Cover letter needed to shadow????????

[ww115]

I called a local Endo and orthodontist for shadowing and spoke with their front desk person who suggested writing a letter and attaching a resume so that they can read it.... so has anybody here done something like this or have been asked to write a cover letter??????
I have been trying to write a cover letter expressing my interest in dentistry and requesting the opportunity to shadow them at their convenience. I just dont know how to start it.
Any suggestion would be helpful!

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[doc toothache]

Would you like someone else to write it for you?

 

[nap5035]

slightly strange. I've never had to do that and I've shadowed 3 random dentists, and another was a family friend. All I have done is called the office, and they have scheduled a shadowing date.

Unless you're in a super rural area, just call another office. It'll take 2 seconds, compared to the time spent crafting the resume/cover letter, waiting for it to be reviewed, etc. Most offices that allow shadowing will schedule something with you on the spot. Good luck.

 

[Maygyver]

Just write about why you want to be a dentist and why you are interested in shadowing. It shouldn't be that hard if you are truly interested in the profession.

 

[doc toothache]

slightly strange. I've never had to do that and I've shadowed 3 random dentists, and another was a family friend. All I have done is called the office, and they have scheduled a shadowing date.

Unless you're in a super rural area, just call another office. It'll take 2 seconds, compared to the time spent crafting the resume/cover letter, waiting for it to be reviewed, etc. Most offices that allow shadowing will schedule something with you on the spot. Good luck.

Demanding a pre condition for acceptance to shadow should be a subsection of Stage 1.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792000

 

[nap5035]

Demanding a pre condition for acceptance to shadow should be a subsection of Stage 1.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792000

I'm just saying that there are plenty of offices that will allow you to shadow just because you called and asked to shadow. Writing a cover letter titled "I Want To Shadow You To See If I Enjoy Dentistry" is obviously a complex task for the OP, otherwise he/she wouldn't have come to SDN to ask for help. So, in that case, unless you live in Alaska, just call the other offices around you.

 

[bing12]

I'm just saying that there are plenty of offices that will allow you to shadow just because you called and asked to shadow. Writing a cover letter titled "I Want To Shadow You To See If I Enjoy Dentistry" is obviously a complex task for the OP, otherwise he/she wouldn't have come to SDN to ask for help. So, in that case, unless you live in Alaska, just call the other offices around you.

+1...if no other dentist allows you to shadow, then go ahead and worry about the Cover letter.

 

[Maygyver]

I'm just saying that there are plenty of offices that will allow you to shadow just because you called and asked to shadow. Writing a cover letter titled "I Want To Shadow You To See If I Enjoy Dentistry" is obviously a complex task for the OP, otherwise he/she wouldn't have come to SDN to ask for help. So, in that case, unless you live in Alaska, just call the other offices around you.

If writing a cover letter about why someone wants to shadow a dentist is tough, then maybe it isn't the right field. It really shouldn't be that hard to come up with a few reasons you like the profession and want to learn more.

 

[ww115]

Would you like someone else to write it for you?

sure why not! would you like to write me one?
lol jk

it took me awhile to write one but done with it!!!!

 

[slm266]

They're just giving you hoops to jump through hoping you will move on to be someone else's burden.

 

[ww115]

I'm just saying that there are plenty of offices that will allow you to shadow just because you called and asked to shadow. Writing a cover letter titled "I Want To Shadow You To See If I Enjoy Dentistry" is obviously a complex task for the OP, otherwise he/she wouldn't have come to SDN to ask for help. So, in that case, unless you live in Alaska, just call the other offices around you.

THANK YOU! at least some one understands.....

Anyways, thank you all!
I just thought it was strange of them to ask me for a cover letter.... I wanted to tell the lady " like seriously...I'm not applying for a job, I just wanna shadow him for few days thats all"

and I have already shadowed a general dentist, and pediatric and they never asked me for cover letter and etc..... I guess the endo's and ortho's dont like student volunteers

 

[Maygyver]

THANK YOU! at least some one understands.....

Anyways, thank you all!
I just thought it was strange of them to ask me for a cover letter.... I wanted to tell the lady " like seriously...I'm not applying for a job, I just wanna shadow him for few days thats all"

and I have already shadowed a general dentist, and pediatric and they never asked me for cover letter and etc..... I guess the endo's and ortho's dont like student volunteers

There's a difference between shadowing and volunteering. They are gaining nothing from being there. I think it's a good idea to have people write letters so that they can maybe actually address your interests.

 

[ww115]

They're just giving you hoops to jump through hoping you will move on to be someone else's burden.

I agree. Last year, I just walked in to few dental offices to ask them whether i can shadow the Dr. or not....... and guess what their immediate ans was NO

 

[nap5035]

Hi, my name is _____. I am interested in the field of dentistry, and would like to shadow you. I have extensive experience standing awkwardly behind people and watching them perform their daily jobs. Please see the attached resume.

 

[molar3]

Hi, my name is _____. I am interested in the field of dentistry, and would like to shadow you. I have extensive experience standing awkwardly behind people and watching them perform their daily jobs. Please see the attached resume.


ahahahahahahahaa!!!!! that sounds about right. wow how pointless

 

[Maygyver]

I love how people think shadowing is something that is a god-given right. If the dentist only wants serious people to shadow him/her, I don't see a problem with this.

 

[nap5035]

I love how people think shadowing is something that is a god-given right. If the dentist only wants serious people to shadow him/her, I don't see a problem with this.

its not a god-given right I completely agree with you. I just think asking for a cover letter is kinda silly when you look at what shadowing is. If he said, "come in after 5 so I can meet you," I think that's more appropriate. Essentially asking for a personal statement (writing why you want to be a dentist) is IMO stupid, since you're supposed to be shadowing to "see if you like dentistry in the first place"

 

[Maygyver]

its not a god-given right I completely agree with you. I just think asking for a cover letter is kinda silly when you look at what shadowing is. If he said, "come in after 5 so I can meet you," I think that's more appropriate. Essentially asking for a personal statement (writing why you want to be a dentist) is IMO stupid, since you're supposed to be shadowing to "see if you like dentistry in the first place"

I would rather let people shadow who take the time out to at least do something before coming in since I am going to take the time out of my day to talk to them and let them watch. At least that's my philosophy. It's not like they asked for a huge 5 page essay on why they want to be a dentist and tremendous amounts of time spend researching a topic. Personally, I really like this approach, and who knows, maybe that dentist had a complete slacker shadow one time and they don't want to get their time wasted.

 

[slm266]

You really think they are going to shop around for the best candidate to shadow? The purpose of shadowing is to aid those that have ZERO exposure to the field. Do they care how much service you have done? Do they care if you got a 21 on the DAT? or that you got a B in Ochem?

Honestly what Dr has the spare time to read a predents resume (unless they ask him to critique it?

Dentists by no means are obligated to allow predents to shadow in their practice. It's their right to reject them or even try to limit the amount of shadowing. A few offices said either "no", "we already have enough predents who take turns shadowing" or "we will allow you to come in once for an hour". Just be transparent and don't waste our time if you don't want us wasting yours.

 

[quillow]

They're just giving you hoops to jump through hoping you will move on to be someone else's burden.

Yeah, one office asked me to send them a cover letter and my resume. Never got back to me after I did that. Pretty sure they didn't have any intention of letting me shadow. Wish they would've just said that though. Man, now I know how guys feel when girls string them along... 🙄

 

[dentalWorks]

if your having a hard time landing a shadowing position.... talk to your pre-med/pre-health adviser from school... Many of them have a list of doctors that usually allow pre-dents to shadow.

 

[molar3]

thats weirdd. are you asking to shadow or do an internship? .....maybe the dentist is just slow and confused and thinks u want to intern there.
when i had to find an internship for college & i called practices, they sometimes asked me for stuff like that. if u just wanna shadow though, dont waste ur time sending this rando person ur lifes details

 

[Maygyver]

You really think they are going to shop around for the best candidate to shadow? The purpose of shadowing is to aid those that have ZERO exposure to the field. Do they care how much service you have done? Do they care if you got a 21 on the DAT? or that you got a B in Ochem?

Honestly what Dr has the spare time to read a predents resume (unless they ask him to critique it?

Dentists by no means are obligated to allow predents to shadow in their practice. It's their right to reject them or even try to limit the amount of shadowing. A few offices said either "no", "we already have enough predents who take turns shadowing" or "we will allow you to come in once for an hour". Just be transparent and don't waste our time if you don't want us wasting yours.

If it's that big of a deal, go find a different office. I don't see the need for someone to make a post about writing a cover letter which should take 15 minutes of their time.

It really doesn't take that long to skim a resume and see that the person shadowing doesn't have a 2.5 with a communications major with no personal drive.

 

[doc toothache]

Yeah, one office asked me to send them a cover letter and my resume. Never got back to me after I did that. Pretty sure they didn't have any intention of letting me shadow. Wish they would've just said that though. Man, now I know how guys feel when girls string them along... 🙄

Maybe he/she was not impressed with either.

 

[quillow]

Maybe he/she was not impressed with either.

Yeah, probably not. Next time, I'll make sure I have a ton of dental experience on my resume before trying to find a dentist to shadow. Maybe I'll ask again after I get my DMD. 🙄

 

[ww115]

Hi, my name is _____. I am interested in the field of dentistry, and would like to shadow you. I have extensive experience standing awkwardly behind people and watching them perform their daily jobs. Please see the attached resume.

HAHHAHA you've just made my day!

i think i wrote a pretty decent one! and i also applied to some dental jobs and used the same cover letter(with little bit of changes)..... but have not heard anything back 🙁

 

[ww115]

ohh and the endo girl even decided to interview me lol
so I'm gonna start shadowing her next week!!!

 

[ww115]

Yeah, one office asked me to send them a cover letter and my resume. Never got back to me after I did that. Pretty sure they didn't have any intention of letting me shadow. Wish they would've just said that though. Man, now I know how guys feel when girls string them along... 🙄

I even got interviewed....if they dont get back to you, call them and bug them as much as you can

 

[Maygyver]

I even got interviewed....if they dont get back to you, call them and bug them as much as you can

Oh how kind pre-professional students are.

 

[dentalWorks]

I even got interviewed....if they dont get back to you, call them and bug them as much as you can

haha, your a go-getter... I like it 👍

 

[slm266]

I would shadow GP or other specialties before doing endo, unless you're falling behind on your sleep.

 

[doc toothache]

Yeah, probably not. Next time, I'll make sure I have a ton of dental experience on my resume before trying to find a dentist to shadow. Maybe I'll ask again after I get my DMD. 🙄

If and when if you get your DMD you may want to ask him/her to come shadow you.

 

[RedRoze]

I even got interviewed....if they dont get back to you, call them and bug them as much as you can

But if the office lets you shadow just because you bug them, I don't think it's gonna be a pleasant experience, like one of SDN members once had an awful experience, where the Doc didn't want to talk to that predent.


after going to a couple offices asking for shadowing, I got the feeling that the office staff are threatened by the predent taking a job there or something, because some of them just by their reaction I can tell that they're going to throw my number in the trash as soon as I leave without even talking to the dentist.

 

[Maygyver]

But if the office lets you shadow just because you bug them, I don't think it's gonna be a pleasant experience, like one of SDN members once had an awful experience, where the Doc didn't want to talk to that predent.


after going to a couple offices asking for shadowing, I got the feeling that the office staff are threatened by the predent taking a job there or something, because some of them just by their reaction I can tell that they're going to throw my number in the trash as soon as I leave without even talking to the dentist.

I agree with the first point.

I've never felt that way with the second point. I think as long as you present yourself as a serious student, they aren't going to think you are there to steal a job; you are there in preparation for becoming a dentist. All of the people I have shadowed have had very friendly and helpful staffs that would talk to me if the doctor was ever in a private consultation.

At the OMFS I shadowed I left my number with the front desk after telling them a little bit about my situation and got a call back the next day. It's all about how you approach it.

 

[quillow]

I even got interviewed....if they dont get back to you, call them and bug them as much as you can

Oh, I already got into dental school.. 😛 This was last year when I was trying to get additional shadowing experience at different offices. I already had other shadowing experience so it wasn't a big deal that I couldn't shadow this guy.

I'm glad you got your shadowing opportunity though!🙂