How to create a compelling dentist resume in 2022?

This resume guide for dentists provides all the key information needed to create an effective dental resume. Topics discussed include formatting, writing a summary, choosing skills, and creating work experience and education sections on a dentist’s resume. 

Becoming a dentist is no small feat. While your years of training and education should certainly earn you a top-paying position, you will need a compelling resume to help get your foot in the door at the practice of your choice. 

In this guide, we will be taking you through the necessary steps for optimizing your resume for a job in dentistry. By reading this guide, you will learn: 

• The types of resume formats to choose from and which best fits a dentist resume
• How to write a resume summary tailored for dentistry
• The best dentistry skills to include on your resume
• How to optimize your work experience section to show off your accomplishments
• How to list your education correctly

Dental Technician Resume Example

Dental Assistant Resume Sample

Dentist Resume Sample

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1. Use the reverse-chronological format to show off your experience

The general rule of thumb when it comes to any sort of healthcare resume is to use the reverse-chronological resume format when possible.

Reverse-chronological resumes place the utmost focus on work experience, making this section the largest and most central element in the document. This type of resume will list your most recent position first and work backward from there.

This format is ideal for dentistry because it gives candidates the best opportunity to showcase their relevant work experience and demonstrate their abilities through key responsibilities and achievements. 

However, there are scenarios in which an alternative resume format may be required: 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV is a long-form and multi-page resume typically used for job applications in scientific or academic fields. It allows for professionals to include far more information than a one-page resume, such as awards, publications, or research. 
• Functional: Functional resumes take the emphasis off of work experience and place it instead on skills, education, or unpaid experience. This type of resume is well suited for recent graduates with limited experience or candidates with gaps in their resumes. 
• Hybrid: A hybrid resume will combine elements of both the functional and reverse-chronological formats. This is a more custom format that allows candidates with some relevant work experience to showcase more than one section. The hybrid format works well for people who are changing careers or industries. 

2. Write a resume summary to clearly outline your qualifications

A resume summary serves an important purpose – introducing your resume to a hiring manager and whetting their appetite with just enough persuasive and relevant information to make them want to know more about you as a professional. 

Let’s look at an example of an incorrect resume summary for a dentist and discuss how to correct it:

Why is this incorrect? This dentist's resume summary is on the right track but is missing a few key elements that would make it a lot stronger. First and foremost, the applicant should provide more specific details regarding the range of dental work experience they have and provide greater context around the patient satisfaction point. 

Why is this correct? In this corrected example, the applicant makes it much more clear what areas of dentistry they specialize in (dental prosthetics). Additionally, they offer quantifiable information regarding their increased patient satisfaction levels through the improved Yelp rating example.

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3. Choose skills that highlight a wide range of abilities

Working in dentistry requires you to have people skills that are equally as impressive as your dental skills. One wrong interaction with a customer can negatively impact a practice, no matter how good the quality of the work was.

With this in mind, it is important to highlight both hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) skills on your resume. This will show employers that you are more than just a talented dentist – you are also a capable communicator who can satisfy a patient’s emotional needs as well. 

Here are 10 hard and 10 soft skills to include on a dental resume: 

4. List important accomplishments in your work experience section 

When writing your work experience section, it is essential that your job descriptions do more than just plainly list your responsibilities. 

You should use these descriptions as an opportunity to play up your biggest responsibilities and showcase any accomplishments you achieved during your time in the position. 

Dental Hygienist Resume Example

Dental Secretary Resume Sample

Dental Assistant CV Sample

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5. List your education correctly and succinctly

For a dental resume, you will need to list both your education and any additional certifications you may have. When listing your education, you want to keep it brief and to the point.

If you are a recent graduate, including your GPA may be relevant – however, if you are more than 5 years out of college, we recommend omitting the GPA information. 

Here is an example of a well-formatted and succinct education section:

How to list certifications?

If you do have certifications you would like to include, make sure they are specific and relevant to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are a certified provider for Invisalign, this is good information to include. 

If you have 3 or fewer certifications, you can likely include them within your education section. Otherwise, you should create a dedicated section to keep your resume organized and easy to read.