networking Archives - Page 2 of 3 - RDH Resumes and Career Guidance

Searching Stinks – How to Help Employers Find You

October 28, 2015 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

Have you ever been lost? I have! A couple Summers ago I was hiking in the High Uintah Wilderness area, located in Utah – about 45 minutes east of Park City. Our guide made some miscalculations on distances and what was supposed to be a 20 mile day hike, ended up being closer to 30 miles.

No shortage of great tasting water in the High Uintas Wilderness. That’s me taking a break.

That’s scary, but it’s not unlike how dental hygiene job seekers sometimes feel as they are searching for the right path to a job.

One of the strategies outdoor experts advise is to do things that make yourself find-able. In other words, if you have to move, leave a trace so you increase the odds someone will find you. So this week, let’s talk about five big traces (or strategies) you can leave behind for employers to find you.

1. Business Cards

This first one is really pretty old-school, but still important. Wherever you go, take with you a few of your business cards. Hand them out freely – to people you meet and talk to in all different settings (professional, casual or chance meeting).

2. Post Cards

I’ve talked lots about postcards over the years and how they help hygienists find jobs. Some of their success is due to timing – they get your postcard on or about the same day they need a temp or to hire someone new. But the hidden secret to their success is that they have a long life.

Some will simply hand or mail out a copy of their resume. This has a similar affect as a postcard, but the big difference is that postcards tend to get kept longer and out in the open than do resumes. Who would post a resume to a bulletin board? Hardly anyone. Who would post a postcard to a bulletin board? Lots of people if the information is useful (and what you are offering is useful).

3. Online Profiles

Ninety-two percent of all employers “Google” the names of job applicants they are considering for an interview. Two of the top sites that often come up when you Google someone’s name are LinkedIn and Facebook. These are great virtual bread crumbs to get back to you. Take advantage of that by fully creating a LinkedIn profile (make sure you fill it out completely – shouldn’t take longer than 10 min.). Your Facebook page is also often at the top of search results.

Online profiles give you a digital footprint of who you are so employers can begin to connect with you (or spot red flags). But they also communicate two important things employers all want in a new employee: (1) that you are tech-savy and (2) that you are current with trends. It’s worth taking the time to ensure they can find you on the Internet also in part because you don’t want there to be case of mistaken identity (mistaking someone else for you).

4. Conferences

Nothing can replace an in-person chat in the hallway at a conference, or sitting at a table with a dentist or office manager during the lunch of a conference. Those unplanned encounters are why 72% of all job openings that get filled are unadvertised (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

This may not lead to a job for years and years, but the repetition of this over and over again (year after year) will yield results so it’s never too late to start.

5. Your Network

Put the word out among your community of friends (dental or not) that you are looking for work. Most of your friends see a dentist – have them put some feelers out to their dentist or other contacts. Honestly, this is a big way in which people find jobs so don’t dismiss it as a long shot.

6. Office Visits

This can be very time-consuming, but also very worth-while. Simply drop-in, introduce yourself, tell them you are seeking a job, and leave them with some information (preferably your business card or postcard). Some might prefer to do this all in one day, but I think it might be more effective and easier for you to plan to do this for say 15 minutes each day for several weeks.

How ever you work that out, look at it as a way in which to make a more impressionable connection with people. Seeing your face, talking with you, and learning that you are great is so much more effective than any other way.

It’s quite frustrating to be looking for work and few opportunities are showing up on the job boards. But you can greatly improve your odds of employers finding you by doing the things mentioned above consistently and regularly until you land a great dental hygiene job.

Your Dental Hygiene Job Interview is Done, Now What?

October 26, 2015 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

You just finished a solid dental hygiene job interview. Now comes the waiting and wondering. Are you done marketing yourself – no way!

There are a few more things you can do to help win the job.

Thank You Card

Have you ever thought about sending the employer a thank you note after your interview? You should because most won’t do this and it adds a level of professionalism to your image. Here are a few guidelines:

Get it out fast: If possible, drop it off later that day or the next morning – that adds one more point of contact or reminder of how personable and friendly you are to the front office. If you can’t hand-deliver it then send a quick e-mail thank you note, or send one in the mail. Time is of the essence – give them as little time as possible between the interview and your note.
Hand-written: Writing it with a pen shows you took a little extra time and effort. However, if you have especially sloppy handwriting (it’s okay if it’s not perfect) consider typing it as that could distract from what you are trying to communicate.
Professional stationary: Again, you want to give the impression that you go the extra mile in everything, so if you have a nice stock of thank you note stationary (check your office supply store) it communicates a higher level of professionalism.
Business card: If you have a business card (and it’s advisable that you do), include one with the thank you note.

What should you write? This all depends on how the interview went, but you want to keep it very brief. Here are a few examples:

You feel like you might be lacking in a key area: Focus a comment or two on your biggest strength. Draw their attention away from the weakness. If you are certain you will not get an offer, take a gamble and address it, coupled with how you will make up for it. Example: “I recognize I only have one year of professional experience, but I also have four years of dental assisting in my background and worked closely with the hygienist observing and learning during that time.”
You didn’t say everything you wanted to include: Sometimes there are things you wish you would have been asked about because you had something really strong to say. Example: “I think I would be a great fit in your office as I’m excellent at building patient relations, and even have several friends who already go to your practice.”
You feel really good, that everything went near perfect: If you feel your interview was good then reinforce your strengths. Example: “Thank you for the opportunity to interview with you today. You mentioned the importance of finding someone nurturing for your patients. My co-workers have said, my strengths include treating patients like family. I think you have a wonderful office, and I would love to help continue the success you have achieved.”

Post-Interview Summary

Most of the time when you go into an interview you don’t know everything about a potential job or employer. But after spending 20-30 minutes with them at the interview you can learn quite a bit that maybe your resume and cover letter don’t emphasize. This is where a Post-Interview Summary document can prove useful.

It’s hard to tell you exactly what to put into it because you won’t know until you interview, but here are some suggestions to watch for:

Each question an employer asks has relevance to them. Are there things not in your resume or cover letter they asked about?
Did you notice on your way in any special equipment or software they use not addressed in your resume or cover letter?
Did you pick up on anything in the casual conversations and interactions you had with the employer or staff?

Things you noticed and heard that maybe aren’t emphasized as heavily in your resume or cover letter as they seemed to be when you were there are the things you should include in the Summary. You could also include any testimonial of a person they know.

The Summary is also simply a great way to show how you are different. Very few people will send a thank you note, but almost nobody will take the time to send a Summary. As a bonus this week, I am including here a FREE Post-Interview Summary Template to help get you started.

Working Your Network

If you haven’t done this already, take a really hard look around at your friends and family. Is there anyone who has any kind of connection to this office? Could be a patient, a friend-of-a-friend, or even a former employee there. Any connection could help you out by making a personal phone call or written letter to the office vouching for how great you are.

This kind of influence is extremely powerful if you have it and so it’s worth spending some time to figure that out. Sometimes you can get on Facebook and see some potential connections.

Summary

There are so many things you can do to land a great dental hygiene job – thank you cards, Post-Interview Summaries and working your network are only a few you can do after your job interview. Think through your own situation to see if your unique circumstances might call for some additional ideas to stand out and land a great dental hygiene job.

Most Dental Hygienists Can’t Do Enough of this One Thing…

May 13, 2015 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

It’s not just me saying it and it’s probably nothing new to you, but your most valuable dental hygiene job hunting combination is you and your friends.

Don’t get me wrong – job boards are extremely important – lots and lots of hygienists find work this way. Postcards have absolutely proven their merit in finding work for my clients. And a great resume beats even an average resume every time.

But those still don’t compare to who you know and a consistent effort to making new connections throughout your career.

According the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 70 percent of all jobs filled are done so without even advertising the job. Jobvite.com recently provided research that referred employees get hired on an average of about 1-2 weeks faster and report greater satisfaction with the job.

And all it amounts to is employers and job seekers communicating within their networks – but does YOUR name come up in the those conversations?

Here’s some quick reminders of ways launch your networking skills:

Most Important: When you begin networking shift your mindset from what others can do for you and instead focus on what you can do for them. There’s an old saying, “Help others get what they want, and they will help you get what you want.” Research studies have backed up this principle of reciprocity for a long time and it rarely if ever works in reverse.
Join and get involved in your local ADHA chapter/component (you won’t get anything out of simply joining, you have to participate regularly)
If you don’t have a chapter near you, consider starting your own or starting a simple study group of hygienists. Even if there are only a handful of hygienists in your local community, it really does help to get together regularly (quarterly) to talk about the profession and share best practices.
Re-acquaint yourself with previous employers and co-workers. Stay in contact with these people. Obviously some you never want to talk to again, but too often we severe ties with co-workers we do get along with and with social media these days it need not be so.
Use social media to foster and create new local relationships (ie LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, even Pinterest!). Don’t be afraid to connect with someone you don’t know or that you have only met once – some with shy away from that, but others will embrace and you can do a lot of good for your career by reaching out.
Focus extra attention on the network closest to you (within the radius you are willing to work). You never know where you will eventually land and so it’s good to reach out beyond your community, but the bulk of your efforts should be on connecting with those nearest to your and your career objectives.
Don’t think of networking as a quick job-hunting strategy – it’s best described as a career mindset. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. But that’s okay, a year from now or five years from now, you won’t care that you’ve been networking for five years. The only thing that will matter at that point is that you have an awesome collection of contacts you’ve helped out and who are anxious to now return the favor.

Getting Dental Hygiene Employers to Know Like and Trust YOU

January 7, 2015 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

Getting a potential employer to decide to hire you may seem daunting. But it’s really just a matter of helping them begin to know, like and trust you.

Credibility is one of the key forces behind the know-like-trust factor so it’s worth doing a few extra things in your job search to strengthen your credibility.

Here’s five suggestions, above and beyond your resume and job interviews, to create and build credibility with potential employers (as well as peers).

[Website Service]

1. Testimonials

If you only do one of these five things, let it be this. Over the course of your career gather letters of reference and testimonials from employers, co-workers and patients. You don’t have to ask everyone, but as you receive pats on the back, be they verbal or in writing, save them!

Keep a file of them and add them to a testimonial sheet that can accompany your resume whenever you apply for a job. Also, very seriously consider launching a website for yourself (a real .com address you can keep updated and ready for a new job hunt). We provide this service pretty inexpensively and can even show you how to keep it updated, including adding testimonials as the occur.

2. CAR Information

I’ve written previously about also keeping a CAR (Challenge Action Result) Sheet. This is documentation that you have experienced real-life, challenging situations, knew what action to take, and ended up with a positive result. Stories are powerful persuasion tools and the cool thing is you can use them in writing (on a CAR Sheet or website) or during a job interview – both are great platforms for establishing credibility.

3. Social Media (your own site and others)
There are several social media platforms you can use to build professional credibility.

Two great ones are Facebook and LinkedIn, but there are also ways to do it on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and others. I’ll suggest the former two as they are the ones I am most familiar and comfortable with.

Both platforms allow you to create a professional profile for yourself (basically your resume information). Even if you prefer not to expose the world to your personal Facebook page you can a professional page that is separate and only shows your dental hygiene self. LinkedIn is well established as the career social media site.

And both platforms allow you to join professional groups where you can co-mingle with other hygienists, dentists, assistants, front office personnel, and others in the dental field. But don’t just create a profile and abandon it, participate – share articles, share opinions, share your expertise. This is how you build your reputation, by simply showing up and participating.

When people see who you are behind the comments (your profile), that’s when the credibility-building (and networking) becomes magical. If you approach your networking with genuine-ness and helpfulness, and avoid complaining or gossiping, your credibility will soar.

I had a client tell me today she used LinkedIn to reach out and contact dentists in her area and actually landed an interview that way.

4. Association or Component Participation
A great way to get to know people is by serving them, and serving with them. Your local chapter of ADHA or CDHA, or even ADA are an incredible way to do this. Don’t just join the organization, get involved. If you only have an hour a week to put into it, that’s okay – offer it up to chapter leadership and see where that takes you.

Most associations would love to have someone come forward offering a little bit of their time. And in that process you will meet peers and other professionals that will see you as more than the average hygienist.

5. Written Contributions
There are numerous dental hygiene trade publications and blogs you may already be a subscriber to. Not only should you consume their information/articles you should participate in their comment section (assuming their publication is offered online). This too can offer you some big-time professional exposure.

And if you have an interest in research and writing, request an opportunity to submit an article of your work. Not only will you gain some exposure with your peers, you will also have some great content to share on your resume, profile page, or professional website that will make you shine like the tip of a new 11/12 scaler (okay, lame metaphor, but you get the point :-).

Finding Dental Hygiene Jobs from a Distance

October 2, 2014 By Doug Perry, Dental Hygiene Resume Coach

Finding dental hygiene jobs in the area you live in can be pretty challenging, right? How about trying to find a dental hygiene job from a distance – as in hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Sounds impossible!

It can for sure be harder, but not impossible.

So let’s talk about some ideas on how you can do this.

Research

It’s really important you get a handle on the situation where you want to move to. What’s an average salary there? Are there any jobs?

In talking with hygienists across the United States and Canada (I think I’ve now had at least one client in every state and province now), the problem of finding a dental hygiene job is shared. Some areas seem to be a little worse than others. A hygienist in Florida was telling me the other day that there are something like 19 dental hygiene schools there and that the average salary is well below the national average.

I haven’t verified that so if it’s incorrect I apologize, but that’s the kind of thing you would want to find out beforehand because it may impact your decision to even begin a search from a distance.

Licensure

The next thing you will need to consider, and hopefully this is obvious, is RDH licensure. How do you get it, what’s legal there and what’s not. Some states allow for anesthesia licensing and others don’t.

And you may want to consider, too, that if anesthesia licensing is new to the area you considering that many doctors may still not be comfortable with hygienists getting their patients numb – I hear lots of reports about that!

Decision Time

Once you’ve researched the area and have the licensing figured out. You have to decide how to conduct your job search. Will you do it completely from a distance? Will you visit there once or twice for a few days or even weeks? Or will you simply roll the dice and move there?

If you have family there it makes the whole process easier, but even then can be risky if you leaving a paying job behind.

It impacts some of the advice I give below so think that through carefully.

Networking

The absolute best and most important thing you can do is begin networking with other hygienists in the new area. You can find them on LinkedIn or Facebook in many cases. Or perhaps you have friends in the new area that have contacts. There are lots of dental hygiene Facebook discussion groups that are tied to specific cities or regions and I believe most will be happy to help you.

If you plan an actual field trip to the new area, consider contacting a few working dental hygienists in the area you want to work in and offer to take them out to lunch. Just tell them you are looking for mentors and contacts to help you find work. I would also have some postcards designed and hand deliver as many as you can while there.

I would also get in touch with the local component leadership and maybe even do the same – offer to take them to lunch or for a cup of coffee.

Finally, contact the local temp agency. They can get you up to speed on the area’s job scene.

Marketing Materials

I mentioned getting some postcards printed to hand out. That’s a great strategy but try and concentrate it on a smaller radius of where you might want to live, then mail them out to the broader area.

I would also recommend that on your resume you remove your mailing address. Employers look for the least path of resistance an also for any small thing they can to eliminate you as a potential candidate – where you live could be an automatic dis-qualifier for them. You could even consider getting a Google Voice phone number (free) with a prefix that is more common to the area you want to move to.

Searching Stinks – How to Help Employers Find You

Your Dental Hygiene Job Interview is Done, Now What?

Most Dental Hygienists Can’t Do Enough of this One Thing…

Getting Dental Hygiene Employers to Know Like and Trust YOU

Finding Dental Hygiene Jobs from a Distance

Creating a Transitional Resume for a Dental Hygienist

Contact GetHiredRDH Now

Positive Resume Action Words

Passive vs. Active Writing

Positive Personality Adjectives

Before you leave... Get my free book!

Plus, weekly tips and coaching.