You have achieved your dream of joining a US dental program and are on the threshold of graduating. No time to relax yet – now comes the very important task of finding a dental job!! Although it may seem like a herculean task, if you start early enough, you might be able to sign contracts even before you graduate. I’ve put together some of the advice and tips that have helped us find jobs in the past. Keep in mind – even though I’m writing mainly keeping a foreign dentist in mind, a lot of the same points are applicable to US graduates as well.

Start by deciding where you want to live & the purpose of your first job

Have an idea of what it is you want to achieve with your first job. Is it fulfilling immigration requirements, paying off student loans, gaining maximum speed/experience? Do you want your first job to put you on the path to partnership or ownership? Sometimes the decision is about being closer to family, easier access to amenities or a better school district for the children. Whatever be the reason, narrowing down the state you want to settle down in will enable you to plan accordingly. The requirements for dental licensure varies by state. Once you decide on the location, you can undergo the appropriate clinical licensing exam. Generally speaking, there can be some great opportunities to make a good living in more rural areas. Many rural job openings also advertise relocation bonus and better compensation package to entice applicants. In bigger cities, it can often be harder to get new patients. As a result, everyone is fighting for the same target audience. You will have to set yourself apart via social marketing or additional training.

Corporate dental office vs Private practice

I will discuss the pros and cons of working in a corporate environment vs private practice in a future post. US-trained foreign dentists will require an employer to sponsor their work visa. This will limit the type of practice you can have to being an employee in a dental practice until you get your Green card (the H-1B employer-employee relationship rule states that the employer must directly supervise the employee and pay taxes on the employee’s behalf). Most dentists offering associateship opportunities will negotiate that the associate eventually takes ownership of the practice. Another option is to work part-time in a corporate office and the rest of the time in a private practice. This will give you first-hand experience of both environments so you can see for yourself which is better suited for you. I recommend exploring all your options and schedule any and all interviews that you can. You never know what might turn out to be a good fit or what may fall through at the last minute. It’s always good to have backups.

Explore local contacts

If you plan on practicing in the same state after you graduate, it will be easier for you to start networking earlier. Start by contacting anyone that you may know working in the dental field in the area that you want to practice. If you want to work where you grew up, call your dentist and ask if he or she knows anyone looking to hire an associate. Next, reach out to the reps for the dental supply companies in the area (Patterson, Henry Schein etc.) These reps know all of the dentists in a given area and they often keep records of which offices are looking to hire. You should also reach out to your local dental organization as many of them have placement services/job listings.

Search the internet

Many local and state dental organizations have online publications that include classifieds. You could also try to search the Internet for “dental jobs” or “dentist wanted” followed by the name of your city. You could also contact dental recruiters – they work on behalf of the employing dentists and will keep you in mind if opportunities arise. (ETS Job Listings, Indeed.com, DentalTown Classifieds, Craigslist)

Work with US Public Health Service, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the military