Writing a resume for a dental assistant job can be challenging, but it’s essential to showcase your skills and experience in a way that aligns with your career goals and the role you’re applying for. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from other candidates and increase your chances of landing an interview. Include specific language relevant to the dental assistant job, such as knowledge of dental procedures, familiarity with dental software, and experience working with patients. Highlighting your achievements and quantifying your impact can also help demonstrate your value to potential employers.
This guide will help you craft a resume that gets you noticed, whether you’ve been in the field for years or are just starting out.
When writing a resume as a dental assistant, it’s important to include the following sections:
This one is fairly straightforward — give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile. Ensure your contact information is current so that potential employers can contact you for an interview.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
A resume profile for a dental assistant should be a brief summary of your qualifications, experience, and career goals. Emphasize your most relevant skills and achievements and demonstrate how you can add value to the dental practice.
Keep your profile concise and focused on your most relevant qualifications and experience. Use specific language related to the dental assistant job, such as knowledge of dental procedures, familiarity with dental software, and experience working with patients. Highlighting your achievements and quantifying your impact can also help demonstrate your value to potential employers.
Certified dental assistant with over five years of experience in providing high-quality patient care and assisting dentists with a wide range of dental procedures. Skilled in taking digital radiographs, preparing patients for treatment, and maintaining accurate patient records. Proficient in using dental software such as Dentrix and Eaglesoft. Passionate about providing exceptional patient care and committed to staying up-to-date with the latest dental technologies and techniques.
Using key skills in your dental assistant resume is important because it helps you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Dental assistants are required to have a wide range of capabilities, including familiarity with dental software and procedures and expertise in working with patients. By demonstrating these skills in your resume, you can show potential employers you have the qualifications they seek and are a good fit for the dental assistant job.
It also helps your resume clear the bar of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which screen and filter resumes based on specific keywords and skills.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Digital radiography | Attention to detail |
Experience with patients | Communication |
Familiarity with dental software (be specific) | Empathy |
Infection control | Organization |
Knowledge of dental procedures | Teamwork |
In the dental assistant field, using action verbs in your resume is especially important to stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Dental assistants need diverse skills, such as experience working with patients and knowledge of dental procedures and software. By emphasizing these capabilities in your resume using action verbs, you can show potential employers you have the right qualifications and are a good fit for the dental assistant job.
Here are 10 common action verbs that are effective in the marketing industry:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Assisted | Collaborated |
Communicated | Educated |
Evaluated | Fabricated |
Managed | Organized |
Prepared | Sterilized |
The professional experience section of your dental assistant resume should display your relevant work experience and skills. Use bullet points to make your resume easy to read and highlight your key achievements. Incorporate your capabilities within the descriptions of your previous work experience. Be sure to demonstrate specific instances where you utilized and demonstrated each skill. Rather than simply listing vague job descriptions, be specific about the types of dental procedures you have performed. This will show hiring managers you have a comprehensive knowledge of dentistry and oral health.
Dental Assistant, Healthy Smiles Clinic, Columbus, OH
June 2019 – present
Dental Assistant, Dr. Brenner’s Dental, Columbus, OH
January 2017 – May 2019
By incorporating specific numbers, percentages, and measurable outcomes into your resume, you give prospective employers a clear understanding of your impact as a dental assistant. Providing measurable results validates your achievements and offers concrete evidence of your contributions.
To tailor your dental assistant resume to the job listing, carefully read the job description and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, display these skills and qualifications in your resume, using specific examples from your work experience and education to demonstrate your proficiency.
Incorporate keywords from the job description into your resume. This will help your resume get past the ATS and increase your chances of getting an interview. Customize your objective statement to match the job description. This shows the employer you are specifically interested in the position and have the necessary skills to succeed. Emphasize your relevant work experience and skills that match the job description. Be sure to quantify your achievements with specific data points. Finally, proofread your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. A well-written and error-free resume will make a good first impression on the employer.
If you are a dental assistant with little or no experience, there are several ways to compensate for this when applying for jobs. Even if you don’t have much work experience, you may have developed relevant skills through coursework or other experiences. Focus on these skills in your resume. If you have recently completed a dental assistant program, be sure to highlight this in your resume. Show potential employers you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the position.
Consider applying for an internship or volunteer position to gain experience in the field. This will give you the opportunity to learn new skills and gain valuable experience that you can emphasize on your resume.
If you have completed an associate degree from an accredited dental assistant program, include it in your resume. This will show potential employers you have a comprehensive understanding of dentistry and oral health.
While dental assistant certification is not typically mandatory, it can increase your chances of being hired. If you have a dental assistant certification, be sure to mention it in your resume.
Associate degree in Dental Assisting, September 2014 – June 2016
Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH
Certification
Danielle Collins
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Certified dental assistant with over five years of experience in providing high-quality patient care and assisting dentists with a wide range of dental procedures. Skilled in taking digital radiographs, preparing patients for treatment, and maintaining accurate patient records. Proficient in using dental software such as Dentrix and Eaglesoft. Passionate about providing exceptional patient care and committed to staying up-to-date with the latest dental technologies and techniques.
Dental Assistant, Healthy Smiles Clinic, Columbus, OH
June 2019 – present
Dental Assistant, Dr. Brenner’s Dental, Columbus, OH
January 2017 – May 2019
Associate degree in Dental Assisting, September 2014 – June 2016
Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.