Sometimes, relocating to a different place becomes essential to your career growth. It may be because you may find better job options at some other location or you feel burnt out and need some change in scenery. For whatever reason, if you want to move for a dental job, you must consider a few points while relocating as a dentist.
Today we are going to discuss some dental career tips, which you should keep in mind before relocation. So, let’s begin!
Do thorough research of location
You must start researching the dental market of the new location. Know the aspects like socioeconomic factors, demographics and oral health needs of the local population. Explore the potential employers, including dental practices, dental service organizations, community health centers and hospitals. You should consider factors like practice size, distance from your new home and patient base.
Outline what you can contribute.
Always remember that you are one of many people who will apply for the job. There will be other professionals who have the same qualifications as you. Here, you need to exude what makes you different from them.
You need to highlight what you can contribute. If you are fluent in any language or have soft skills like oral communication and compassion, then you must highlight that part in your CV. Also, you must showcase your highlighted skills during the interview.
Explore your options
You must check different platforms to know about the available positions. You will learn about salaries, locations, and benefits with thorough research. You can also find the option of small dental practices or dental services organization, whatever option matters to you the most. Jobs with ideal work culture, good pay, and productive training tend to attract more applicants.
Get in touch with new people.
Referral is another way to find a job. Grow your network by contacting different people from the dentistry industry. You can join social media groups like Linkedin or other networks. You can also avail the opportunity to become a volunteer. This way, you will get a chance to help the community and meet fellow professionals who can provide you with employment.
Being a relocating dentist you can also attend dental workshops, conferences and seminars to expand your professional network and remain updated about the best practices and industry trends. To broaden your job search, utilize dental recruiting agencies. They can connect you with positions that align with your ideal employer.
Look for some temporary positions.
If it is hard to get a permanent job at the first attempt, you can look for temporary or contract-based opportunities. You can gain valuable experience, salary, networking opportunities in these jobs. Such factors can help you get a permanent job in the future.
Update your resume and cover letter
You must highlight your relevant experience, skills and achievements in the resume. Customize your resume as per the requirements and preferences of the job profile.
Also, come up with a compelling cover letter that reflects your enthusiasm for the applied position and explain why you are suited for that role and your commitment to serve the local community.
Prepare for interview
Once you get the interview invitations, you must research the dental practices and familiarize yourself with the patient demographics and services offered. You can look for common interview questions and prepare to speak about your skills, professional goals, and experience.
I hope the above explanation will ease your job search at a new location. Before we conclude, I would also like to share some points, you must know if you want to relocate to work for a private dental practice after relocation
Licensing
Firstly, you must have permission to practice legally in your target location. You must take care of the licensing, which is a complex procedure, and you need various credentials for that. Licensing requires accreditation nationally, regionally, and at the state level. Some states may share the interchange, and you can become a licensed dentist quickly, while others may not.
Scope of practice
Once you get the license to practice, you must ask one question yourself: Will you be able to carry on your dental practice in the way you want? Only some states will allow you to follow the same procedures. For instance, Botox is an excellent treatment for patients with muscle tension. Through this treatment, they can resolve the problem of gummy smiles. This procedure is an excellent adjunct to the other dentistry process. While some states may allow you to incorporate Botox and similar therapies, others may not.
You need to ensure such factors before relocating to any state. Will your practice scope be narrowed down? Will you need to continue your education or any other certifications to keep yourself competitive at the new location?
Is there room for you?
You may get the freedom to practice as you wish in your new state and get the desired license. Amazing! Now, you need to find the patients. There is a risk involved in this process. Especially if you need to learn the dental market in that area, predicting whether you will get enough patients regularly becomes hard in such conditions. Grabbing patients in an area where dentists are found in every block is complex.
On the contrary, you may find a town without a single dentist. Surely you will be successful there. But what is the reason for there being no dentists at that place? It might be people there who can’t afford the dental care services or prioritize it when it’s ‘worth it’ to drive to the next town to see a dentist. Hence, you must find an area where access to care is lacking.
Conclusion
Initially the job search process may be challenging for you. You must stay positive, focused and try continuously, as the right opportunity may take time. Relocating for a dentist job can prove to be rewarding if you get a perfect job as per your expectations. By taking care of the points mentioned above, you can prepare yourself for the transition and a rewarding career in dentistry. Through strategic planning, you can embark on this new journey with confidence.
