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May 13, 2008

Is it time for you to look for a new practice? When the time comes, the interview can be one of the hardest parts of the job switch. While the interview usually consists of the dentist asking questions of the potential staff member, never forget that it's perfectly acceptable for you to ask questions of the dentist as well!

Finding the job you want means two-way communication must be established from the very beginning. If the dentist isn't willing to answer your questions, maybe it's a sign of his or her communication style (or lack thereof).

We asked DAD editorial board member Tina Calloway to reflect on her past job interviews and tell us what questions she asked the dentist, and what questions you should be asking.

From Tina Calloway
Nine years ago, when my DDS asked me to interview with him, he stated, "I'd like to ask you a few questions. Is that OK?" My reply was, "Yes, and I have a few questions of my own, if that's OK with you." He looked surprised and intrigued, and with a smile said, "Great."

After he interviewed me, one of my first questions for him was, "Do you attend continuing education courses, and do you require the same of your assistants?" The reason for this question was due to the fact that my last employer did not see the need for CE. Now where was the growth in that? We respectfully said our goodbyes.

I asked him how long his present team had been working with him. Surely if they have been with him for a considerable time, he must be worth it. At that time, two of his employees had been with him for 10 years, and the reason his assistant left was that she wanted to pursue dental hygiene.

Does he have children, and if so, how old are they? I asked because at the time I had a five-year-old who happened to be the same age as his youngest. He mentioned his wife stayed home to take care of their children. I asked him how he would feel if I had to leave to take care of my little one if she became ill? This answer was very important to me, because even though I love what I do, my family always comes first. His answer would also let me know if he understood my role not only as an assistant, but also as a working mom.

Thankfully he stated, "In my younger years I would have hesitated to let you leave, but now that I have children of my own, I understand that they need their mom. So I would say go and take care of your little one and we'll hold down the fort until you return." His question, and rightfully so, was "Does your child get sick often?" I was thankful to report she was very healthy.

Does he give annual reviews? Never once at my last office of four years did I receive a review. A review to me is very important--it allows the team to share thoughts on working with one another. It may be the only time you spend with your doctor to let him or her know how you feel about everyone's positions in the office.

I asked about insurance availability, even though I was covered through my husband's plan. You never know what's available until you ask.

Does the office cover any expenses for certifications? This was something particularly important to me, due to the fact that the only thing keeping me from taking my exam was cash flow, and fear.

I asked a dreaded question--How often do you give raises? Are they based on performance or across the board for each employee?

I asked, what are your expectations of me? What is your pet peeve? This question took him by surprise. I wanted to know because, if I was hired, I wanted to avoid this! His reply was when someone makes a mistake and says, "Oops," in front of the patient. He realizes everyone makes mistakes, he just wants patients to feel they're in good hands. He also hates to hear someone say, "That's not my job." He said, "This office operates on teamwork and everyone can pitch in, even the doctor."

As I noted his answers in my leather-bound notebook, he crossed his arms, smiled, and said, "Wow! I've never been interviewed by a potential employee before. Did I pass?" The rest is history.

I think I would now add two questions: What are your goals for your practice? And where do you see yourself and the practice in five years? These questions let me know that the doctor is still willing to grow.

Following are some standard questions you might face in a job interview. We've gathered these from dentists, as well as thrown in some standard HR questions. It's never too early to think about how you might answer these questions if they are posed to you.

Personal
1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?

3. What do you like about dentistry?

4. What do you not like about dentistry?

5. What do you know about our practice?

6. What are you looking for in this job that's missing from your current one?

7. What would your current employer say makes you most valuable to him or her?

8. What's your definition of being "on time"?

9. Describe your most significant accomplishment.

10. What's your definition of "great customer service"?

11. When you go to the dentist for an appointment, what is most important to you?

12. What qualities are important to you in your work environment?

13. If you make a decision and it is questioned, how do you react?

14. What types of people do you enjoy and not enjoy being around?

Previous job
15. What are some of the most significant mistakes you made in a prior job and what did you learn from them?

16. In your most recent job, if you finished your work ahead of schedule, what did you usually do?

17. What is the most stressful situation you faced in your last job?

18. What was your reason for leaving your last job?

19. If a patient became angry in the office, how did you deal with the situation?

If you take this job,
20. What would you like to know about our practice?

21. How are you going to show compassion to our patients?

22. If asked, would you stay late on a day when you had other plans, and if so, how would you feel about it?

23. What attracted you to apply for this position?

24. Do you have any special abilities that will elevate the standard of care within our office?

25. I have several candidates for this job (including you). What criteria should I use to make my final decision?

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