CAREERS IN DENTISTRY
RESUME & COVER LETTER WORKSHOP
FOR NON-PASS STUDENTS
Career Resources Center
Student Affairs
January 23, 2015
RESUME – WHAT IS IT?
A
first impression
A summary
A reflection
A “foot in the door”
CRAFTING YOUR BEST RESUME
 Build
your case
 Edit well
 Focus on Distinction
 Tell Your Story
 Be E-ffective
 Clarify career goals and objectives
 Put yourself in their shoes
PERSONAL INFORMATION


Full name should be bolded and centered at the top of the page
Include:
 Current mailing address
 Contact number
 Professional e-mail address (if checked regularly)
 Citizenship status (only if foreign-born US citizen or have permanent
residency status)

Do not include:
 Date of Birth
 Marital status
 Social Insurance Number
 Picture
 Visa Status (save for interview)
HEADINGS

Chronological Format
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







Objective (optional)
Education
Honors/Awards
Professional Experience
Teaching Experience
Research Experience
Community Outreach/Service/Volunteer Work
Professional Memberships
Professional Meetings
WRITING IT

Use active words and include words that pack a verbal punch
Assist
Accomplished
Conducted
Consult
Contributed
Coordinated
Enhance
Evaluate
Examined
Facilitate
Gained
Gathered
Implemented
Improved
Lobbied
Maintained
Managed
Observed
Obtained
Organized
Participated
Performed
Prepared
Promoted
Provided
Published
Quantified
Received
Represented
Reorganized
Revised
Selected
Strengthened
Supervised
Taught
Tested
Trained
Utilized
Validated
Wrote
COMMON MISTAKES
TIPS

Poor spelling or grammar

1 to 2 pages MAX

Overstating your
experience

10 pt to 14 pt, nondecorative font

TMI

Narrow margins

Generic

No graphics or shading
Joseph Smith
1234 Sesame Street, Anytown, MA, 01111 | jsmith@gmail.com | 555-555-0123
Education
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.); Anticipated Date of Graduation – May 2016
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelor of Sciences (B.S.) in Biology
August 2012 – Present
August 2008– May 2012
Professional Experience
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, Boston, MA
October 2015 – December 2015
• Completed a 10 week externship providing dental care to Boston’s homeless population in a face-paced, dynamic environment; treatment planned for medical complex patients,
perform extractions, cleanings and denture fabrications
Pediatric Dental Associates of Brookline, Brookline, MA
May 2012 – August 2012
Applied Professional Experience (APEX)
• Worked hands on in a fast-paced pediatric office as a dental assistant.; Weekly literature reviews pertaining to all aspects of dentistry with preceptor.; Participated in radiographic
analysis, treatment plan creation and behavior management techniques.
Volunteer Experience
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
January 2012 – Present
Community Health Programs Volunteer
• Volunteer at various events and health fairs in the Boston-area; performed dental and oral health screenings, flouride varnish application, and oral hygiene education for the city’s
underserved populations.
Teaching Experience
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
August 2013 – April 2014
Teaching Assistant, Pre-Clinical Removable Prosthodontics
• Assisted students in taking preliminary and final impressions for complete dentures., Demonstrated how to take intermaxillary records using record bases.; Provided methods in waxing
up monoplane and anatomical tooth set-up for complete dentures; Aided students in survey and design for cast partial dentures; Helped students retro-fit existing complete lower
denture to a root-retained over denture.
Research
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
May 2012 – September 2012
Department of Oral Biology and Periodontology
• Performed independent research relating to salivary protein analysis and oral microbiology in the lab of Dr. Oscar D. Grouch; Executed multiple statistical analyses comparing optimal
living conditions for a variety of oral microorganisms.
Leadership
Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
Special Olympics – Special Smiles: Team Leader
• Organize both teams and events/games for special Olympics; Worked closely between the event organizers and athletes.
Professional Meetings and Conferences
Yankee Dental Conference
American Student Dental Association National Leadership Conference
Professional Memberships
American Association for Dental Research (AADR)
American Dental Association (ADA)
American Student Dental Association (ASDA)
Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS)
June 2012 – Present
2013 to present
November 2013
THE COVER LETTER
ANATOMY OF A COVER LETTER
Entices
Stands
Connection
Articulates
No
more than one page
GENERAL FORMAT - INTRODUCTION
Why you are writing?

Clearly state which job you are applying for, or type of
work for which you are applying.

State how you learned about the position and include
the date that you discovered the posting.


Show you know about the practice/organization.
If you are inquiring about position availability and not
applying for a particular position that was posted, state
this in this paragraph.
GENERAL FORMAT - BODY
Demonstrate - Provide specific information about the
skills & qualifications
 Sell yourself!
 Use keywords
 Two paragraphs
 Indicate why you would like to work for this employer
 What value to you bring?
 Show parallels

GENERAL FORMAT - CLOSING
 Respectfully
request an interview
- “I look forward to the opportunity to meet
with you to further discuss…”
 State where (i.e. phone #, email) and when you
can be reached
 Thank the employer for his/her consideration
 Closing
Sincerely
Best Regards (if you’ve met before)
 Warm Regards (if a friend or close connection)


 Leave
3-4 spaces for signature
123 Anywhere St., Apt 1
Boston, MA 02118
January 23, 2015
Dr. Thomas Tooth
Bright Dental Practice
999 Molar Road
Cambridge, MA 01234
Dear Dr. Tooth,
My name is Sally Smiles and I am writing to express interest in the position of Associate Dentist at Bright Dental Practice, as posted
from Career Resources Center at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). I am currently a fourth year
dental student at GSDM and will be graduating with my DMD degree in May. I feel that I would be an ideal candidate for the associate
position because of my clinical skills, my experience with digital dentistry, and my excellent oral and written communication skills.
Through my clinical and didactic coursework, externship experiences, and participation in dental organizations, I have used my time in
dental school to gain as much experience in all aspects of dentistry. From October 2014 to December 2014, I completed a 10 week
externship at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, where I performed extractions, cleanings and denture fabrications, in face-paced,
dynamic environment. In January 2015, I traveled to Mexico as part of a dental mission trip where I provided dental and oral health
screenings, flouride varnish application, and oral hygiene education in a small, rural village. I am an active member of GSDM’s Chapter
of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and serve on the Community Outreach and Dental Education Committees. Before
entering the field of dentistry, I earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Massachusetts.
I strongly believe that my positive attitude and a passion to provide excellent patient care would make me an asset to your practice
and your patients. I am organized, enthusiastic, and pride myself on being calm and collected in faced paced environments.
Attached please find my resume for your consideration. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my qualifications and
experiences in more detail. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (555) 555-5555 or via e-mail at
sallysmiles@gmail.com
I thank you for your time and consideration and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Sally Smiles
TIPS
 Unique
cover letter for each application
 Create electronic signature
 Use same font as your resume
 Use the job description and qualifications
to tailor your letter to each job for which
you are applying.
 Keep a record of your cover letter
 Proofread. Proofread. Proofread again.
EMAILING COVER LETTERS & RESUMES
 Send
both in PDF format
 Email text should include:
Brief explanation of the fact that you’re
applying for the job.
 That you’re really excited for the position and
thank them for considering your application.
 That you’ve attached your resume and cover
letter and whatever else you have attached.

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
 Long
winded
 Repetition
 Duplicate letters
 Noting experiences and skills that do not match
the goals or needs of the position.
 Indicating what the employer can do for you
rather than what you can do for them.
 Starting all sentences and paragraphs with “I.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Information:
Career Resources Center
Student Affairs, G-305
gsdmcr@bu.edu
http://www.bu.edu/dental/students/careers/