How easy/hard is it to find a good starting job coming out of dental school?

[wondergirl3]

If you were in the middle to top of your class, how easy or hard is it to find a beginning job that pays at least 100K coming out of dental school?

Does getting a PGR for 1 year make this significantly easier?

Did having a rough time finding a job make you regret going to dental school in the first place?


I am referring to a urban or suburban area in states such as VA, NJ, MD, CA, NY, MI if possible

Sincerely,
Wondergirl3

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[arkenstone]

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291021.htm

^ This is for employed general dentists, not owners or specialists. So, in general, the answer to your question is "not hard" if you're coming out of school and willing to move anywhere within a 100 mile radius. Now later on in your life, if you're in a house and school system you like and are looking in a smaller radius, it might be a bit harder, but not impossible.

A GPR (what you mean by PGR, I think) would help, but I wouldn't say it would make it significantly easier---mostly because it's not incredibly difficult getting a job anyway. I don't have a lot of experience here, but most people do a GPR for personal interest/mastery reasons and not necessarily business reasons.

If you're going to work as an associate for a single dentist, they probably just want someone basically competent who's willing to learn and with whom they can get along. If you're going to work for a larger chain, the turnover is going to be high and they aren't going to be super-picky----and if you've got a stellar resume they'd probably assume you'll be gone for greener pastures in 18 months anyway.

 

[THS]

Your class rank won't matter in the "real world", but it will matter if you want to get matched w/ a decent GPR. And a GPR will make you a competitive and more attractive to an employer, and may even be necessary to find a job in larger metropolitan areas. However, in rural and/or under-served areas, GPRs are not necessary, and will just be a year of your life that you are not learning business/marketing principles and not earning an associate's salary. Those who went to good GPRs and are doing well swear by them. Those who didn't and are doing well say they are a waste of time. It's up to you. I won't be doing a GPR because I live in an under-served area, where very few of the dentists here have done post-grads.

Just don't expect job offers to be thrown your way, many people here on SDN are disillusioned that jobs are easy to come by, just because some corporate rep spoke to their class and asked them to sign up for a $25k bonus. You will have to network and kiss ass to get a job.

 

[beannaithe]

You will have to network and kiss ass to get a job.

Getting a job is easy. Getting a good job is hard. Networking, etc is essential. A GPR isn't a bad idea either. Getting a job gets easier with experience, but that's when you find a place you want to stay or you buy something.