5 red flags to watch for in your dental assistant interview
Whether you’re fresh out of school or an experienced dental assistant, interviewing for a job can be stressful. You want to make the best impression and show why you’re a fit for the position and the practice. But remember: an interview isn’t a one-way street. It’s also an opportunity for you to vet the dental practice and figure out what it would be like to work there. During the interview, you should ask questions, make observations about the day-to-day operations, and see whether the dental office is right for you.
You can look for potential red flags to determine whether the practice checks all the right boxes. While these signs aren’t necessarily deal-breakers — you may just need to ask for some clarifying information — they may also signal that it’s time to take your job search elsewhere.
Unclear or unrealistic job expectations
Expectations for the position should be clear and specific, and the dentist or office manager should reiterate what was included in the job listing during your interview. If the interviewer is vague about what you’ll be expected to do at the practice, ask questions about the specifics.
Additionally, it can be a troublesome sign if the interviewer says you’ll be asked to perform tasks that aren’t listed in the job description or are outside a dental assistant’s normal scope of responsibilities. It may even be illegal for a practice to ask you to perform dental assisting duties that aren’t allowed in your state. If they can’t answer your questions in a satisfactory way, you’re getting conflicting answers from different interviewers, or the expectations seem unrealistic, it may be best to look for another practice.
Unwelcoming or negative office culture
The dental team must work together cohesively to provide the best patient care. During your interview, observe how the staff interacts with each other. Do the front and back office work together seamlessly? Are they communicating about patients, procedures, and the schedule? Do they seem happy to work together? Can you see yourself fitting in with the team? If the answer to any of these questions is no, or you’re not getting a good vibe about the office culture, make note of it.
Also, pay attention to how the doctor treats the staff, and whether they’re respectful, patient, and friendly with the team. Remember, you’ll be working side by side with the dentist as a dental assistant. If the doctor is rude, condescending, impatient, or unfriendly toward employees, the practice may not be the right fit.
Inadequate compensation
A practice can’t operate efficiently without dental assistants. From helping the doctor and comforting patients during appointments to managing infection control protocols and preparing exam rooms, dental assistants have numerous responsibilities. In fact, they perform over 200 duties in the dental office! For all of this hard work, you deserve fair compensation.
Before your interview, do some salary research. You can review DANB’s Dental Assistants Salary and Satisfaction Survey to see the median hourly pay and benefits for dental assistants based on location, experience level, practice type, education, and certification status. From there, establish your target hourly wage or salary. Also, be prepared to ask what benefits you’ll receive and whether the practice offers regular raises and professional development opportunities. If the compensation you’re offered is below industry standards, the interviewer only gives vague answers about salary and benefits, or the practice doesn’t have policies in place for pay increases or career growth, it’s OK to walk away and look for another opportunity.
Read more: How dental assistants can negotiate pay
Chaotic work environment
There’s a lot going on in a dental office. In addition to providing patient care, the staff has to coordinate a busy schedule, manage inventory, maintain records, maintain equipment, perform infection control procedures, and much more. It takes a well-organized, cohesive team to keep the practice running smoothly. During your interview, it will be evident if this is not the case — which can indicate a potentially stressful workplace.
There are many potential signs to watch for, such as a staff that seems overwhelmed or frazzled, poor communication between teammates, unclear workflows (e.g., patient handoffs or infection control protocols), or clutter in the office. Additionally, if the interviewer is running late, seems unprepared, or provides information about the practice or job that isn’t consistent with what you’ve heard from other staff members, it can point toward a disorganized work environment.
High turnover
A dental practice that treats the staff well and promotes a positive work culture usually has happier employees than one that doesn’t. And happy employees are more likely to stay at the practice. You can get a sense of this during your interview just by observing the staff’s demeanor. But don’t be afraid to ask about it, either! Ask the interviewer how long other dental assistants have worked at the practice and what people like about the office. If there are tenured dental assistants on staff who enjoy working there, that’s a good sign.
Additionally, ask why the previous dental assistant left, if applicable. It’s normal for a dental assistant to leave a practice because they got a new opportunity, made a career change, or experienced a life event such as having a child or moving. However, it’s concerning if the interviewer mentions a lot of new faces on the team, the role being demanding, disgruntled former employees, or difficulty retaining staff members. This can indicate the practice has dealt with high turnover, which may be a result of low pay, overworked employees, or a toxic culture. If you receive answers along these lines, ask follow-up questions such as, “What steps have been taken to address employee retention?” If the interviewer acknowledges issues and explains how the practice is taking action to fix them, it can show they care about their staff’s concerns and want to keep the team happy moving forward. But if the interviewer responds with vague answers or defensiveness, it’s probably a sign to shift your focus to other job opportunities.