Green flags in your dental assistant interview

An interview is your initial opportunity to showcase your skills and talents to a potential future employer. Some dental assistant interviews are traditional sit-down conversations, while others, known as working interviews, entail performing typical on-the-job tasks under observation.

This is a first impression for both parties, so while you should put your best foot forward in your interview, it’s equally important for the job to appeal to you. Here are some green flags to look for that point to the role being a good fit.

Dental assistants are valued

Dental assistants are the backbone of dental practices, but their position should never be taken for granted. During your interview, pay attention to how the interviewer presents the open position and how they talk about dental assistants in the office. Dental assistants do a lot to keep up with patient management, exam room prep, sterilization, and more — so it’s a good sign that the practice values their assistants if their contributions to the practice are acknowledged in your interview.

If you’re doing a working interview, be aware of how dental assistants are treated by office leadership and other staff members. How do dental assistants fit into the overall team dynamic? How do they intersect with other positions in the office? Everyone in the practice should recognize and value the work of dental assistants.

Duties are outlined clearly

Dental assistants handle many responsibilities across the office, so your interviewer should go over the job description and all expected duties, including specific chairside, infection control, and radiography responsibilities. The interviewer should also discuss whether this position will be expected to handle tasks such as restocking supplies or helping at the front desk.

For more information on dental assistant duties, check your state’s dental assisting requirements. Many states have different levels for dental assistants and specify which duties dental assistants are allowed to perform at each level.

Fair compensation

Dental assistants should be fairly compensated for their work. The interviewer should inform you of the practice’s pay structure, employment benefits, and potential growth opportunities for the role. DANB’s Financial Impact of Dental Assistants on the Dental Practice report highlights several benefits of offering higher wages, including increased dental assistant retention. The wage a practice is willing to offer suggests how much it values dental assistants and their efforts to hire for long-term employment. Dental assistants can use DANB’s Dental Assistants Salary and Satisfaction Survey to gauge fair pay based on factors such as location, experience level, and credentials.

During a working interview, the practice is required by law to pay you for your time. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) clearly indicates that candidates who work to economically benefit the practice are legally entitled to compensation. If the interviewer expects you to work for free, that’s typically a sign they are not adequately supporting their workers with fair wages.

Professional development opportunities

Offering professional growth opportunities shows that a practice values a dental assistant’s career. Certifications can lead to higher wages, lower turnover rates, and increased productivity, as shown in DANB’s Salary and Satisfaction Survey report. Their willingness to invest in the professional advancement of dental assistants indicates that office leadership operates with a growth mindset. You can also ask if the practice has a system in place for career growth. This could include promotion timelines that would allow dental assistants to advance to a higher-level position or earn a raise after working at the practice for a certain amount of time.

Your interviewer should also share whether any licenses or certifications are required for the role. As the dental assistant profession continues to evolve, additional certifications or education may be required to meet state dental assisting requirements. Learning how the practice supports earning certification and continuing education informs you of their level of dedication to their dental assistants.

Supportive work/life balance

Later in the interview process, your interviewer should break down their time-off policies and other benefits that come with the role. This gives you a better idea of their company culture and how they foster a healthy work/life balance. Some of the bigger benefits to note include paid time off, insurance packages, and vacation time. During a working interview, see how many dental assistants are taking their allotted lunch break to get a sense of how well the practice handles a busy day of patient appointments.

Low turnover rate