Written by: Roger P. Levin, DDS
I think I could write a textbook on how to recruit, interview, and hire dental team members. In the end, it all comes down to one question: Should you hire this person? Then there are some other questions. Will this person fit well with my team? Can this person adapt to our culture? Can this person grow as a team member and with our office? It should be easy, but we are in a bit of a frenzy today due to the staff shortage.
Should you hire this person?
It seems that finding the ideal team member today is more of a “happy accident” than an intentional action. And we get it wrong more often than we get it right. For example, you are impressed by the skill set of the person you are interviewing. You must have her on your team because her skill set is amazing. But when you hire her, you discover that her amazing skill set comes with an amazing ego and an amazing inability to cooperate with other team members. They need to be the star because of their amazing skill set and make everyone else feel inferior. And they blow up your team.
What can you do to prevent this from happening?
After your first interaction with a candidate, ask yourself, “Could I spend four days with this person?”
Do they give off great energy? Are they fun to talk to?
Believe it or not, it can be that simple.
There are many wonderful people to hire. The key is to identify them and be able to bring them on board. It is also important to determine who will not fit well on your team, may disrupt or destroy it, or may upset your patients and ultimately have to be terminated and replaced.
In today’s competitive environment, we suggest a one-interview process. That interview has to be better, sharper, and crisper than ever before to uncover any reason not to hire. Construct your interview around reasons to hire a person as well as reasons not to hire them. Many dentists and office managers leave out the “why not to hire” part because they are so focused on getting someone into the position.
The most useful interview question isn’t one that you ask the candidate. It is the one you ask yourself: Can I spend four straight days, all day long, with this person?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO and Founder of Levin Group, a leading practice management consulting firm that has worked with more than 30,000 clients to increase production. A recognized expert on dental practice management and marketing, he has written more than 60 books and more than 4,000 articles and regularly presents seminars in the U.S. and around the world. In 2025, Dr. Levin received the Fauchard Gold Medal from The Pierre Fauchard Academy for his contributions to dental practice management.
To contact Dr. Levin or to join the 40,000 dental professionals who receive his Practice Production Tip of the Day, visit www.levingroup.com or email [email protected].
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Studio Romantic/Shutterstock.com.
