Are you a Dental Assistant or Dental Hygienist who’s currently employed, but quietly thinking about making a move in the near future?
Or maybe you’ve been thriving as a dental temp and one of your goals for 2025 is to finally land a permanent position?
If that’s you — this is great news.
But can we make one small (and important) suggestion?
Start your job search now. Not in January. Now.
While most dental professionals hit pause during the holidays, the end of the year is actually one of the best times to look for a new job. In fact, applying in November and December can:
- Increase your chances of getting hired
- Put you in a stronger position to ask for higher pay
- Give you more leverage when negotiating benefits
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll wait until January, keep reading — you might be surprised why the next few weeks are your secret advantage.
Why the End of the Year Gives You Better Hiring Odds
Here’s the reality most job seekers don’t think about:
Dental practices don’t get to choose when they need to hire.
Assistants give notice. Hygienists relocate. Life happens. And when a position opens, offices need to fill it — fast.
The problem?
The last two months of the year are incredibly hard for offices because most candidates are waiting until after the New Year to start applying.
That means:
- In November or December, your resume might be 1 of 5 they receive.
- In January, it’s often 1 of 20… or more.
Less competition = better odds for you.
Who wouldn’t want that?
Why December Is the Best Time to Ask for Higher Pay
This part surprises a lot of people.
When a practice has been searching for weeks, the candidate pool is small, and you are clearly the best fit, you have leverage — especially at the end of the year.
At that point:
- They may not have a strong “second choice”
- They’re often tired of interviewing
- They want to secure someone great before the year wraps up
That’s when pay discussions tend to go in your favor.
If they extend an offer, this is the time to negotiate. Practices are often far more flexible in November and December than they are once January floods them with applicants.
“But I Have PTO I Don’t Want to Lose…”
Totally valid. Let’s talk about benefits.
Most dental offices that offer PTO, paid holidays, and retirement benefits have a probation period — usually around 90 days.
During most of the year, that’s manageable.
But when that probation period lands you in late December, it can mean:
- Thanksgiving unpaid
- Christmas unpaid
- New Year’s unpaid
Even if you don’t celebrate, offices still close — and those unpaid days add up fast.
So yes, many professionals wait until January so they can use their PTO and paid holidays.
Here’s the part most people miss…
Those policies are set by the doctor — and they can be adjusted.
How to Use This to Your Advantage
Instead of waiting, try this approach:
- Apply now
- Interview now
- Get the offer now
If the practice presents benefits that kick in after 90 days, simply say:
“I’d love to accept the offer. However, I would need to push my start date to early January since I can’t afford the end-of-year holidays unpaid.”
More often than not, the office will respond with one of two things:
- They agree to a January start date or
- They ask you to start sooner and adjust paid holidays or benefits
Either way — you win.
Finish the Year Strong
There are dental offices actively hiring right now. And while most candidates are waiting for January, you can use the final weeks of the year to stand out, earn more, and lock in a role that sets you up for a strong start to 2025.
Create your DirectDental profile, start applying, and walk into the New Year with one major resolution already checked off your list.
Smiles,
Holli Perez
DirectDental
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