Proper Interview Attire for New Graduates and Experienced Professionals

You may not get the chance to make a second impression if you don’t take the time to make a great first impression.

“He was sloppy and unshaven. At first I thought he was a homeless person coming into the office.”

“She showed up in jeans, a wrinkled T-shirt, and dirty sneakers. I understand that she is a recent graduate, but the least she could have done was ironed her T-shirt.”

These dentist candidates were NOT asked back for a second interview.

As a recent graduate or seasoned dentist, you have years of training and experience. So, why not make sure to get the offer by backing up your clinical skill set and experience with a first impression that leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that you ARE the right candidate for the job?

Your attire and actions speak louder than words. Even if you don’t feel traditional business interview attire is necessary, at the very least, choose business casual clothing and be sure that it is neat, clean, and pressed.

Below are just a few links you can refer to for proper interview attire.


http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewattire/a/interviewdress.htm


http://healthcareers.about.com/b/2008/10/17/interview-attire-for-medical-professionals.htm

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/interviewimpres.htm


Written by Rob Knezovich, Account Executive/ Recruiter for ETS Dental. You can reach Rob at (540) 491-9107 or rknez@etsdental.com. Find out more at www.etsdental.com.

Snooze You Lose

This is a very busy time of the year for both candidates and practices. Graduations are in full swing, residencies are nearing an end, and contracts are coming up for renewal. As a search consultant, we specialize in helping practices hire the best Associates and candidates in finding the right opportunity. Here is some advice to ensure that both hiring practices and candidates don’t lose out on a great situation.

When conducting a search for a practice owner, we screen and present to them qualified, interested doctors, then the interview process begins. The time lapse between when we present the candidate to the owner and the owner making contact with the candidate is very important. With each day that passes, the candidate will begin to think that the owner isn’t interested in them, and they will start looking for other options. Showing interest or intent to hire isn’t enough. If you want to attract the top talent, you need to be prepared to act quickly. Create a clear, documented plan for bringing on a new Associate and have a sample contract ready that can be easily tweaked to your needs.

On the other side, candidates who are actively pursuing opportunities should understand that time is of the essence, as well. When you receive an offer from a potential employer, please take the time to review it carefully, but don’t take too long. Once you reach the offer stage, be prepared to move quickly. We recommend that an Associate be ready to accept or decline an offer within a few days. Your actions speak louder than words. An owner may view your delayed response as a show of indecisiveness and they may begin to wonder if you really want the position, in turn making them question their desire to hire you.

In the past two months, we have seen over a dozen practices miss out on hiring great candidates because they failed to act in a timely manner. We have also seen many great candidates miss out on excellent opportunities because they took too long to make a decision. You’ve heard the expression, “snooze you lose.” We hope you don’t miss out on that exceptional candidate or that fantastic position!


Written by Marcia Patterson, Account Executive/Recruiter for ETS Dental. You can reach Marcia at (540) 491-9118 or mpatterson@etsdental.com. Find out more at www.etsdental.com.

Perceptions of the Job Market Lag the Numbers

Michigan is often thought of as an economically stagnant part of the country. Its unemployment rate is one of the highest of any state. It is home to the Motor City which is in perpetual decline and has become shorthand for America’s economic vulnerability. Yet, Michigan added 79,000 jobs in the last year, 25,000 more than New York, which has a workforce more than twice the size of Michigan’s. The state’s unemployment rate, while still in the double digits—10.3 percent—is down a full 3 percentage points in the last year.

One of the worst effects of a deep recession is that when the economy does improve, people don’t recognize it. The current recovery—if it is even being described as one—is labeled as anemic, fledgling, or jobless. While over 13 million people remain unemployed, during the last four months, the economy has averaged close to 240,000 new jobs a month. During the most recent period of expansion—2003 through 2007—the economy averaged 160,000 new jobs a month.

“When people refer to ‘today’s economy,’ few people think of that as a positive thing. Yet, by more than a few metrics, today’s economy is growing,” says Rob Romaine, president of MRINetwork. “In the last six months, while unemployment is high, it is one of the last remaining negative measures of our economic situation.”

The Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators, which was set at 100 points in 2004, after falling throughout the recession, rose to 114.1 points in March and has grown rapidly since October. One of the only components holding the index back is consumer confidence.  A recent New York Times/CBS poll found that less than a quarter of Americans think the economy is getting better, yet, in at least a technical sense, the economy has already been growing for over a year and a half.

“In recent months, we’ve seen the pendulum start to swing from an employer-driven market to a candidate-driven one,” says Romaine. “We are seeing conditions in the labor market today that haven’t been visible since early 2007. Candidates are receiving multiple offers, more aggressive counter offers and are increasingly being tempted with more impressive perks and incentives.”

According to Wanted Analytics, a job board analytics company, U.S. job postings are up more than 10 percent from a year ago. Some bellwethers, like postings for HR positions, grew by more than 30 percent and heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers—a harbinger of shipping demand—surged more than 180 percent.

“Companies that are hiring today tend to think they are on the leading edge, when in truth they are increasingly the norm,” notes Romaine. “As the most recent earnings season has shown, many public companies’ revenues are good and their margins are even better. Yet, behind those numbers are employees who are overworked and have had to take on the responsibilities of those who were laid off. If companies don’t hire to ease their burden, their best people stand to be lured away by other organizations.”

Romaine continues, “Corporate and consumer perceptions of the economy tend to lag the actual situation, which makes strategic planning difficult. Companies planning to get a jump on hiring before the competition are already at least a few months late.”

Provided by ETS Dental and MRI Network. Check us out at www.etsdental.com.