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First job guide

A guide written specifically to help final year dental students looking to secure their first job.

First job guide 2023-24

Updated for 2023-24 this guide has been written specifically to help final year dental students looking to secure their first job.

Dr Helen Falcon MBE, former Postgraduate Dental Dean and former Chair of COPDEND and Dr Alasdair Miller, former Postgraduate Dean for the South-West and former member of COPDEND give guidance on preparing for your Dental Foundation Training assessment. This includes essential information about how to succeed in the Situational Judgement Tests (SJT) plus a useful framework for approaching the SJT.

Jeff Ellis, a Vocational Trainer from Scotland, gives interview tips for Scottish Vocational Training candidates. The guide also contains examples of potential questions you may be asked in Scottish interviews, plus helpful guidance on choosing a practice.

There is also helpful advice about writing a winning CV, plus a sample CV to download.

Get your copy

All final year student members should receive a hard copy of the First job guide the first week of September. Members can also access an online version of the guide.

If you are not a member and would like a copy, you can join online or over the phone - 020 7563 4550.

Student membership is now only £2.67 a month.

DFT recruitment support

To help dental students across the UK who are looking to apply for National Recruitment Dental Foundation Training, we have created an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) course designed to practice different scenarios and build confidence in answering SJTs.

The course consists of an introductory video on SJTs, covering the purpose, format, and methodology, as well as 50 cases which have been designed to practise a broad range of scenarios. Delegates will be able to compare their results with recommended answers and will highlight additional resources available through the BDA Library.