work for someone that wants you because your hair, how old you are, or some other physical feature that has nothing to do with your ability to connect with patients or skill as a hygienist? Even if you ARE what they are looking for – you wouldn’t want that because it could be a red flag for what’s to come.

If a dentist hires exclusively for cosmetic reasons there is likely a pattern of many bad decisions in their practice that will ultimately hurt both themselves and everyone working for them. Who would want to be in THAT practice?

I don’t believe that the vast majority of dentists are discriminating based on age or beauty. I think there’s a larger segment who are overly-focused on wealth, which is more understandable from the perspective of them being small business owners and needing a profit to stay in business.

Point number three, they are going to see what you look like eventually. So if they are the discriminating type they are saving you the trouble of coming in where they will cast their judgment on you in person.

CareerBuilder.com found in their research that 90 percent of all hiring managers will “Google” the names of people there are interested in interviewing. They want to know what you look like, maybe a little bit about your personality, and if there are any red flags – simple as that.

Adding your picture to your resume may take some of the curiosity out of searching for you on the Internet. Not entirely, which is why I advise creating online profiles on sites like LinkedIn and possibly Facebook, too. But it does help you control better what employers see.

It also helps prevent mistaken identity. There are other Doug Perry’s in the world – in fact my sister recently sent me an article about one that is a convicted serial killer in Washington (I grew up in Oregon, but now live in Utah). I hope no one mistakes me for pictures they find of that guy!

Cost, Time and “I Don’t Like”
I think everyone is capable of having a nice, professional picture taken of them. Find a good photographer (not necessarily Target or Sears). If you need to save money, make look for a photography student or someone just starting out and just have them take lots of pictures to choose from.

Yes, it can cost some dollars, but this is your career you are talking about. This the place where you will be spending enormous amounts of time and hopefully making a great financial living – isn’t something that is such a big part of our life worth the investment in things like this?

One final recommendation is that you get some shots in both business formal dress and clinical attire. I often opt for the clinical attire because it, psychologically, helps the dentist more clearly envision you as their hygienist.

Wrapping it Up
Again, using a picture on your resume is a personal decision and there are legitimate reasons you may not want to, but in my opinion those that do have the advantage.

In the end, this is your career, your life and your resume, and you have to do what’s best for you.

E-mail Addresses Dental Hygiene Job Seekers Should Avoid

Dental Hygiene Resume Objectives that Fail

Problematic Dental Hygienist Resume Information

7 Things to Dump From Your Dental Hygiene Resume

Get Hired RDH #32: The Great Picture-On-Your-Resume Debate

Creating a Transitional Resume for a Dental Hygienist

Contact GetHiredRDH Now

Positive Resume Action Words

Passive vs. Active Writing

Positive Personality Adjectives

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