Dental Office Manager Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a dental office manager provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving managing dental records and scheduling patient appointments. If you want to stand out with your dental office manager applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll discuss how to create a dental office manager resume that catches the eye of employers, with tips and examples to help you write your own.
This complete guide to a dental office manager resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Continue reading to find the best dental office manager resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Key sections for a dental office manager resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a dental office manager resume being no different.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Header and Personal Information
Your dental office manager resume header should contain your name and contact details. These include your email address and phone number. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also add that, to give employers the chance to learn more about your skills and experience. It's not necessary to include a photo or any other personal information. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
John Rivera
john.rivera@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
221B Baker Street, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/john–rivera123
Resume Objective
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in dental office manager roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for dental office manager roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for dental office manager jobs below.
Good example:
Results-driven Dental Office Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and extensive experience as a Dental Practice Manager. Expertise in managing day-to-day operations, optimizing patient care, and enhancing office efficiency. Proven track record in staff supervision, financial management, and implementing effective practice policies. Adept at fostering a positive work environment and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations
Bad example:
Worked in a dental office with some experience in healthcare management. Handled various tasks related to office operations and patient interactions. Managed staff and dealt with financial matters. Tried to create a good work atmosphere and followed rules and guidelines
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a dental office manager. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to dental office manager roles.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to dental office manager jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Dental Practice Manager, January 2022 - Present
SmileBright Dental Solutions, Baton Rouge
- Increased patient retention by 30% through implementation of a targeted patient communication and follow-up system
- Successfully managed the transition to electronic health records, reducing paperwork errors by 40% and improving workflow efficiency
- Optimized scheduling processes, resulting in a 25% decrease in patient wait times and a 15% increase in daily appointments
Bad example:
Dental Practice Manager, January 2022 - Present
SmileBright Dental Solutions, Baton Rouge
- Improved patient engagement and satisfaction through effective communication strategies
- Enhanced office operations by implementing new systems and processes
- Streamlined scheduling to boost efficiency and patient flow
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for dental office manager roles.
If you're applying for dental office manager positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Science in Health Administration will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your patient scheduling management or HIPAA compliance knowledge.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
Membership or leadership of any societies, clubs or causes while studying can also make a positive impression on hiring managers. Consider adding these to your education section for more insight into how you used your time as a student.
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, 2017 - 2020
University of Houston, Houston, TX
Skills
Adding a list of your key skills provides a quick reference for the reader of what you can bring to a dental office manager role. Skills such as dental software proficiency or excellent communication skills are particularly useful for dental office manager jobs. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for dental office manager jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a dental office manager.
Highlighting your hard skills
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a dental office manager. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your dental office manager job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the dental office manager role. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a dental office manager resume, see below.
- Dental software proficiency
- HIPAA compliance knowledge
- Patient scheduling management
Listing soft skills on your dental office manager resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a dental office manager job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for a dental office manager resume.
- Excellent communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Time management proficiency
Licenses and Certifications
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a dental office manager. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a dental office manager resume:
- FAADOM Certification, 2022
- AADOM Fellowship, 2022
- CDA Certification, 2022
Hear from experts:
Additional Information
As well as the main sections of a dental office manager resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Personal Interests
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Voluntary Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for dental office manager roles beyond your main employment history. List your volunteer job title, the organization you volunteered for, its location and the dates of your involvement, alongside a brief explanation of your responsibilities in the role.
References
Standard dental office manager resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References are available upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a dental office manager resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Supervised
- Coordinated
- Implemented
- Scheduled
- Managed
- Facilitated
- Communicated
- Organized
- Trained
- Resolved
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example resume for dental office manager applications
The dental office manager resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
221B Baker Street, New York, NY
•
john.rivera@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/john–rivera123
Dynamic and detail-oriented Dental Office Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and extensive experience as a Dental Practice Manager. Expertise in overseeing daily operations, managing staff, optimizing patient flow, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations. Proven track record in enhancing practice efficiency, implementing effective administrative processes, and delivering exceptional patient care. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills aimed at driving practice growth and excellence
Dental Practice Manager
2020
-2022
BrightSmile Dental Group (Boise)
- Increased patient retention by 30% through enhanced customer service protocols and loyalty programs
- Implemented new scheduling system, reducing appointment gaps by 25% and increasing overall practice efficiency
- Successfully managed a $500,000 annual budget, achieving a 15% cost reduction while maintaining high-quality patient care standards
Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
2017
-2020
University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)
Dental software proficiency
HIPAA compliance knowledge
Patient scheduling management
Excellent communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
Time management proficiency
FAADOM Certification
AADOM Fellowship
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a dental office manager resume
Tips for best resume practices
- List key skills throughout your resume that show you're a good fit for the role, and include a separate 'skills' section.
- Mention your key educational achievements, such as degrees and professional qualifications, along with grades such as your GPA, if they're high.
- Use a clear, professional resume format to make your document as accessible as possible, including a readable font and appropriate headings, margins and line spacing. This will make your resume easier for recruiters and hiring managers to read.
- Make your dental office manager resume short and to-the-point. A length of one page is ideal for junior roles, while two is acceptable for senior applications.
- Showcase your key dental office manager qualities with a strong resume summary or objective to catch the attention of the reader.
Steer clear of these common resume writing errors
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your dental office manager resume more difficult to read.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with dental office manager applications.
- Don't use passive language - avoid phrases like 'I was tasked with' and use strong action verbs instead.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. There are several things you can do when writing your dental office manager resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Using clear, simple headings makes it easier for an ATS application to scan your resume, as it can easily identify what's in each section of your document.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a dental office manager resume
Now that you know how to write a professional dental office manager resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
A traditional cover letter should follow formal letter-writing conventions and structure, including a header, the recipient's address and professional greetings and sign-offs. For the main body of the letter, open with a short paragraph introducing yourself and explaining your reasons for applying for the dental office manager role. Follow that with an explanation of your skills and experience and how they're relevant to the position. Close by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and leaving a call to action that encourages the employer to open a dialogue with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
Even if you have little or no relevant work experience, it's still possible to write a dental office manager resume that makes a strong impression on employers. Use a skills-based resume format to highlight your relevant skills and education. This is more suitable for junior or entry-level roles where you might not have much work experience to showcase. Use the additional information sections at the end of your resume as a showcase for relevant skills and achievements. These can be a particularly useful way of proving you have the skills necessary for the job.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for dental office manager jobs. A well-constructed resume headline can help your resume rank highly with ATS screening tools by referencing some of the key information from the job description. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Dental Office Manager
- Expert Dental Office Management Professional
- Experienced Dental Office Management Professional
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Key takeaways for your dental office manager resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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