What is a dental working interview?

A dental working interview is when a candidate for an open position becomes an employee for all or part of the day and works under the observation of your team. You may choose to conduct a working interview for dental hygienist, dental assistant and dentist positions at your practice. During the working interview, the candidate provides direct care for your patients, just as they would if they were a permanent member of your staff.

Benefits of conducting a dental working interview

Conducting a dental working interview allows you to see a candidate in action, so you don’t have to imagine what it would be like to have them on your team. Specifically, a working interview allows you to assess:

• Whether a candidate is knowledgeable about techniques and equipment
• If an individual follows best practices for patient care
• A candidate’s ability to fit into the unique environment of your practice
• How an individual interacts with patients
• A candidate’s listening and communication skills

Dental working vs. skill test interviews

Skill test interviews are an alternative to dental working interviews. With a skill test, you ask a candidate to demonstrate their knowledge without delivering care to a patient. The specific tests you administer will vary based on whether you’re hiring a dental hygienist, dental assistant or dentist, but may include:

• Setting up the operatory before a patient appointment
• Sterilizing instruments and cleaning up the operatory after an appointment
• Gathering patient information through role-play
• Performing a procedure such as a deep cleaning or the application of a sealant on one of your employees
• Billing and coding practice
• Coaching another staff member about an imagined performance concern through role-play

Dental working interview: steps to follow

To complete a successful dental working interview, include the following steps:

1. Conduct a traditional question-and-answer interview and background check first

The safety of your patients should always be your top priority. By conducting a background check and interviewing the candidate first, you can determine if they’re someone you can trust to care for your patients. During the interview, ask behavioral questions that require the candidate to tell you how they would act or respond in various situations. At the end of the interview, thank the candidate for their time and tell them you’ll be in touch about the next steps. After the interview, evaluate the candidate and determine if you want to proceed with a working interview.

Related: 15 Behavioral Interview Questions to Ask Candidates

2. Choose the right day for the interview

Before you contact candidates to schedule an interview, select a few possible dates. Make sure that every member of your team who’ll contribute to the hiring decision will be in the office on that date. Also, consider what types of appointments are scheduled for the day. Choose days when appointments include a variety of services. You may also want to consider the patients themselves. Having the candidate provide care for individuals of varying ages and backgrounds will give you a clearer picture of their skills.

3. Contact candidate to set up the interview

When you call the candidate to set up the interview, discuss the following:

• Liability insurance: If delivering care for actual patients, the candidate should usually have their own legal liability insurance to protect your practice. Ask whether they do and advise them to acquire it before the interview date if they don’t.
• Expectations: Let the candidate know what the day will involve. Make it clear that you’re asking them to deliver direct patient care.
• Compensation: Explain if they’ll be paid for the day and let them know when you’ll make the payment.
• Attire: Tell the candidate what you expect them to wear and whether they’ll need their own personal protective equipment.

4. Complete housekeeping tasks and introduce the candidate to the dental working environment

When the candidate arrives:

• Introduce yourself and your team.
• Have them complete any necessary paperwork, such as tax forms or a formal job application.
• Give them a tour of the office.
• Discuss the patient appointments that are scheduled for the day.

5. Monitor the candidate during skills tests and patient appointments

Allow the candidate to perform any skills tests you’ve outlined and proceed through the daily schedule. Ensure that a member of your team involved in the hiring decision-making supervises them at all times. Take notes about the candidate’s performance so you don’t have to rely on your memory alone. If you suspect the candidate may be about to make a dangerous mistake while delivering patient care, take over the service.

6. Discuss next steps

At the end of the day, thank the candidate for their time and let them know the next steps. Give them a rough estimate of when you’ll be notifying them of your hiring decision.

7. Complete an evaluation form or memo for the candidate

Once the working interview ends, complete an evaluation form or write a memo summary of the candidate’s performance based on the notes that were taken. If you’re conducting multiple working interviews, these write-ups can allow you to easily compare candidates. Seek input from the rest of your team regarding the candidate’s performance, and use their feedback and your observations to inform the evaluation.

Dental working interview FAQs

Is a dental working interview legal?

Dental working interviews are legal, provided you comply with labor and privacy laws. Failure to do so could put you at risk of litigation from the candidate or your patients. Some dental practices prefer skills tests because they expose businesses to less liability. If you choose to conduct working interviews, consult an experienced labor attorney beforehand for advice on how best to proceed.

Do you pay for a working interview?

Normally, a dentist, dental assistant or dental hygienist would be paid for their time during a working interview because they’re acting as employees for the day. You typically don’t pay candidates for skills tests because they don’t involve patient care.

What questions should you ask in a dental interview?

Generally, questions asked during a dental interview should explore these main topics:

• Knowledge of dental techniques and hygiene and safety protocols
• Familiarity with equipment used in your practice
• Communication and listening skills
• Commitment to patient care

Read more: Dentist Interview Questions