The Right Hire For Your Dental Office

November 23, 2017by Lisa Philp
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Last year, more than forty percent of business owners in Canada reported bad hires that had cost them upwards of twenty-five thousand dollars over the course of employment and through the replacement process.

Bad hires come in all shapes and sizes. Some make false claims on their resumes and are just not qualified for the position that they were hired to fill. Other hires are qualified but display poor work habits that spread to other members of staff. There are also productive and knowledgeable workers who seem like they will work out but then they leave suddenly, wasting time and resources in recruitment and training.

They were right when they said good help is hard to find.

So where are all the good hires? The thing is, a bad hire for you may be a good hire for another dentist or business owner. It all comes down to three critical details:

The Right Skills

It is important to find employees who possess the necessary skills and knowledge required for the position. Don’t just read the resume, though – ensure that the applicant has the needed qualifications before hiring by thinking of and asking as many questions as you can during the interview process. When you are confident that they have the proper education and experience, you can start looking at how this prospective employee will fit in, in the bigger picture.

The Right Office

Try to assess the applicant’s personality. Do you think it will clash with any of your current employees, or do you think it will be a good fit? If hired, do you feel that this applicant would feel happy and comfortable in your office environment?

Don’t forget to ask, as well, if the office is in a convenient location for the applicant, or if they have reliable transportation. If not, you may have problems in the future.

The Right Time

Think about timing and your current schedule. Then, ask the applicant to describe theirs. Do they have commitments that would prevent them from being at the office when needed? Sometimes this is workable for the right applicant, but often it is a deal breaker.

Also, ask about any upcoming vacations or big plans. For how long can this applicant commit to your practice?

Having to hire new employees can be overwhelming, but you can avoid the process. And, while it may be easy to overlook employee morale when your schedule is full, having the right team and an efficient office makes the extra effort worthwhile. If you’d like to learn more about hiring for your dental practice, be sure to contact us at TGNA Practice Management. 

Lisa Philp