Another office reached out this morning, frustrated because their candidate didn’t show up for a working interview—no call, no show. They were understandably upset, wondering why someone would commit and then not even call to cancel.
This seems to be happening more often. A couple of weeks ago, I thought the reason might be that candidates have too many job opportunities and get confused or accept another job and are too rude to let the office know. But after some research for an ebook I’m co-authoring, I found that about 61% of Gen Zers suffer from anxiety. Then I discovered that across all generations, around 20% of the U.S. population struggles with anxiety.
Now, I’m considering that when someone doesn’t show up for an interview, anxiety might be the reason. This post aims to help dental professionals overcome anxiety and land the job they want.
#1 Help Yourself Alleviate Anxiety in General
Yes, searching for a job in dentistry can be scary. You never know if you’ll encounter a difficult doctor or office manager, how clean the office will be, or if you’ll be late on your commute. I get it. I used to suffer from anxiety and hated it. So I made some basic changes to my routine that drastically reduced it. Here are a few:
Reduce alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and social media: Alcohol made me so anxious it was paralyzing. When I stopped drinking, about 80% of my anxiety vanished. I also realized that excess sugar and caffeine made my heart race and gave me headaches. Now, I stick to one cup of coffee a day and limit sugar as best I can. For coffee, I wait an hour after waking up and eat some protein (I would have fought this idea before, but it makes a huge difference in how the caffeine affects you) before I drink it. Social media also contributes to anxiety—whether it’s trying to keep up with others or dealing with misinformation. I quit cold turkey for almost a year, and after breaking the addiction (yes, social media is proven to be addictive), I now limit my use and focus on content that brings me joy, like dentistry and cute dogs.
Work out: I know, I know—working 8 hours a day and managing life leaves little time for exercise. But even a 30-minute walk during your lunch break can greatly reduce anxiety and make you a happier person overall.
Remember, it’s all in your head: I wish I could remember the exact quote, but it was something like, “People aren’t thinking about you.” This was life-changing. Think about it—how often do you dwell on other people’s mistakes or embarrassing moments? Probably never. You’re focused on your own. The same goes for everyone else. They’re thinking about themselves, not you. So, when anxiety creeps in over something you might have done, remember that it’s only you dwelling on it, and move on.
Add Magnesium to your diet: I take magnesium supplements every day, and it’s like magic. My sleep, digestion, and anxiety all improved once I found the right supplement for me. Do some research on magnesium, and you’ll find it’s a great addition to your daily routine.
Those are just my ways of managing anxiety. Now, let’s explore other methods for handling anxiety during a job search.
#2 Have a fantastic resume
One of the first things that can cause anxiety when looking for a job is wondering whether the office will contact you. If you have the experience and a strong resume, then the answer is yes!
What to know about how to make a great resume? – Here you go!
#3 Be prepared for every possible interview
To get a job with a dental practice, you usually go through at least three different interviews.
- Phone screening/interview – This is when they call you after your impressive resume catches their attention. They may ask questions like, “Why are you looking for a new job?”, “What interests you about this opportunity?”, and “Does the location and hours work for you?”
- Structured/formal interview – This is where you go into the office to meet with the Office Manager and Dentist. For many, this is the most nerve-wracking experience because they will sit you down and ask you a series of questions. But remember, they want to hire you, meaning you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. Keep this in mind, and it should help calm your nerves.
- Working interview – Meeting new people can be anxiety-inducing, and it’s easy to overthink things. However, a working interview isn’t about making friends; it’s about demonstrating your skills as a dental assistant, hygienist, or front desk personnel. Focus on the tasks at hand, and if this is the right practice for you, you’ll have plenty of time to build relationships with the team later.
Want more tips on mastering interviews – Check out these two posts.
Master These Interviews to Make More Money as a Dental Professional
Master Your Working Interview to Get Paid More
#4 Ask the questions
A lot of anxiety comes from the unknown, and asking questions can be intimidating. However, if you ask an office manager, who needs to hire, whether they’d prefer a candidate who asks a lot of questions or one who gets so anxious they don’t show up for their interview, they’ll always choose the questions.
So, if you feel anxious about anything, simply pick up the phone and ask whatever questions you need to feel more comfortable showing up for the interview.
Here are some great questions that could help alleviate your anxiety before an interview:
- Why do you have an opening for this position? This helps you understand whether the office has high turnover or if a long-term employee had to move away.
- What is the parking situation? Parking can be a big source of anxiety. If you’re worried about where to park (permits, valet, or the risk of towing), it’s always good to ask beforehand.
- I’m coming from work, so I’ll be in my scrubs—is that okay? If you’re concerned about showing up in less-than-ideal attire, let the office know in advance. They’ll usually be fine with it as long as they know why.
- When I arrive for the interview, who should I ask for? You might not be meeting with the same person you spoke to on the phone, or the Office Manager might not be there on the day of your working interview. Asking who you should ask for can help ease any worries.
- How long will the interview take? Time can be a major source of anxiety, especially if you’re interviewing during your lunch break or need to arrange childcare. I always tell my clients to offer this information, but they often don’t, so be sure to ask so you can plan accordingly.
Having the answers to these or any other questions causing you anxiety will help you feel more at ease, and the office will be happy to hear from you and answer them.
#5 Manage what you can control well
Things happen. A lot of those things are out of our control. But there are things we can control, and we need to handle them well.
For example, before your interview, you researched how long it would take to get there, and you left early to ensure you’d arrive with plenty of time. But then there’s a car accident and major traffic. The accident is out of your control, but this is no excuse to turn around and never contact the office. What is in your control is calling the office. Tell them you left with plenty of time but encountered an accident. Let them know where you are and that your GPS shows you’ll arrive in “x” minutes. Ask if that’s okay or if they’d prefer to reschedule. More than likely, they’ll do a quick Google search, see you’re telling the truth, and accommodate accordingly. If not, then they’re jerks, and you dodged a bullet.
When you find yourself in an anxiety-inducing situation, take a deep breath, figure out what you can do to manage the situation better, and execute. Living with anxiety can make this challenging (I know), but if you practice this often, it will be a game changer.
#6 Do your research
Do your research on the practices you are applying to; this will help you feel comfortable with them before you even get there.
But also, do research on anxiety, what causes it, and what resources are available to help you manage it.
Check out these other excellent articles I found on relieving anxiety while searching for a new job.
18 Tips for Reducing Job Searching Anxiety by Indeed
9 Tips to Help Reduce Job Search Anxiety by FlexJobs
10 Ways To Reduce Job Search Anxiety by Forbes
Managing Stress, Anxiety and Burnout During Job Searching (8 How-To Recommendations) by Hacking HR
How to deal with anxiety during the job search, according to a psychiatrist: ‘Our brains don’t like uncertainty’- By Gili Malinski
#7 Start Searching
Now that you have a better grasp of your anxiety, start searching for a new job on DirectDental. We do everything we can to make looking for temporary and permanent work as easy as possible.
I know living with anxiety is hard, but there are so many helpful resources out there if you simply look. I hope this post helps point you in the right direction to start overcoming your anxiety.
Smiles,
Holli Perez
DirectDental
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