4 Tips For Securing A Job In Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is becoming an increasingly popular option amongst dental students in the UK. But with so much competition for positions, it can be tricky to get a headstart in the industry.

Currently, talented graduates are finding it hard to break into a market that is set to become more and more saturated over the next five years. The worry is that up-and-coming dental students will turn their backs on the field of dental hygiene in favour of jobs that are more readily available. So if you’re an aspiring young hygienist, looking to take your first steps into the industry, what should you be doing to give yourself an edge over your competitors?

Avoid In-House Agencies

Nowadays, dentists are becoming wise to the fact that in-house agencies cannot provide them with quality permanent staff. Most agencies will only provide surgeries with temporary cover or else insist on them buying out staff contracts. Since this is rarely a cost-effective way of hiring employees, dentists tend to look for alternative methods. Using job sites to match yourself with employers is a much safer option and increases the chances of you finding a role that meets your needs. Each job description will tell you exactly what is required of you, so you won’t have to worry that you’ve been matched to an ill-fitting position.

Be Flexible With Your Work

Many young people choose dental hygiene because it allows them to work around the other interests in their lives. Part-time jobs are particularly common and hours can be tailored to suit your busy schedule. However, with so many people already choosing this option, you will afford yourself many more opportunities by willingly taking on the hours no-one else wants. If you have no preferences for when you work, you will be able to log consistent hours in the same surgery, whilst other members of staff are unavailable. Once you have established yourself as a consummate professional, you can then look to change the way you operate, but until that point, you won’t prosper by turning down regular work.

Don’t Wait For Posts To Open Up

Often job posts will only open up for a number of weeks and attract hundred of candidates. In order to keep one step ahead of your competitors, it’s a good idea to contact surgeries before they officially appeal for candidates. Whilst there might not be any jobs going when you first contact these dentists, handing over your CV may result in opportunities further down the line. It never does any harm to get your name out there before you pursue a position and if you aren’t successful this time, you can always build experience elsewhere first.

Network With Local Dental Communities

Another great way to get your foot in the door is to get involved with a dental community. The British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy (BSDHT) has over 3,500 members in the UK and is an excellent place to get sound professional advice. It’s also a chance for you to meet other members of the dental community and show your face at local conferences. Whilst this is not a guaranteed way to network with prospective employers, it will give you the opportunity to engage with like-minded people and discover how they are making their way through the industry. Any contacts you make will stand you in much better stead when researching jobs and can lead to opportunities you wouldn’t have discovered by yourself.

A job hunt can be stressful if you don’t have the right tools to hand. Jobs4Medical can help you find niche roles in the medical sector quickly and easily, so you don’t have to suffer through a long, drawn out process. For more information on any of our features, visit our contact page or call 01256 336632.