If you have any certifications, degrees, or training in dental assisting, it’s great to list your education and training near the top, if not first on your resume. If you have any previous dental assisting training, this will immediately qualify you for the job. Then the rest is really just extra information to help seal the deal.

If you don’t have any dental assisting experience yet, that’s okay! The 90 Day Dental Assistant course is all the preparation you need for a dental assisting career.

If you’ve worked in a dental clinic previously, list the clinic name, the years you worked there, and your job responsibilities. If you participated in any dental assisting externships, be sure to mention those too and where you were an extern.

If you’re switching careers, definitely include your past professional experiences like internships and other jobs on your resume. Be sure to include the time you worked in that position, what your responsibilities were, and any professional achievements you made while working there. If you’re bi-lingual, definitely make note of it here too. It can be incredibly useful to have translators in the clinic.

In the modern age, dental assistants will update digital charts daily. While there are many charting programs available, most dental offices use Dentrix. 90 Day Dental Assistant will educate you on the ins and outs of this program so you’ll be familiar with it before your first day. If you’ve used Microsoft Office programs from past jobs like Excel and Microsoft Word, include that information too.

If you had a great GPA throughout high school or college, definitely mention it! Anything that is cool and unusual about you, list it. Do you have any awards? Are you a black belt? Have you organized volunteer efforts or projects? Listing personal achievements is a little different than listing professional achievements because it’s really there to demonstrate that you’re well-rounded, caring, and have hobbies. If other dental assistants, dentists, or front office workers can relate with or admire your personal achievements, it’s a great way to make your first impression stick.

An obvious spelling error looks careless, so be sure to correct your spelling using spellcheck. Since spell check will only catch misspelled words, have a friend or family member look over your resume to catch any grammar errors. Common mistakes found within resumes and cover letters are the wrong uses of “their, they’re, and there,” and other homonyms. Most word processing programs will catch small mistakes like this, but having an extra pair of eyes to look over your resume never hurts.

Microsoft Word, Pages, Google Docs, and other programs can help you style your resume to look great using pre-designed templates. A well-organized resume that is easy to read will leave a great first impression on the hiring committee.

List your full name, phone number, and email at the top of your resume as a letterhead. In case the top is torn or not seen digitally, listing your contact information at the end of your cover letter will help reiterate how to contact you best. You can even let the office know the best times that you’re available and what the best way to reach you is.