When should i start looking for associate jobs?

[dentaldenta]

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Hi everyone,
I'm a D3 and am starting to think about after graduation ...so when do I need to start looking for jobs as an associate? Should I start at the beginning, middle, or after my D4 year? If I wait until after I graduate, how long do you think it will take me to find a job? I know everyone has different experiences but any response will be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[omaralt]

you want to start looking for jobs ~3-4 months before you want to start working. however, the bigger issue is licensure. many of my classmates had jobs lined up, and when some failed the licensing exam, it was embarassing to have to tell your employer that you have to re-take the exam in a few months. so it's really up to you..

 

[psi169]

Disclaimer: I am still a predent, but this is a topic that stresses me out just thinking about it-- getting a job to pay back all those loans I will have. I was thinking that, in the spring of being a D3, I would starting researching offices in the area(s) that you are interesting in working. By starting early and doing a little bit of work ahead of time, it would save potentially weeks of research later. Starting ranking these offices in terms of most desired to least desired, based of what whatever criteria you want. It will only cost you a stamp or a phone call to apply, so mine would be a lengthy list. And then, by the time I was a senior, I would a least have a list of places to apply. And isn't that the hardest part? Knowing where to start?

Then, starting mailing your resume in staggered batches 3-4 months before you want to start working. The first batch being your dream/dreamish jobs, then nice jobs, then okay jobs, etc. Keep track in an Excel sheet when you applied, date resume mailed, any follow up contact, office phone number and address, etc. If you end up applying to 100 places, you will start getting confused about what is where. Hopefully you get some promising interviews and a conditional hire before you get down to your "crappy job" batches.

And as far as having to pass the board-- I think its a risk you are gonna have to take and hope/pray/study enough so you pass. If you want until after you pass and THEN start looking, it could be a few months after graduation before you have a job. But as a dental student, offices and their dentists know that there is a possibility you might not pass, but they still interviewed you anyway. But, if you don't pass, then you will have to wait a few months anyway then if you waited to pass and then applied. Its just a risk you gotta take and, yeah, it would be really embarrassing to 'fess up. Call it a life experience and move on.

Good luck!

 

[dentaldenta]

Good points! I didn't even think about the waiting for the licensure part. Thanks!

 

[UKdent]

We usually take our part II NBDE around december and get our scores back first of jan. My regional board is SRTA, so i took CSW exam first of jan, and PIE I is feb. So I have all my score back except for PIE II, which i havent taken yet. So at our school it is really common to start looking in feb/march. This is if you are going to an area where there are dental positions available. For instance my general area of about 50 miles has probably 10 or so people looking for associates that I know of. If you are wanting to go to an area where there are less positions available or if you are limiting yourself to a very specific area then you should probably start looking in october or november of your 4th year. The only hard part about looking a year in advance is that when most dentist start looking for an associate, unless they are friends or family, dont want to wait a year until you graduate and get your license. When a dentist(that you would want to work for) begins looking for an associate that means he already has a large pt base and if overwhelmed and needs someone soon, or he/she wants to slow down to only a couple days a week. In both cases they want someone sooner than a year. I found that talking to dental supply companies in the area when you start 4th year is a great way to find opportunities. They are the ones that travel around to multiple dentist every month and usually have first hand knowledge of who is looking for someone. So get to know the representatives and let them know your general area and they will keep an eye out for ya. Finding a job is a very stressful part of 4th year. There are alot of things that go along with finding the right person. So in my case I finished the exams and my graduation requirements that way i could focus on finding the best place for employment. You want to be able to devote time to traveling to different offices, get to know the existing staff, then come the paperwork part of it. You have practice evaluations to look at, contracts to look at, finding a lawyer and accountant to look over the contract. It takes a lot of time and trying to do all this along with the stress of national exams, and regional exams would give you gray hair.

Oh yea you cant start working as soon as you graduate. It takes a couple months before you actually get your license after you graduate. You have to apply and jump through some hoops before you can actually start. So you have a little more time than you think to find a job. Best advice find a job then take a vacation before you jump into the real world.