How To Find A Dental Associate That's Right For Your Practice

Hiring a dental associate takes much more than a brief look at a candidate’s CV. Finding qualified people who can help drive your business forward and who bring the right energy to your office is no easy task. 40% of US small businesses report that filling jobs was more difficult than they expected, which is surprising when you consider that these small businesses also employ nearly half of the country’s workforce.

Here are a few ways to recruit and find the right dental associate for your business (and fast!):

Meet Recent Grads and Associate Where They’re At - On Social Media

Utilize LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to find top talent. Meeting potential associates on these platforms comes with an added bonus - you can get a feel for personality and culture fit at a glance (though we always suggest looking deeper - don’t judge a book by its cover!) Use these platforms to ask colleagues and associates if they know anyone who may be looking -  and whether they’d be willing to warmly introduce you. You can also contact dental recruiters directly to see if they can place candidates for you.

Check out this Facebook Help article that walks you through the steps of creating and promoting a job post.

Utilize Your Own Contacts & Professional Network

Okay, this one’s kind of obvious. But sometimes it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. Chances are, you already know someone who knows someone. Leverage your organic network and ask around! Who do you trust? Who can make an honest recommendation? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time you need to add an associate. 

Tap Past Applicants

Not your first time hiring a dental associate? Perfect! Past applicants are a great resource pool to draw from. How often do candidates hear the line, “We’ll keep your application on file for the future”? Maybe it’s time to make good on this promise and reach back out to a few old contenders. Depending on how long it has been, they’re likely more experienced and have new skills under their belt. 

Set Up Shop at Dental School Job Fairs

Dental school job fairs are a win-win. Both parties (you and any potential associates) enter with mutual interest. Planning for these events can help you put your best foot forward and impress the right people. 

Pro tip: Let the candidates come to you. Be sure your booth/area is catchy and your giveaways are desirable. You can also raffle off one significantly valuable prize. This helps you stay top of mind for potential candidates, allows you to easily collect their contact details (remember to follow-up!), and adds color to the experience with you that other employers may not have thought of.

Last But Not Least - Choose the Right Interview Questions

After all is said and done, finding the right dental associate comes down to the connection you have with them during the interview process. Once you have a shortlist of candidates, take some time to think about what qualities, experiences, and skills are most important to you in a potential associate. What are your business goals, and how do you envision an associate helping you achieve them? Frame your questions with these goals in mind. Share your vision with each candidate and ask open-ended questions about how they see themselves as part of it. Remember, the success of the interview isn’t only dependent on the candidate.

Happy hiring!