5 questions new dentists should ask during a job interview

Job interviews can be stressful, but being prepared and knowing what questions to ask can help.

Below are five questions that cover basic information applicants will want to know. You can adapt them to fit specific practice settings.

What will my schedule look like?

Ask about the dental practice’s overall hours and the specific hours for this open position. Find out if certain team members work those same hours, which may limit adjusting your hours or requesting time off. Understanding your commitment to planned hours per year is as important as understanding permitted time off.

How will compensation be determined?

You may first need to clarify if the employer is seeking to hire an employee dentist or an independent contractor. This affects more than pay, as contractors have different tax implications. Once you establish the position type, you will need to know if you will earn a straight or base salary, a percentage of production or collections, or some variation of these. To better understand potential compensation, request a sample schedule with your scheduling preferences and a calculation of compensation reflecting the typical payer mix at this location.

What benefits are offered?

Discuss benefits such as paid time off, retirement programs, and health, dental, vision and life insurance. If the employer provides a continuing education allowance or covers professional membership fees, include these in the conversation.

Will established dentists offer mentoring?

You may want to learn new skills or specialties, gain insight into the business side of running a practice, improve your case presentation skills or get advice on managing dental teams. Mentorship may take the shape of a mentorship-to-ownership pathway or simply involve hands-on guidance and learning as you gain experience.

Who makes up the dental team?

Ask about the number of team members, their duties, their level of experience and the years they have worked at the practice. Your introduction to patients may be easier with an experienced team. Staff retention can also speak to office culture.