The Art of Writing a Great Dental Job Ad

This article was originally published on October 8th, 2013. It was most recently updated on May 12th, 2022.

Attracting the creme de la creme candidate in the dental industry begins with catching their attention with a well-crafted ad or job posting. Dental ads that are lackluster and non-specific lose the audience you’re trying to attract, while inexperience in how to write a job ad makes your company stand out for all the wrong reasons. 

Understanding what makes for great dental job ads is the first step in hiring right the first time. 

The Anatomy of a Great Dental Job Ad

When crafting a compelling job ad, there are several elements to consider, starting with fitting in what you want to say to encourage a candidate to apply, while remembering not to ‘ramble.’

Why Word Count is Important

Choosing the appropriate word count is like walking a tightrope. If it’s too long, your ad runs the risk of losing your audience, too short, and you fail to get your all-important information across. 

With low attention spans and different device sizes to consider, it’s crucial to draft a job ad that gets straight to the point, while highlighting everything that will attract the right applicant. 

The right balance lies between 300 and 700 words. Within that word count, you can decide what tone you’ll use that best describes your company culture. 

Further on, we’ll discuss the importance of showcasing your company culture in the job description. For now, let’s delve into considerations for your job titles.

Why It’s Not ‘Just’ a Job Title

If you’ve ever fallen prey to clickbait, you’ll understand how frustrating it is to click on a headline that redirects you to something that has nothing to do with the title. It’s misleading, annoying, and wastes your time. 

Job titles written in this way can create distrust in the minds of potential applicants. 

Why You Need a Convincing Job Description

A LinkedIn survey found that you have only 14 seconds to make a good impression with your ad. That’s less than most microwave express timers! You should spend the few seconds you have conveying the incredible opportunity your job vacancy offers.

When formulating the job description, include:

• An attention-grabbing opening statement or question
• A short introduction 
• Job requirements
• Salary and benefits 
• Working hours (full-time/part-time)

Highlighting Your Company Culture Draws the Right People

One of the most effective ways to prevent a bad hire is to write a dental job ad that speaks volumes about what your dental practice is really like.

Writing an ad goes beyond merely explaining the new hire’s duties, qualifications, and responsibilities; it also needs to define your office culture.

Trends have shown that more practices use culture-based recruiting; this means hiring people suitable for the organization and not just for the job. 

The culture of your practice is defined by what the employers and employees share about assumptions and norms, opportunities for growth, pace, management and marketing styles, and several other identifiers.

If you’re a bit stumped on how best to describe your office culture or need some inspiration to put pen to paper to narrow down your practice’s core values, complete our online Culture or Core Values Assessments.

Why Defining Your Company Culture is Important

Including your practice’s culture in your dental job ad is essential because it lets your applicants know whether they will be a good fit. 

Research on company culture indicates that it can influence organizational performance, which can, in turn, affect important aspects of your company, such as productivity, patient satisfaction, cohesion, and employee/employer satisfaction.

Remember, the office culture of a dental practice starts with the dentist. It builds on your core values and beliefs, the style of dentistry practiced, and more. The dentist sets the tone and pace! 

Knowing your culture helps create a more effective job ad when the time comes to bring on a new Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Hygienist, Receptionist, etc.

Examples of Culture-Defining Job Descriptions

Dr. A’s job ad:

Are You the Type of Person Who Appreciates Stability?

Would you like to work for a dentist who has an excellent reputation in the community and is known for his integrity? Do you want to work independently among satisfied co-workers who have been with us for years? We seek a qualified RDH who wants to know what’s expected of them at work while earning a competitive salary in a professional and respectful environment.

By reading the above ad, a candidate would immediately know that Dr. A’s office represents a more mature, well-established practice run by a more traditional dental team. 

You can tell that the dentist runs a tight ship. He is proud of the standard of quality care that he brings to his patients and staff. 

The “integrity” mentioned in the ad comes from years of consistent service to patients who trust him for routine cleanings and the same high-quality care he has offered since day one.

The “satisfied co-workers” clearly value the stability within the practice, hence their long-term commitments – in fact, Dr. A is only hiring because his existing RDH is retiring soon, and he needs to find a replacement. 

His employees can expect their days at the office to be predictable; Dr. A’s practice is calm and runs smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. He wants to hire someone who will settle into the everyday routine as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Let’s compare this to Dr. B’s job ad:

Do You Get Excited by Opportunities for Growth?

Do you want to work in a fast-paced environment with flexible hours? Want to be part of a growing practice that offers cutting-edge treatments and products? Our practice values Continuing Education, and our focus is on the connection between dentistry and overall health. We’re committed to the success of our business and seek an energetic RDH with a “get it done” attitude, one who is willing to cross-train, come in early, or stay late as needed.

Dr. B’s job ad caters to a very different type of cultural value system. Her practice is relatively new and situated for fast growth. Dr. B values marketing and enjoys staying on top of the latest technology and procedures in dentistry. 

She makes sure her staff informs patients about how they can improve their smiles and overall health; this includes introducing procedures they might otherwise have never heard of before.

Her employees know that they are expected to go ‘above and beyond’ for their patients; this could mean the new RDH will be expected to get involved in calling patients. Perhaps they will even have a say in marketing initiatives. 

Dr. B is willing to handle emergency visits even if the office is about to close and expects flexible staff members. Perhaps they’ll get comp time next week!

How to Match Salary Expectations

Most job hunters have clear salary expectations and generally look for higher-paying positions or better benefits. How do you know if what you can offer them is competitive enough?

Our detailed Salary Survey Report provides trends and insights into salary data for each dental position. It is a helpful tool for hiring managers and practice owners to know what wage dental professionals now expect.

While you may not feel comfortable posting wages online, company benefits like paid leave, health insurance, or reimbursements for CE tuition are essential to include in your job descriptions; they may just be what encourages a candidate to apply. 

Finally, the job requirements should paint a realistic picture for the candidate of how a typical day in the role would look for them. Be sure to include the minimum qualifications the job seeker would need, the day-to-day duties of the candidate, and what their working hours will be. 

Build a Better Team with DentalPost 

With the ongoing labor shortage within the dental industry, more and more dental practices are learning how to craft brilliant job ads. Trump the competition and find high-quality candidates using the biggest online job board for dental professionals in the U.S. and Canada.

Click here to create your Employer Account, set up your first ad, or breath new life into a non-performing job ad today.