Before applying to dental assistant positions, it’s important to have a well-formatted, professional dental assistant resume to showcase your skills and experience in the best possible light. A resume gives the first professional impression of who you are to hiring managers, but an effective one sets you apart from an oversaturated candidate pool.
That said, since there is no set dental assistant resume, selecting an effective template demonstrates much more than your experience. It also highlights your technical skills, soft strengths, and ability to clearly communicate with others.
Ready to get started? This post covers everything you need to know about creating an effective dental assistant resume, including dental assistant resume examples and tips on formatting, text size, and keywords you can use to improve your chances of securing your next job.
General Tips for Dental Assistant Resumes
You may have heard it’s important to tailor your resume to fit the job description. But how do you do that (and does that mean you need a new resume every time you apply for a job)?
Most job seekers apply to multiple job posts when they’re looking for a new position, so you’re unlikely to have the time or capacity to create a brand-new resume for every job. The good news is that you don’t have to. Ultimately, it’s the resume’s keywords, format, and structure that have the greatest impact on the candidate selection process, and most of these elements don’t change from job to job.
Keywords
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) to manage their hiring and onboarding processes. In the past, recruiters and hiring managers would go through resumes individually. But now, with today’s technology, delegating these tasks to software has become more accessible.
Because this type of software allows employers to specify target keywords when they upload their job descriptions, including these keywords gives you a greater chance of visibility.
Formatting and Organization
Simple, professional formats that don’t distract humans and confuse machines are the way to go when you want to format and organize your resume. Creative resumes may look aesthetically pleasing and impressive, but they rarely pass through ATS systems.
Clean and straightforward layouts are more likely to make it through software without errors. They’re also easier to read for recruiters and don’t cause unnecessary distractions.
Font and Spacing
Not many people think of the impact of font and spacing in a resume. But they can impact a hiring manager’s decision to hire you depending on how much strain it takes to read your resume. Some tips for using font and spacing correctly include:
- Use a solid black font
- Don’t make your font too large or small; sizes 11-12 are acceptable for resumes
- Use Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman font
- Have clean and even spaces between your resume sections
Highlighting Experience and Education
Highlighting your experience and education in clearly defined resume sections is essential. You can start by listing your roles chronologically, beginning with your current or most recent position. For each role, include the company name, your title/role, and your dates of employment. Then, describe your responsibilities and achievements in a concise and informative way.
For the education section, list your degrees or diplomas, beginning with your highest level of education. Include the name of the institution, your field of study, and your graduation date. If you have certifications relevant to dental assisting, such as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certificate, highlight them prominently in this section. You can also emphasize tasks relating to the role you’re applying for, but take care not to embellish your experience.
Essential Components of a Dental Assistant Resume Template
The main components of a successful dental assistant resume template are the header, professional summary, skills, education, experience, and certification and license sections.
Jane Doe
johndoe@example321.com (123) 456-7891
Professional Summary
Highly skilled and patient-focused dental assistant with over 5 years of hands-on experience in a fast-paced dental office. Demonstrated expertise in managing multiple dental procedures, maintaining dental records, and providing excellent patient care standards. Proficient with dental technology and software with a strong understanding of dental health safety and hygiene protocols.
Skills
- Experience Using Dental Software
- Dental Procedure Assistance
- Instrument Sterilization and Maintenance
- Communication
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Dental Assistance, University of Theory, 2018-2022
- High School Diploma, Theory High School, 2013-2017
Experience
Laughs and Smiles Dental Clinic, Las Vegas, Nevada | Dental Assistant | May 2022-Present
- Developing patient relationships through effective communication and chairside manner, leading to a 30% increase in client retention
- Assisting dentists with dental procedures like cleanings, fillings, and extraction
- Performing administrative duties such as answering questions, assisting clients with forms, insurance billing, and scheduling visits
- Operating and maintaining dental equipment, including X-ray machines
- Performing strict instrument sterilization and infection control measures, maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients
Certifications and Licenses
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
- Radiology Certification
- CPR and First Aid Certification
_Create your own dental assistant resume with Rocket Resume’s AI-driven resume builder. _
Tips for Writing Each Section of the Dental Assistant Resume Template
To craft a standout dental assistant resume, adopt a strategic approach by highlighting your accomplishments in each section. If applicable, your header should have clear and professional contact information with any relevant, public social media or portfolio links.
An unprofessional email address makes it difficult for recruiters to take you seriously. As for your summary, it should display your years of experience, skills, and career goals. The skills section should highlight technical and soft skills relevant to the job post (this is also where you should focus on implementing keywords from the job description if applicable).
The education section must list your academic qualifications in reverse chronological order. List your relevant certifications and licenses clearly to show professional growth and adherence to industry standards. In the experience section, emphasize your achievements using action verbs and metrics.
Finally, don’t forget to highlight volunteer work or extracurricular activities, especially if you don’t have career experience or are a new graduate.
How to Customize Your Dental Assistant Resume Template for Specific Jobs
Before applying for dental assistant jobs, you should have a professional resume and cover letter demonstrating your qualifications and fit for the role.
The skills section is an essential part of your dental assistant resume, where you list both technical and soft skills relevant to the role. For a beginner dental assistant resume or an entry-level resume, you may showcase the skills you acquired while in an educational setting or at an internship. If you are a recent graduate without experience, focus on listing your transferable skills with relevant coursework or training.
The objective statement of your dental assistant resume highlights your goals and how your abilities align with the employer’s needs. The central part of your resume that lists your duties and responsibilities should reflect applicable parts of the job description. Also, tailor your professional duties depending on whether you’re crafting an experienced or registered dental assistant resume, a lead dental assistant resume, or a resume for an internship position.
The summary section of your resume provides a snapshot of your most significant qualifications. This is your opportunity to “hook” the recruiter with your qualifications. So if you are a registered dental assistant, your summary should highlight this credential and include any other notable achievements.
Lastly, tailor your resume and cover letter to each job application. By carefully adjusting your objective, skills, and duties to match each job description, you’ll be well-positioned to catch the attention of potential employers (and their tracking software).
Additional Tips and Tricks for Crafting a Strong Dental Assistant Resume
Now that you have the format, outline, and information on your resume, it’s time to edit and proofread. One of the most common mistakes candidates make is switching tenses when listing their experience. Another is redundancy or listing irrelevant information. Craft your resume carefully and chisel out the parts that don’t belong, reading it from a recruiter’s perspective.
Besides the content, double and triple-check for spelling mistakes, typos, and the improper use of jargon. Hiring managers notice these mistakes and may pass on your resume due to finding one or multiple errors, especially if you included “attention to detail” in your CV.
Another tip is to quantify your achievements to highlight your impact on your former employers. For example, writing that your customer service skills led to a 30% increase in client retention is a green flag for a potential employer.
Once you have completed the editing and review process, look at your resume from a visual perspective. Does it have clean lines? Any odd formatting? Is it easy to read and skim through? If you can answer ‘yes’ to all three questions, your resume is ready to submit.
Finally, don’t forget to follow up with the employer after submitting your resume. This step keeps you from waiting and also shows that you’re enthusiastic about the position. Although some employers inform you of their decision regardless of their direction, some do not.
How to Apply for Dental Assistant Jobs
Applying for dental assistant jobs requires a well-crafted resume and cover letter that showcases your qualifications, experience, and skills. Rocket Resume’s dental assistant resume builder is easy to use, enabling you to generate your resume in significantly less time. Our templates generally pass Applicant Tracking Systems without issues, which keeps your resume in the system and in sight.
Regardless of the role you’re applying for, always format your resume professionally. One of the best ways to do so is to use a dental assistant resume builder that provides a professional and well-structured CV. With Rocket Resume, you don’t have to worry about formatting. Instead, you can focus on creating a resume that’ll help you land the perfect job.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to write a resume for dental assistant?
The best way to write a resume for a dental assistant is with a dental assistant resume template. You can then tailor your template to the job description, ensuring that it is correctly formatted and that all of the main sections that highlight your strengths are included.
What is a good objective for a dental assistant resume?
A good objective segment for a dental assistant resume describes how your former experience, future career goals, and the employer’s needs meet. This objective helps employers quickly gauge whether you’re a good fit and attracts attention compared to the applicant who uses a general objective statement.
What to put on a resume for dental assistant?
A resume for dental assistant must have a professional summary, a header, an education section, a licensing and certification segment, and the main content, which is your prior professional experience. Always highlight your accomplishments and use metrics to demonstrate your positive impact on client retention, operations, or an increase in patients.
What skills to put on resume for dental assistant?
Some of the skills you can put on your resume for dental assistant include experience using dental software, operating machines, instrument sterilization and maintenance, communication, administrative skills, and attention to detail.
What do job recruiters look for in a dental assistant resume?
Recruiters look for multiple elements in your resume, mainly evidence that you have experience that matches the skills you listed. They also seek candidates with the skills and experience needed for the role, including elements such as proficiency in assisting with dental procedures, quality of patient care, and familiarity with dental software.
Recruiters also notice spelling mistakes and appreciate a well-structured and error-free resume with a professional summary or objective that matches the job description.
What to put under experience on resume if never had a job as a dental assistant?
If you have no experience as a dental assistant, you can showcase relevant skills gained from other roles. You can also list your internships, workshops, certifications, and licenses to show that you’re working towards building the right experience to become a professional dental assistant. Although you may start in a more junior role, you can quickly gain experience and receive better job offers as you become more skilled.
How to describe job duties as a dental assistant on resume?
List the roles you performed at your former job in the job duties segment of your dental assistant resume. However, try not to include irrelevant information or add too much industry jargon, as it may give a negative impression.
What kind of resume is best for a dental administrative assistant?
For a dental assistant resume, you need a simple, clean, and well-structured resume template. Rocket Resume has multiple formats, and creating a professional CV takes much less time than doing it from scratch.
How do you close a resume for dental assistant?
You can close your resume by listing your volunteer work, giving the employer a sense of your interests beyond the dental profession. Although some candidates use “references furnished upon request,” this sentence is outdated, and employers will ask outright if they require references.
What do I put on my college resume for a dental assistant?
If you are a recent college graduate, you can put the following in your dental assistant resume: contact information, goals, education, skills, internships, certifications, licenses, honors or awards, volunteer work, and professional or academic references.
How to put dental assistant certificate on resume?
If you have certificates or licenses, include a separate segment dedicated to these accomplishments in your resume. Additionally, you can mention your certifications in the professional summary below the header of your resume.
How to start a resume as a dental assistant?
Start your resume by gathering all your professional information for easy access. The top section of your dental assistant resume should include the header with your contact information. The second section should be the professional summary, a mini overview of your skills. Then, choose a resume template with proper formatting that’s likely to pass Applicant Tracking Systems without glitches or issues.
**Get hired faster with Rocket Resume’s dental assistant resume template. Use our customizable resume builder to create your next resume in 10 minutes or less. **