Dentist Resume Sample

Applications for dentist jobs attract candidates with similar levels of education and professional experience. To make sure a hiring manager sees your resume, ensure it’s high quality. Here are four tips to perfect your dentist resume.

1. Highlight your dentist resume skills

To land a job as a dentist, use the skills section of your resume to highlight your dentist skills.

While employers expect certain hard skills like teeth cleaning and checking for caries, add specific skills about your specialty or focus to set you apart.

Also include any patient relationship skills and soft skills that show you know how to put patients at ease.

Here are a few skills to list on a dentist resume:

• X-ray machine
• Dental assessments
• Preventative dentistry
• Fluoride treatments
• Traditional and laser whitening
• Crowns, bridges, and veneers
• Oral surgery
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Compassion, empathy, and patient relations
• Pediatric dentistry
• Teaching and staff training
• Teamwork

2. Choose the optimal resume format

Assess your background and choose the correct resume format to showcase your experience.

The most common resume format is the chronological resume. On a chronological resume, list your most recent position first. Then list your previous roles in reverse chronological order.

If your dental career has followed a traditional trajectory from one entry-level position to higher positions, the chronological format is best for you.

However, if you’ve served as a dentist at many different dental clinics with the same kinds of responsibilities, consider using a functional resume. A functional resume highlights skills you’ve gained in previous jobs.

3. Write a strong dentist education section

It takes training and education to become a great dentist. So don’t neglect your resume education section. Your education section should list your highest degree, as well as any dentist-related certifications.

If you’ve attained any special awards during training, list them here too.

4. Pair your resume with a strong dentist cover letter

Because so many applicants for dental jobs have similar backgrounds and experience levels, an outstanding dentist cover letter sets you apart. A well-written cover letter is a chance to back up the accomplishments on your resume by showing employers how you plan to contribute to their workplace.

Recounting how you performed well under pressure or overcame an obstacle sometimes tells the employer more than just your resume does because it adds a personal element to your application.

Your cover letter is also a great place to explain why you enjoy being a dentist. Describe an impactful moment from training or a time you helped someone with a difficult problem to explain what drives you.