Starting a new job as a dental assistant is exciting, but it can also feel like a leap of faith. You’re walking into a practice where you don’t yet know the dentist, the team, the patients, or how the office is actually run on a day-to-day basis. However, there is no reason to feel intimidated! While you can’t know everything before your first day, you can pay close attention during your interview and pick up on warning signs that might signal the office isn’t the right fit. Here’s what to look out for.
1. The Job’s Expectations Should be Crystal Clear
When you sit down for your interview, the dentist or office manager should be clear about what the role involves and expand on what the job listing stated. If the interviewer starts describing duties that weren’t in the posting, tasks that fall outside a dental assistant’s normal scope of responsibilities, or expectations that seem impossible to meet, that’s a concern worth taking seriously. A practice that isn’t transparent about the job before you’re hired is unlikely to get better after you start!
2. The Office Should Feel Welcoming & Positive
One of the best things you can do during an interview is simply observe and report. How does the staff interact with one another? Is there a sense of teamwork between the front desk and the back office? Does the dentist treat employees (and patients) with respect? Does it seem like there’s a high turnover rate among the employees? If the atmosphere feels tense, if people seem unhappy, or if you notice staff members being dismissive or unprofessional, trust that feeling; after all, you’ll be working closely with those people every day!
3. The Work Environment Shouldn’t Be Total Chaos
Dental offices are busy by nature, but there’s a difference between productive and overwhelmed, disorganized chaos. During your interview, look around to get a sense of the office’s flow. Are team members frazzled? Is the office cluttered and disorganized? Are patients waiting around for too long? If you notice any of these things, or if the interviewer is running late, seems unprepared, or can’t give consistent answers about how the practice operates, it may reflect a deeper organizational problem that you’ll want to avoid.
4. Don’t Settle for Inadequate Pay or Benefits
Dental assistants take on a wide range of clinical and administrative responsibilities, and their pay should reflect that. Before your interview, research the average pay for dental assistants in your area so you have a baseline to compare against. And then during the interview, ask about benefits, pay raises, and professional development or growth opportunities. If the salary offer is below industry standards, their answers are vague, or the practice has no clear path for growth, it may not be the right place to start your career.
A good dental office where you’ll thrive, grow, and feel valued is out there! That said, the more prepared and informed you are going into the job search, the better equipped you’ll be to find it.
About NE Dental Academy
Our team at NE Dental Academy has helped countless aspiring dental assistants in Worcester and the surrounding area launch rewarding careers they love. If you have questions or are ready to take the next step, contact us online or give us a call today at (508) 425-6644; we’d love to help you get started!