A person who had worked for us temporarily last year, recently left two increasingly anxious sounding messages on my cell phone. She's a hygienist who graduated last May and hasn't found a permanent position yet. She wanted me to call her back and give her some feedback on interviewing. I cringed a little because I knew the only way I could help was to be honest with her. I knew exactly why she wasn't getting hired.
I called her and she was very stressed and disheartened. She said she'd been interviewed by three dentist's wives in different practices and never got the job. Why? What was she doing or not doing to cause this? I asked her if she wanted me to be honest with her, even if it hurt. She said she did.
I took a breath and told her that the main problem was the way she dressed for the interview. This lovely person has one of the best figures I've ever seen. She wears very fitted clothing with camisole tops. It's distracting for men and women. Women both admire and envy her and men can't take the "teenage boy" look of awe off their faces. So, if she wants anyone to get past the fact that she's got an amazing figure, she has to dress differently. She responded, "My boyfriend said the same thing." Whew, it's not just me. By the way, her response tells you that she will be able to handle critical feedback and that's a plus.
The other issue is her air of aloofness. That was almost harder to tell her because it really is about her as a person. She was very open to hearing it and asked for ways to overcome that issue. That alone tells you there is more to this person than appearance and initial impression conveys. The problem is, very few interviewers will have the time or inclination to get to it on their own. The onus is on the candidate to paint a picture of themself that makes the interviewer want them in their office.
This is what I suggested to her. First, dress for success. My first thought was that no wife is going to be that generous to her husband and hire someone with the figure of Beyonce or Heidi Klum for him to enjoy all day. But, that's not fair to wives. No staff member is going to think that someone who flaunts their figure will be just who they want to work with. It gets old, believe me. We once had an assistant who constantly reminded us of how gorgeous (she thought) she was. After a while, we could gag just to hear her start any sentence with the word "I". Even a smart dentist will pass on someone who dresses inappropriately for the interview. So, I would suggest black slacks, a white blouse or top, and a black jacket or sweater, black shoes with a modest heel. Be conservative with jewelry and makeup and no perfume. A lightly scented, clean
smelling lotion is ok. The reason is this, the whole impression is clean, crisp, and not at all distracting. It says, I'm here for the job and allows the interviewer to have a clear mind to hear what you have to say. Anything inappropriate or distracting at all will cause the interviewer's "little voice inside her head" to drown out anything you might be saying. It recently sounded like this inside my head during an interview, "Why the heck is she wearing that metallic green eyeliner? Where did she even find something like that? Is she trying to make her eyes look greener? Are her eyes really green or are those contacts? Why is she wearing that ruffley jacket? Is that how she dresses for work?... Now, I have been told that I tend to extrapolate (thank you very much Dr. Morgan), but that's where my gray matter was taking me. Now, let's get to the talking part of the interview.
Same green-eyed applicant: "You are going to have a high bar to meet because I loved my former boss so much. I don't think anyone can be as great as him." Me: "Well, then why are you here? Your former office is right around the corner. We think our boss is pretty great, too and we are not looking to hire anyone so we can meet their bar. I'm sorry, but there's really no point in going any further." As it turns out, I saw a former co-worker of green eyes that night and she told me, "You didn't hire her did you? You just dodged a bullet because she was the most disruptive, trouble making person I've ever worked with. And she had a weird attachment to our boss." See, sometimes we have to thank these people for being so obviously unfit for the position. But, back to what to say during the interview. First, be warm and pleasant, but not over the top or too familiar. I recently had an applicant come into my office, plop down in the chair and put one foot up on the seat and say, and I kid you not, "Hi girlfriend, how's it going?" The memory of my boss's appalled face will give me years of happiness, but she basically made my decision for me right there. He gave a thumbs down sign as he walked away and I started the process of getting her out of my office as fast as possible so I could go home and feed my dog.
Do some pre-interview preparation. What are your strengths? How will you use them to help the patients, the practice, the dentist and your co-workers? Be ready with examples of things you've done before that will make you an asset to this practice. What are you looking for in a work environment and what are you willing to give to make it great? Be ready with some questions of your own. What is the culture in this practice like? Be prepared to comment on how that fits in with your philosophy of how you want to spend your day and career. It the fit doesn't feel right, continue to be pleasant, but be prepared to keep looking. You will spend half your waking hours at your job. Be fair to yourself and the people who you'll be working with and find a place that suits you.
When the interview is ending, thank the interviewer for their time, tell her about your positive impressions of the practice and ask when you might hear from her. Send a follow up letter thanking her for the interview and re-stating your positive impressions. Follow up a few days after she told you she'd call with a polite call inquiring about the status of the hiring process. I once got the job because I did that. The office manager said it showed that I was truly interested.
The person who called asking me for help will be an asset to a practice if she can just get the job. Her aloofness comes from a little bit of shyness. I noticed that when she greeted patients she was very warm and welcoming, but very reserved with the staff. I asked her to try to pull that warm, welcoming side out at the interview. When we interview we are trying to find someone who is qualified for the work, presents the image that we want for our practice, fits in easily with the staff, and treats our patients like gold. We want someone who is going to be the person they show us at the interview. Too often, an applicant knows all the right things to say, wows us at the interview and then a completely different persona shows up for the job. It's a nightmare, (recently it seems like a recurring nightmare) and it strikes a death knell for the longevity of the new employee in the practice. No one likes to be fooled or used and the staff resents anyone who comes in and threatens the culture of the practice.
So, I guess the bottom line is this, get your head on straight, understand the right reasons for working in a healthcare profession and figure out how to master yourself and make the behavior and attitudes that you know are desirable in an employee transfer from the interview to the actual job. If possible include a letter of reference from a former supervisor with your resume. I was happy to write one for this hygienist. Grow up, get real and be the person you present yourself to be. The payoff will likely be a happy work life for you and your co-workers.
And by the way, if you are a dentist in the Hendersonville/Asheville, NC area and need a good hygienist, let me know. I know one who needs a job.

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