recent Grad-should I accept this offer

[caltech2004]

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I graduated from an AGED program in JULY 2004. I have been working as an associate until recently when I quit. I am currently in search of an ideal situation and a good offer. My current salary for the last two years is dismal --basically living paycheck to paycheck-- have very HIGH student loans (went to Caltech and UCLA dental)

New place:
Location wise, it's not ideal (not a ghost town, it's a medium size town with some life) in Colorado. Medium household income= $38,000. insurance =60%.
type of practice- insurance, medicaid type for underserved , federally funded
offer: work 5 days, 40 hrs, see 12-17 patients a day; 30 minute lunch
type of work--filling, extractions, c and b, emergency, root canal, lots of kids
will be very busy(like a mill)

expectation-produce a daily average of $2000 per day (very plausible)
salary: $110,000
benies: health, 403k, all major holidays off and 3 weeks off

question; I would like to request $125k per year and 4 weeks off
Am I asking too much?

Please comment

 

[DrJeff]

If your producing $2,000 a day for 49 weeks a year, your basically billing $500,000, and you wanting $125,000K (25% of your prodcution) is DEFINATELY reasonable. Even with a poor collection rate, and a huge overhead, that practice is still making a ton of $$ off you.

If you want $125,000 and 4 weeks, start the bargaining at $140,000 and ATLEAST 4 weeks of vacation. Remember, there are more jobs than dentists to fill them. The worst they can say is "no"!

 

[drem2006]

I agree. I have had a couple jobs so far and made not great decisions. The important thing to remember is there are always other jobs out there. Finding a reasonable-paying job as a dentist is not hard. Make sure you don't feel like you're being taken advantage of. That feeling will not go away, and it is there for a reason. Also, I think it's worth it to have an attorney look over your contract to make sure everything looks good. That saved me from a lot of trouble with a couple job offers.
Good Luck.

 

[aphistis]

I agree. I have had a couple jobs so far and made not great decisions. The important thing to remember is there are always other jobs out there. Finding a reasonable-paying job as a dentist is not hard. Make sure you don't feel like you're being taken advantage of. That feeling will not go away, and it is there for a reason. Also, I think it's worth it to have an attorney look over your contract to make sure everything looks good. That saved me from a lot of trouble with a couple job offers.
Good Luck.

Good advice. Everyone I've spoken to has said that having an attorney review any contracts you're considering signing should go without saying.

 

[Rube]

question; I would like to request $125k per year and 4 weeks off
Am I asking too much?

Please comment

You could always ask for less base and more production pay.

 

[OceanDMD]

I would suggest (if you are happy with the practice) approaching the employer with a commitment to buy in. A vested interest often encourages a contract with better percentage based salary. Most associateships fail because of the initial lack of commitment, and most practicing dentists know this.

 

[Lesley]

I graduated from an AGED program in JULY 2004. I have been working as an associate until recently when I quit. I am currently in search of an ideal situation and a good offer. My current salary for the last two years is dismal --basically living paycheck to paycheck-- have very HIGH student loans (went to Caltech and UCLA dental)

New place:
Location wise, it's not ideal (not a ghost town, it's a medium size town with some life) in Colorado. Medium household income= $38,000. insurance =60%.
type of practice- insurance, medicaid type for underserved , federally funded
offer: work 5 days, 40 hrs, see 12-17 patients a day; 30 minute lunch
type of work--filling, extractions, c and b, emergency, root canal, lots of kids
will be very busy(like a mill)

expectation-produce a daily average of $2000 per day (very plausible)
salary: $110,000
benies: health, 403k, all major holidays off and 3 weeks off

question; I would like to request $125k per year and 4 weeks off
Am I asking too much?

Please comment

Sorry to hear about your last two years. Hopefully, things will be getting better for you soon. You are at an advantage, there are more jobs for dentists than dentists willing to fill them. Knowing that you will be working hard, 12-17 patients a day, why not ask for what you feel your worth. It doesn't hurt to test the water. It sounds like you have already quit your previous job. I would use this time, if your offer is rejected, to continue to look around. Stand on your offer firmly, if they need a dentist they may come around, maybe not immediately. You have two years of experience, that is a plus, remind them of it. Seeing how your last two years have been disappointing, I would not jump from the frying pan into the fire. I like a fixed salary. When you are working for someone else, if you are being paid based on production sometimes the owner will pull the more lucrative work from the employee. A crummy thing. If you're making a salary, what difference does it make to him. Knowing what it's like to face large student loans along with monthly living expenses, it's nice to have a weekly income you can depend on. The advice to have an attorney look over any contract you are contemplating signing is good advice. Good luck.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Avoid job offers that pay you solely based on production since that type of practice is too risky for my liking. It's like having ARM over fixed rate. Find a place that has guaranteed salary plus a percentage of the production. Goverment based jobs and academic institutions guarantee a fixed income. Once you venture into private practice and work for someone else (except the one you start), be ready to be exploited unless you negoiate smartly. DP

 

[TKD]

I graduated from an AGED program in JULY 2004. I have been working as an associate until recently when I quit. I am currently in search of an ideal situation and a good offer. My current salary for the last two years is dismal --basically living paycheck to paycheck-- have very HIGH student loans (went to Caltech and UCLA dental)

New place:
Location wise, it's not ideal (not a ghost town, it's a medium size town with some life) in Colorado. Medium household income= $38,000. insurance =60%.
type of practice- insurance, medicaid type for underserved , federally funded
offer: work 5 days, 40 hrs, see 12-17 patients a day; 30 minute lunch
type of work--filling, extractions, c and b, emergency, root canal, lots of kids
will be very busy(like a mill)

expectation-produce a daily average of $2000 per day (very plausible)
salary: $110,000
benies: health, 403k, all major holidays off and 3 weeks off

question; I would like to request $125k per year and 4 weeks off
Am I asking too much?

Please comment

My .02: Overall a decent offer, assuming an attorney doesn't find any loopholes. A couple points - this 2K figure - make sure you're not pushed around regarding this "expectation." Sometimes in large clinics office managers can be a real pain in the a$$ regarding any expectations. Make sure quality of work is emphasized. I think if you get the 2K range you're worth more than 125K. I'd say 140K, with benefits and all. I applaud your desire to pursue the field of public health dentistry - I worked in a FQHC and while it's not cutting edge, implants, etc, it certainly is extremely worthwhile and satisfying. The Dental director at the time told me about a local study which found that 1 of every 4 patients you see, you are saving the local hospital ER a visit, and saving the hospital $$$ spent on this patient - hence the hospital made yearly donations to the dental clinic (very substantial I may add!!).

 

[Holy Thursday]

I graduated from an AGED program in JULY 2004. I have been working as an associate until recently when I quit. I am currently in search of an ideal situation and a good offer. My current salary for the last two years is dismal --basically living paycheck to paycheck-- have very HIGH student loans (went to Caltech and UCLA dental)

New place:
Location wise, it's not ideal (not a ghost town, it's a medium size town with some life) in Colorado. Medium household income= $38,000. insurance =60%.
type of practice- insurance, medicaid type for underserved , federally funded
offer: work 5 days, 40 hrs, see 12-17 patients a day; 30 minute lunch
type of work--filling, extractions, c and b, emergency, root canal, lots of kids
will be very busy(like a mill)

expectation-produce a daily average of $2000 per day (very plausible)
salary: $110,000
benies: health, 403k, all major holidays off and 3 weeks off

question; I would like to request $125k per year and 4 weeks off
Am I asking too much?

Please comment

1. Make sure the lawyer that looks over the contract is knowledgeable in the field of dental contracts.

2. Stand your ground on what you think you are worth. If you allow the employer to short-change you now, you are setting a precedence for him/her to do it to you again in the future.

3. If you are asking for a certain percent of production, make sure you are not just being given fillings and sealants.

4. Whatever you agree on, get something in writing, even if you sound anal. If you ask for an opportunity to buy the practice from them, get it in writing. I mean, ppl will seriously screw you in business and money.