My Hiring Experience and Lessons Learned

When I first started Clear Lakes Dental, he personally handled every hire — from front desk staff and patient care coordinators to dental assistants and hygienists. It was a hectic process, but it taught me valuable lessons about identifying A players and building a strong team. Over time, I promoted his assistant dental operations manager to lead hiring, creating checklists and interview systems that ensured consistency and quality for every candidate.

The Shotgun Method and Finding A Players

Over time, I developed what I call the “shotgun method” for hiring non-licensed team members. I would bring multiple candidates into a group interview and observe how they interacted and reacted. Some seemed perfect on paper but weren’t a fit in practice. I learned that not everyone who looks like an A player actually is, and C players almost never improve. By hiring, observing, and sometimes letting people go, I eventually built the A-team we have today a team I can trust to run the office smoothly.

Recruiting Licensed Professionals Efficiently

For licensed professionals like associate dentists, hygienists, and licensed dental assistants, I don’t handle it myself anymore thankfully! We now have a recruiting department that screens, interviews, and provides a full report for me to review. This saves me and my DOM countless hours, ensures we only bring in the best candidates, and allows me to focus on growing the practice and supporting my team. Our recruiting support, combined with our social media presence, helps attract top talent efficiently and consistently.