Gearing up to apply for a dental assistant role and not sure how to polish your resume to a shine?
Our guide’s here to help you brush up every section, with a focus on what makes you the ideal candidate for the clinic.
Take a squiz at our Dental Assistant resume example for a bit of inspiration and to get your application cracking.
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Dental Assistant Resume Example
This example Dental Assistant resume showcases the optimal structure and great content to include in your own resume.
Designed to be professional and easy for recruiters to read, it serves as an excellent example of a good Dental Assistant resume.
Next, we’ll guide you through the process of developing a compelling Dental Assistant resume of your own.
Dental Assistant resume structure & format
Resume structure
The importance of a well-structured resume cannot be overstated for Dental Assistant positions.
For a resume that stands out to recruiters, structure it with these key sections:
- Contact details: Your full name and contact options.
- Resume summary: A succinct summary showcasing your expertise and skills.
- Core skills: A list of skills essential for Dental Assistant jobs, presented in bullet points.
- Work experience: Your job history, with the most recent roles first.
- Education: Your formal education and any relevant training.
- Additional info: Optional section for highlighting unique skills or interests that relate to Dental Assistant.
How to format your Dental Assistant resume
The layout of your resume is crucial in making it appealing and accessible to hiring managers.
Keep these key points in mind when arranging your resume format.
- Resume length: Keep your resume between 1 to 2 pages long because recruiters see tons of resumes every day and only have limited time to read each one.
- Font & colour scheme: Opt for a straightforward font that’s easy on the eyes, avoiding fancy ones that could be hard to read. Stick to a black-text-on-white background, but don’t hesitate to add a touch of colour to make your resume pop.
- Page layout: Ensure your page is divided into clear sections with bold headings or borders, as this enables readers to quickly pinpoint the information they’re interested in.
- Break text up: Make use of bullet points and short paragraphs to breakup text, simplifying the info for busy recruiters to digest.
- Photos: In Australia, photos aren’t compulsory, but you can include a small headshot at the top if you want.
Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.
Contact Details
Being reachable and identifiable is essential for any job seeker which makes the contact details section a fundamental part of your resume. Although simple, it’s crucial to execute this section correctly.
Be sure to include these vital details clearly at the top of your resume, and be economical with the space you use:
- Your name and professional title: Adapt the title (e.g. Marketing Asssitant or Junior IT Manager) to suit the roles you’re aiming for.
- Email address: Use a professional-sounding email (e.g. shane-smith@gmail.com) and steer clear of nicknames or informal tags (e.g., shanzeybwoySmitho200@gmail.com).
- Phone number: Provide your mobile number for direct contact. Double-check to ensure it’s correct.
- Location: Include the general area you are targeting for work, such as Canberra, Brisbane.
You might also consider adding these optional details:
- Webpage links: Connect to a professional online presence such as a LinkedIn profile or a personal portfolio, making sure they are properly maintained and professional.
- Photograph: In creative sectors, a professional photo can be helpful, though it should not dominate your resume’s layout.
It’s advisable to omit personal information such as your date of birth, full home address, or gender from your resume as these do not enhance your job application and occupy precious space.
Dental Assistant Resume Summary
The resume summary at the top of your document is a crucial, concise introduction that encapsulates your professional qualifications and readiness for the job. It sets the stage for your detailed application.
To instantly capture a recruiter’s attention and lead them into reading further into your resume, use these proven tips:
- Keep it short: Keep your resume summary succinct with 3 to 5 sentences. This allows hiring managers to grasp your key points rapidly, reserving more in-depth information for the work experience section.
- Tailor to target jobs: To stand out, align your summary closely with the skills and keywords found in your target job adverts, increasing the likelihood that recruiters will recognise your fit for the role.
- Avoid using cliches: Avoid falling into the trap of labeling yourself as a “go-getter” or a “people person” – these phrases are overused and lack substance for employers.
Dental Assistant resume summary example
What to include in your Dental Assistant resume summary
- Summary of your experience: Provide a summary of your work history, including the types of roles you’ve held, the companies you’ve worked for, and the extent of your experience.
- Relevant skills: Demonstrate your suitability for Dental Assistant positions by emphasising your most relevant skills for the role.
- Qualifications: Include a short note about any relevant qualifications for Dental Assistant roles to demonstrate your suitability for the position.
- Benefits of hiring you: Why should a employer hire you? Will you save them money? Improve their productivity? Or get them more customers?
Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.
Core skills section
To catch the eye of recruiters, include a core skills section on your resume.
This should be a bullet-pointed list showcasing your most sought-after skills specific to Dental Assistant roles.
Limit each skill to four words to ensure they stand out clearly to busy hiring managers.
Skills for your Dental Assistant resume
Patient Care Coordination – Assisting with patient management by organising appointments, preparing treatment rooms, and ensuring patient comfort throughout their visit.
Dental Radiography – Taking and processing dental X-rays safely while adhering to radiation safety principles to assist the dentist in diagnosing oral health issues.
Infection Control – Maintaining strict sterilisation protocols for dental instruments and treatment areas to prevent cross-contamination and infection.
Dental Procedure Assistance – Providing chairside assistance during a variety of dental procedures, including passing instruments and preparing dental materials.
Impression Taking – Skilfully taking dental impressions for the creation of study models and the fabrication of various dental appliances.
Dental Equipment Maintenance – Ensuring dental equipment is functioning effectively and carrying out routine maintenance to prevent disruptions during dental procedures.
Oral Hygiene Instruction – Educating patients on proper oral care techniques, including effective brushing and flossing, to promote oral health.
Dental Charting – Accurately charting a patient’s oral health status, including noting existing restorations and any observed oral conditions.
Dental Material Knowledge – Understanding the properties and applications of various dental materials used in restorative and prosthetic procedures.
Scheduling and Billing – Managing appointment scheduling systems and processing billing and payment transactions for dental services provided.
Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.
Work experience section
Your work experience section is your chance to show employers what value you can bring to them.
List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, focusing on your last 3-5 years of experience.
Structuring your jobs
To help recruiters understand your past roles, organise each position in the following manner.
Outline
Begin detailing each role with a 1-2 sentence overview that clarifies your employer’s business, your position within the company, and the fundamental goals of the job.
Key responsibilities
Add 5-8 bullet points to show what your main responsibilities are, emphasising key skills, knowledge and tools used.
Keep each point concise and demonstrate how your work feeds into the wider running of the company.
Key achievements
Round up each role by listing 1-3 key achievements that had a big positive impact on the employer (like saving them money or completing a project ahead of schedule)
Wherever possible, quantify them using hard facts and figures to prove the value you delivered.
Example job for Dental Assistant resume
Outline
Work at a family-run dental practise in Canberra, supporting clinical staff in providing general and specialist dental care for state and private patients.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare the treatment room between patients, sterilising instruments, cleaning surfaces, and changing plastic coverings
- Obtain X-rays, 3D scans and digital intra-oral images of patients
- Take patient history under the supervision of the dentist
- Transcribe patient notes and update electronic health records
Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.
Education section
Your resume should feature an education section near the end.
This part should be a bullet-pointed list of your qualifications, with a focus on those that are significant for Dental Assistant roles.
Keep it brief if you are an experienced candidate. If you’re new to the field, use this section to elaborate on the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained through your educational pursuits.
This section can include:
- University degrees
- Industry specific qualifications for Dental Assistant jobs
- Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)
Additional information (optional)
At the very bottom of your resume you can add an additional info section, for anything else that might help you to look more appealing to employers.
This is often used for hobbies and interests, but can also include awards, publications or a list of technical skills.
If you are considering adding anything here, remember to only include things that are related to your work, or things which are very impressive.
Don’t add common pastime hobbies such as watching TV or socialising with friends, as they won’t make any impact.
While writing an exceptional Dental Assistant resume is demanding, the steps outlined above should guide you in crafting a document that engages recruiters and brings in many interview requests.
It is crucial to proofread your resume thoroughly and tailor it for each application to ensure you are seen as a fitting candidate.
Good luck with your job search!
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