Getting a Dental Hygiene Job in a Pandemic

Congratulations to the new 2020 dental hygiene graduates! This is definitely an odd time to graduate with all the PPE changes, patients expectations, and nervousness with being so close to people. However, this is a great time to be part of the profession! We’ve been able to rethink the way we work, the way we treat ourselves and our patients, and to brush up on the latest research and needs when it comes to infection control and PPE.

So, you’re found yourself with your new degree and new license in hand. Now what? How should you be looking for a job, especially now that walking into an office with your resume is a bit out of the question. Here are a few ideas of how to spread your reach in the dental field, and network for the next step in your career.

1.     Get on your local Dental Networking Facebooking group. This is the perfect place to connect with other dental professionals in your area, and see who is hiring. Especially if you’re new to the area, this is a great way to see what’s out there,  what the job market like, and temping opportunities.

2.     Create an online resume website. How awesome would be to see a job posting online, and be able to send your resume right away, without having to stop it by the office. Having an online portfolio will make you stand out since it’s different than a regular Word Document resume. You can include photos of yourself in scrubs/professional headshots, skills you know and have mastered, volunteer opportunities you’ve taken part of with photos included, etc. Most professions have these online portfolios, why not us? This is especially great right now while meeting face to face is tricky. Show your character, strengths, and abilities through a simple and clean online portfolio.

3.     Be part of a local study club or your local ADHA chapter. This is the perfect way to network and get the word out that you’re looking for a job. You’ll meet other dental hygienists in all areas of their careers. They may not want to go back to their job after this pandemic is over, and they could definitely recommend you or lead you to potential job opportunities.

4.     Learn as much as you can while you’re off. Keep up your skills by of course watching and practicing along with our Hygiene Edge videos, but learn about different topics you may not have talked about in school on webinars. There are many free ones going on right now with all the down time, and you’ll definitely keep your skills and mind fresh with all the learning.

We are so excited for you and what’s next in your career! If you’re a new grad, have you been looking for a job? What’s working for you? What isn’t? We’d love to know!