Dentist CV Example & Writing Guide

Professional Profile: Your career summary

First thing’s first: your professional profile! Professional profiles are typically placed at the top of your CV and provide details to your employers about your professional background. In most cases, the professional profile section is positioned at the top of your CV. The purpose of a professional profile is to provide employers with an overview of your professional background and outline why you’re a great candidate for the role! Professional profiles should captivate and capture the attention of employers, so in 4-5 sentences, you'll want to include relevant details that set you apart from other applicants. You can list details about your strengths, accomplishments, accolades or specialisations that may be relevant for the job role. Check out our dentist professional profile example below: 

Employment History: Your career summary

The employment section of your CV highlights any relevant career experiences you have and helps employers understand why you’re the ideal candidate for the job role. In this section, you’ll want to include any details about formal positions or internships you have held that are relevant to the job role you’re applying for. Including these details can help employers gain a good understanding of your qualifications and how you’ve developed the necessary dentistry skills and knowledge relevant to the job role. Did you work as a dental laboratory technician in Dublin or a periodontist in Portlaoise? Include details about these positions here! 

To maximise your impact in this section, we recommend organising your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience and working your way back.  Include the company name, duration of employment, and a brief summary of your roles and responsibilities during that time. This is where you can really highlight your professional profile and hook potential employers in.

CV Skills: Convey your career strengths

When hiring dentists, employers are often seeking exceptional candidates who possess specific qualifications and specialised skills. For this reason, it's important to highlight a range of strengths and skills that outline how you’re an ideal candidate for the role! Whether you have strong surgical expertise or you excel in preventive dentistry and oral diagnoses, you’ll want to include details about any relevant dentistry skills you possess. Take the time to thoroughly read and understand the job description of the position you are applying for and analyse the requirements and responsibilities mentioned, as this will help you tailor your skills section to match the specific qualifications that employers are seeking. Check out our skills section example below: 

Education section: Engage employers with your academic strengths 

As a dentist, your qualifications and credentials play an important role in helping you secure your next job role. We know that the road to becoming a dentist isn’t easy and that you’ve worked hard to become a qualified dentist. The education section of your CV is where you let employers know just how hard you worked! 

Potential employers often focus on your academic background to ensure you meet the educational requirements necessary to become a dentist as outlined by Irish law. In this section of your CV, you'll want to include the dentistry degree program you have completed, along with the institution from which you received your degree. For example, if you completed a Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) degree from Trinity College Dublin, you’ll want to list details about your qualification here. Be sure to include the years you attended this institution and any other important or relevant details that may stand out to employers. 

To structure this section effectively, it's best to list your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree you obtained and working your way back. This way, employers can quickly see your most recent academic accomplishments. Here’s our example of a great education section: