Dentistry Resume Examples
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More top-requested dentistry resume examples are for dental hygienist, dentist and dental office manager. If you’re looking for another job title, scroll on, we have plenty more below.
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Job Outlook
Teeth aren’t going away anytime soon — the employment demand for dentistry is expected to increase 3% by 2029 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Keep in mind, in order to land a role in this stable field it’s still going to require that you promote yourself with a resume.
In order to make sure your resume helps land you the job you want, check out our professional writing tips.
3 Tips for Writing Dentistry Resumes
Choose the right format for your resume
As you know from dentistry, you never begin a procedure without your tools prepped and in the right setup.
You’re going to do the same thing with your resume by making sure its sections are in the right organizational structure, or format.
There are three main resume format types: chronological, functional and hybrid.
The main difference between the three formats is where the main focus is put on your resume.
Chronological formats work best for dentists with a lot of experience because they put the emphasis on all the work experience you have and show a career progression. If you have five years’ or more experience, this should be your go-to format.
However, if you’re fresh out of dental school, you should choose another format that better suits your level of experience.
Functional formats put the emphasis on your skills instead of your work experience as a smart way to detract from your lack of professional practice. If you have less than two years’ experience as a dental professional under your belt, this format should be your choice.
A hybrid format is a combination of the functional and a chronological resume that gives balance to your work history and skills. If you’ve worked for more than two years in dentistry, but less than five total, you should use this format.
Promote your skills
Pay close attention to the job posting or ad — the phrases and the keywords are clues to exactly what the employer is looking for in a candidate. Try to echo back all the phrases that apply to your skill set.
In general, there are some skills that are desirable across the dentistry field. It’s a good idea to add some of these in where appropriate on your resume.
Sought-after skills include:
- Manual dexterity
- Gentle touch
- Patient-focused
- Detail oriented
- Steady hands
- Follows procedure
- Compassion
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Hand-eye coordination
- Hygiene
- Teeth cleanings
- Reading X-rays
- Building patient rapport
- Outlining treatment
- Home care explanation
- Conducting assessments
- Fluoride treatments
- Restorative procedures
- Physical stamina
- Professional demeanor
- Up-to-date on industry trends
- Equipment trained
- Organization
- Preparedness
- Computer skills
- Patient follow-ups
- Safety protocol
- Tool sanitization
- Continuous education
- Periodontal maintenance
Incorporate six to eight critical skills or keywords into your resume that describe your top attributes.
Use a template to make sure your resume looks clean
As you know from working with patients, a first impression can mean everything. The same rule applies to your resume. If a hiring manager struggles to read or make sense of your resume, you’re getting skipped over and someone else will get the job.
A resume template is a preformatted document created by professional designers that allows you to fill in your own personal information. JobHero has some great resume templates that you can use.
JobHero also features a Resume Builder that enables you to choose from a selection of templates, and takes the automation a step further by making it quicker and easier to create a great-looking resume.
The builder auto-suggests content based on how to phrase your work history to help make each bullet point impactful and engaging.
JobHero’s Resume Builder is like having a resume expert look over your shoulder to guide you step-by-step.
There’s no faster or easier way to produce an outstanding-looking resume.
FAQ
How much does a job in dentistry get paid?
The average annual median income for dental assistants in 2019 was $40,080 and $159,200 for dentists according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Part of that discrepancy in pay comes from the fact that training for higher-level dentistry roles can be much more intensive and require higher education and residencies before establishing practice.
What should I put on my resume for dentistry?
As with any resume, you will need the five main sections: contact information, professional summary or objective statement, skills, work history and education.
Their order depends on the format that you choose.
The main selling points of your dentistry resume should be found in your skills and work experience sections. That’s where you’re going to convince employers you might be the right person for the job.
Also, it’s good practice to try to include numbers in your resume so that employers get a full scope of what you’re capable of as a medical professional.
For example, for a work history describing a dental hygienist you could include figures like this:
Numbers will attract the attention of the person looking over your resume because they serve as the most concrete way of interpreting your experience.
Obviously, use the most flattering numbers you can, but don’t lie or embellish. It will only backfire.
How do I list education on a dentistry resume?
Many roles in dentistry will require an advanced degree or a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, so it’s important that you include an education section on your resume.
While some positions in dentistry may be entry-level such as a receptionist or office assistant, it’s still going to help you to include your education.
To list your education, include the name of the institution you attended, its city and state, and if you graduated, your major(s).
Here’s an example:
Woodland College Ojai, CA
BS, Dental Assistant Studies
If you have graduated from college, it is not advised that you include your high school education.
Please note: It used to be standard to list the year you graduated. However, this is now discouraged because it can give an employer an indication of your age which can lead to potential hiring bias issues.
You should only list the dates you attended a school if you did not graduate as the means to show how long you attended.
What kind of work experience should I put on a dentistry resume?
Try to keep all the work experience you include in a resume focused on dentistry.
Even better, consider the aspects from your previous work experience that would be the most relevant to this new opportunity. Discuss the skills that you’re bringing from your old role that would be useful in the new one.
The closer your work history aligns with this new role, the more hiring managers are apt to give you serious consideration. For example, if you worked in pediatric dentistry before, you should advertise this if you believe the practice you’re applying to does a lot of work with families.
If you’re fresh out of school or new to dentistry you could include work from other industries, but only if there are necessary skills culled from those jobs that would apply to work in dentistry. For example, skills in data entry, customer service, physical stamina or sanitization would be helpful to highlight.
Better than that, include unpaid work you may have done in the process of attaining any dentistry licensure or certification that you have had to perform.
Should I include a cover letter with my dentistry resume?
Yes, it’s standard to include a cover letter when you submit your resume in the dentistry field.
For starters, it gives you more space to discuss your skills and background.
Furthermore, a cover letter provides the chance to bring some of the details in your resume to life by weaving them into a story. If you can include a good anecdote on your cover letter, it’ll help make an impact on hiring managers.
JobHero has a library of professional dentistry cover letter examples that you’re welcome to use for ideas to help create your own outstanding letter.
If you’re having trouble with the writing process, we also have a step-by-step guide that walks you through each section to make sure you’re saying the right things in your letter.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II - October 28, 2024
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
