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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Finding the right career fit It’s just as important to interview the employer when finding a new job By Melanie Hayes
IT’S THAT TIME of year when universities around the country graduate students from dental hygiene and oral health programs, and these new practitioners seek to enter the workforce. Welcome to our profession – what an exciting time in your career! Whether you are a new graduate, or someone looking for a new work opportunity, interviewing for any position is necessary to determine whether you are a good fit for the role. Most people spend time practicing and improving their interviewing technique, rehearsing responses for the plethora of questions an employer might ask (and there are a lot of resources online to help you with this!). However, most people overlook the importance in interviewing the employer to see if the practice is the right fit for you. Apart from home, generally most people spend a significant proportion of their week in the workplace – so it is really important to choose a workplace that you will enjoy working in! The alternative is likely stress and job dissatisfaction.
Planning your strategy Here are some questions/strategies you might consider asking to get some insight into the practice you are interviewing with: • Ask about the scheduling – or to see the appointment book. This could give you some insight into what a typical day looks like, including the length of appointments, how breaks are managed, and how busy the practice is. If it is important to you, consider asking about extending appointment times if you are a new graduate, or simply to settle into the rhythms of the new environment. • Show interest in the workplace culture and the team you will be working with. Is the workplace conservative or more outgoing? Do the team share lunch breaks? Are there any regular social events planned? Ask the employer what they like best about working at the practice. If appropriate, consider talking to the employees to get an insight into
the workplace culture – ask them what they enjoy about working there, or what the challenges are. This will help you decide if your personality and personal preferences will be a good fit for the team. • Discuss opportunities for professional development. What internal training is offered? Does the employer keep upto-date with the latest technologies and techniques, and provide training to for employees? Is there an opportunity for mentoring? How to they manage staff requirements for external continuing professional development? Is it up to the individual’s preference, or do they like to encourage the team to attend CPD events together? • Ask about how success is measured in the workplace. Are there regular performance reviews? What measures will be used to evaluate performance? Check how this aligns with your own preferences for autonomy, clinical priorities and goal setting behaviours. Please note this list isn’t exhaustive – there may be other factors that are important to you. What we do know about careers and job satisfaction is that there is an entire system of individual, social, environmental and societal factors at play. It is also important to note that team dynamics can change over time, for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, it is wise to take time to think about what is important to you in the workplace, and prepare your questions accordingly prior to the scheduled interview, so you can make an informed career choice when offered a position.
Dr Melanie Hayes (PhD) is a dental hygienist who has enjoyed a diverse career in clinical practice, teaching, research and management. She has a Master of Education majoring in Career Development, and is now working in an interdisciplinary role at the University of Sydney.
Tell me what you want to hear I have really enjoyed bringing this career development column to you over the past two years. I am keen to hear from you on what career development topics you would like to hear more about – or inspiring hygienists and OHTs you would like me to interview. Please scan the QR code to share your ideas!
