Many offices all over the country are having a difficult time finding new team members. There is a high demand for qualified dental office employees. Are you currently looking to fill an open position in your office?
Consider posting your employment opportunity in different places for higher visibility. You may have already posted the position on an employment website like Indeed, but have you also posted on social media outlets like Facebook? Sometimes you can find new team members by posting your ad in additional places you haven’t tried before.
If you’re trying to hire an assistant or hygienist, check with your local assisting and dental hygiene schools. They may have recent graduates who are looking for employment, or they may have students who will be graduating in the near future.
Your local supply reps can also be a great resource if you are looking for a new team member. I suggest reaching out to your Henry Schein Field Sales Consultant and let them know you’re hiring. They may have just the right person in mind that would be a good fit for your office.
Once you’ve received some applications, schedule an interview with qualified applicants. Following the interview, if you feel they are a qualified candidate for your position, I suggest you have your other team members meet with the applicant as well. If it’s a potential new administrative employee, have them meet with your administrative team. If it’s a new assistant, have the applicant meet with your other assistants. I’ve found that new employees seem to integrate more smoothly when the rest of your team has already had a chance to spend some time with them. Also, giving your team members an opportunity to voice their opinion about potential new employees can help to create a more unified team.
Once you’ve decided on a new hire and offered them the position, take the time to train them. Let them know what is expected of them and provide them with the tools to excel. One of the things new hires can do is register to take the new Easy Dental Essentials lessons. These lessons are designed to help them learn Easy Dental if they are new to the software. Have them start by visiting the Easy Dental Resource Center. Under the Easy Dental Essentials heading, there’s a link where they can register to create a personal learning account for videos and lessons on various topics. These resources can teach new employees different areas of Easy Dental based on their position in the office.
At the moment, it can be challenging to find qualified applicants. Consider posting your employment opportunity in as many places as possible to reach the most potential employees. Once you begin to interview, involve the rest of your team in this important decision. When you find the right candidate, it’s very important to train them and provide them with the tools for success!
BY CHARLOTTE SKAGGS
Charlotte Skaggs is the founder of Vector Dental Consulting LLC, a practice management firm focused on taking offices to the next level. Charlotte co-owned and managed a successful dental practice with her husband for 17 years. She has a unique approach to consulting based on the perspective of a practice owner.
