You have finally completed a program in an accredited school and have also taken the required clinical and written examinations. These are typically the state licensing requirements. Once all the requirements are met, the next step is finding a job. Dental hygienist jobs are not very hard to come by because this career is said to be the fastest growing occupation.
Despite these excellent job prospects, you will still be required to carry out some job searching, especially if you are in a location that is saturated with dental hygienists.
Besides fulfilling the requisite education and state licensing requirements, other dental hygienist requirements include:
1. Manual dexterity to be able to handle the dental equipment.
2. Excellent people and communication skills.
3. Team player.
4. Good time management skills.
Before starting your job search, you should prepare your resume which should list your educational qualifications, any professional experience and references. The resume should be well written and should be short and to the point as most prospective employers will not have the time to leaf through many pages.
Where do you look for dental hygienist jobs?
The internet is a wonderful resource when you are searching for something, including jobs. There are many job sites on the internet. If you do not know the particular websites that list the type of job you are looking for, you can carry out a keyword search on a search engine like Google.
A good idea would be to look at the job board at your dental school. In fact some schools may have a placement program which helps fresh graduates land their first job.
Another good idea is to sign up with a temporary placement company. ‘Temping’ opportunities arise when a dentist’s regular dental hygienist is absent for one reason or other such as illness or leave. It provides both the hygienist and the dentist an excellent opportunity to get to know each other. If it is a good fit a temporary position may turn into a more permanent one.
You can search for job listings in classified ads. The advertisement for jobs will appear in ordinary newspapers or professional journals or publications. You should also look into sending unsolicited letters and emails to organizations, hospitals and clinics that may require the services of a dental hygienist. It is quite possible that you may have to send hundred before you get a response but one letter may find you the perfect opportunity.
