Dentist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Dentist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
If you love helping people feel better—and have a knack for making them feel at ease in your presence—then you might have what it takes to be a great dentist.
As a dentist, you’ll play an important role in helping patients achieve optimal oral health by diagnosing and treating issues like cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. You might also perform routine cleanings and fillings or help patients choose the right orthodontic treatment for their smile.
Before you can begin practicing your craft, you’ll need to write a great resume that will get hiring managers interested in learning more about you. Here are some tips and an example to help you put together a winning dentist resume that will land you an interview ASAP.
How to Write a Dentist Resume
Here’s how to write a dentist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will read. And if they’re not compelling, you’ll lose the chance to make a lasting impression.
The best way to make your bullet points stand out is to use specific numbers and statistics. For example, rather than saying you “provided dental care for patients,” you could say you “provided dental care for 20 patients per day, resulting in an average wait time of less than 10 minutes.”
The second bullet point is much more compelling because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work.
Related: What Is a Dentist? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as a dentist, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system looks for certain keywords related to the job in order to determine whether or not you are a good fit. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, your application might not even make it to the hiring manager.
One way to make sure you have the right keywords on your resume is to read through a few job postings and take note of the terms that are used most often. You can then add those same terms into your resume where they are relevant.
- Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Restorative Dentistry
- Endodontics
- Veneers
- Dentures
- Periodontics
- Oral Surgery
- Prosthodontics
- Orthodontics
- Dental Care
- Dental Surgery
- Dentists
- Teeth Whitening
- Aesthetics
- Laser Dentistry
- Crowns
- Root Canal
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Healthcare
- Medicine
- Hospitals
- Patient Safety
- Oral Medicine
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Medicine & Surgery
- Facial Esthetics
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Dentists use a variety of technology in their work, from dental equipment to computer software. They need to be proficient in the use of these tools in order to provide quality care to their patients. Additionally, dentists need to be familiar with the latest dental technology and procedures in order to stay up to date on the latest trends in the field.
Some of the programs and systems that dentists commonly use include: DentalPro 7, Dentrix, Dentma, and Dexis. Dentists should also be familiar with dental lab procedures and equipment.
Related: How Much Does a Dentist Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
Formatting your resume is important to make sure the recruiter spends time reading it. You should use left-aligned text, a standard font, and keep the formatting consistent throughout. Additionally, use bullets to list your experiences and keep them to 2 lines or less. Finally, include some white space on the page to help the recruiter quickly scan your resume.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but a one-page resume is the ideal length for recent graduates or those with less than five to eight years of work experience. If you have more experience than that, you can make a two-page resume, but be selective about the information that you include. When trimming down a resume, remove irrelevant information, filler words, and unnecessary details.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is key to making sure it looks its best. Spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes can all be easily corrected with a careful eye. Having someone else proofread your resume is also helpful, as they can catch mistakes that you may have missed.
Consider Including a Summary
If you want to make a great first impression on a potential employer, using a resume summary statement is a great way to do it. This section of your resume can be a brief overview of your skills and experience, and it can help to show how your qualifications match the role you’re applying for. When you’re writing your summary, be sure to focus on your most relevant skills and experiences, and try to keep it to just a couple of lines.
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