Dream Job Assignment

Research – 50 points

  1. List your dream job or jobs.  In a perfect world, one day you will be a dental hygienist or pediatric hygienist.  Briefly describe what you’ll do in this role. What knowledge, skills, or abilities do you think you will need for this job?

I would work in a pediatric dental office where I would do cleaning for kids. I would need lots of science classes/experience, but when it comes to skills I would need patience and understanding to work with children.

  1. Complete the quiz at https://advance.appily.com/careers/healthcare/quiz
  1. Were you surprised by the results of the quiz compared to what you listed as  your dream role? It didn’t surprise me much but the examples that they gave surprised me a little, for example being a practitioner sounds great but maybe not a surgeon or nurse.
  1. Find at least 3 job postings that seem close to your dream job. Examples of where to search: Indeed.com, LinkedIn, USA Jobs, Glassdoor, or just Google the job you want to find! 
  1. Copy and paste the job posting links below. Make sure you include the following information: Lightwave Dental Careers and Employment | Indeed.comThe Foleck Center Careers and Employment | Indeed.comAspen Dental Careers and Employment | Indeed.com
    1. C. Identify the salary range
  1. How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required?
  2. What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?
  1. Job Posting Number 1:: Lightwave Dental Careers and Employment | Indeed.com
  1. Identify the salary range $40-$48 an hour
  2. How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required? 

2 years of experience as a registered dental hygienist, have an active state dental board license, and have great interpersonal skills plus more.

  1. What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?

Provide high quality patient care, which supports the dental team and oral health of the patients while co-supporting the dentist with a good attitude.

2. Job Posting Number 2:The Foleck Center Careers and Employment | Indeed.com

  1. Identify the salary range $44-$50 an hour 
  2. How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required?  You have to have a dental hygiene certification from accredited dental hygiene school, maintain annual OSHA, HIPAA, BLS and infection control training, and have experience with dental software.
  1. What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?

Educating the patients on their oral health, looking at and documenting the patient’s health records, and performing clinical hygiene functions.

3. Job Posting Number 3:Aspen Dental Careers and Employment | Indeed.com


A. Identify the salary range $93,000-104,000 a year

B. How much experience would be required to apply for that job, what degrees, certifications or training is required? 

Associate degree or higher in dental hygiene from an accredited institution and an active dental hygiene license in the state of practice.

C. What skills are and tasks are involved in performing the job you have found?

Collaborative skills with the dental team,Managing your schedule to allow for comprehensive patient care and education,  and developing patient care plans.

Part 2: Apply to your Dream Job –  50 points

  1. Think about the job postings you submitted for Part 1, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ll need.  Did these jobs match what you had in mind for your dream job? Did you find your dream job? Describe the similarities and differences. 

A practitioner basically fit my ideal occupation, I wouldn’t speak so soon about saying I found my dream job, but I did see a similarity in the requirements which were board exams and some type of degree.

  1. From the 3 job postings you found, choose one job you want the most, and use the list of skills required for the job of interest. Identify skills you already have and identify skills you are still building or need more experience performing. Discuss options to sharpen or learn the skills you will need to gain.

I think the second job would work best for me because I am younger and it is the most realistic with prior experience and qualifications. I already have interpersonal skills and I work well with others emotionally and physically. I would need to work on my IT skills and working dental software because that is one of my weaknesses and I tend to get frustrated. I could take classes here that will help me become more comfortable with computers so I will be more confident using them.