Acing Your Interview

So your resume got your foot in the door and now you have the opportunity to wow them in person! First step, deep breathe. The interview is the perfect opportunity to showcase your qualifications, dedication, and enthusiasm about dental hygiene. Next, review these strategies to make a fantastic first impression.

Be prepared. Most interviews today are behavioral, meaning they focus on your past handling of different situations to gauge how well you will respond in the present. Examples of behavioral questions include, “What type of patient was the most difficult to treat? How did you handle it?” “What was your hardest class and why? How did you handle the challenge?” “Provide an example of how you worked well on a team. How did you contribute to the team being a success?” Ask a friend to play the role of the employer and practice answering a variety of questions. Think back over your professional experience and pinpoint examples you can use in the interview.

Be confident. You worked hard to graduate from dental hygiene school and pass the boards, let that confidence radiate from within! Be ready to showcase your unique talents and skills and highlight what you have to offer the practice.

Thoroughly investigate. Review the practice’s website. Learn its core values and how the practice runs. What type of equipment do they use? Who runs the front office? Finding out the inside intel can you help you ask intuitive questions that will not only make you look good but will also help to determine whether the practice is a good fit for you.

Relax. Find strategies to help calm your nerves such as deep breathing or visualizing yourself succeeding during the interview. During the interview, if you need a few moments to think, ask for it. It’s better to provide thoughtful answers than to blurt out a few nervous comments.