Applying to Dental Foundation Training

The application process:

At present, the Deaneries organise the recruitment to the schemes across the country. Each Deanery has a separate recruitment process and recruits at different times of the year.

Normally, the process starts by October and finishes by mid/late April. You can find details of the recruitment process and a timetable of deadlines for all the deaneries on the COPDEND website:  http://www.copdend.org.uk/

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The London Deanery have announced their selection process. The application process will start on 6th September and the applications will close on 4th October. Interviews will take place between 22nd and 24th November.

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The Methods of selection:

Selection to a position is usually based on how well you can show you match/exceed the competencies within the Person Specification for the job.

The person specification is designed around a set of competencies. Basically they have analysed the role of an Newly qualified Dentist and identified some measurable behaviours and outcomes (competencies) which are essential in order to do the job. So when you are writing your CV, filling in your application forms or preparing for interviews, bear in mind that you will need to show that you have these competencies.

 

Application forms

Many deaneries are selecting using Application forms and often these are online forms. 

They normally have 3 sections:

Personal details: – This includes name, address, Dental school etc. This only used for administrative purposes.

Demographics: – This can include ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities etc. This section is used to check that they are not adversely discriminating against a particular group and will not affect your recruitment. It will not be shown to the person who will score your form.

White space questions: - This is normally the only part of the form which is scored. You are normally asked a question and have a strict word limit to stick to when providing your answer. 

Top tips with these questions:

Always make sure you have answered all parts of the question. (this sounds obvious, but is the biggest mistake we see when checking answers)

Read the person specification for the job very carefully. This is usually what the questions are based around.

If you are filling in an online form, write your answers in Microsoft word and then paste them onto the form. This way you can do an accurate word count and also a spell check.

CVs

Try not to get carried away thinking about the “perfect” template. The main thing is that it is clear and readable and RELEVANT to the job you are applying to.

Below is an advice sheet on writing a good CV. Also, there are two drafts of a dental CV showing how you can improve yours. They are both annotated, so you can see where the person has made mistakes and how he has improved.

Photos: There is a lot of discussion about whether to put a photo on your CV. Normally in the UK, it is not encouraged, for the same reason as putting marital status and date of birth, in that it can lead to discrimination.

For that reason, I would recommend not adding one. The exception is possibly when attending a job shop. If you meet an employer and make a good impression, they may not remember your name later on. In this case, adding your photo to a CV could help.

CV handout                        Example of bad dental CV                    Example of improved dental CV

Interviews

Many Deaneries interview their applicants. The types of questions asked vary, but most of them come under three categories.

  1. Motivation for the job. Questions like: “Why do you want to work in this deanery?” are fairly common. Make sure you have done your research into the deaneries you are applying to and have thought of a few good reasons.
  2. Competency questions. The person specification for Vocational Trainees state that you need certain skills/competencies to do the job well. They may ask you questions about when you have demonstrated these competencies in the past.  
  3. General Dental Knowledge.  These test your knowledge of the dental profession from the point of view of a Vocational Dental Practitioner. Make sure you talk to as many dental professionals as possible to get an idea of what the realities are of the profession and how things like clinical governance, UDAs (Units of Dental Activity) and cross contamination procedures affect their work.

 

Job shops

If you are invited to a job shop, then dress smart and bring a few copies of your CV. When you meet prospective employers/trainers, smile and shake their hand confidently to make a good impression.

 

 

What happens if I don't get a place?

Normally there are sufficient foundation places for all qualifying dental students. However, if you do not get through the first application stage, there is usually a second round of vacancies which come available (a clearing process) after exam results are announced. Keep an eye on the COPDEND website, as all vacancies are announced there when they become available.