There is a saying in business: “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” The same goes for the dental industry that thrives on building and maintaining relationships through networking.

In this edition of the Careers in Dentistry Series, our Compliance and Education Specialist, Dr. Lesia Waschuk, and her guest, Akhil Chawla, discuss networking for dental students and practitioners. As a second-year dental student at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, and the host of The Majestic Mutt Podcast, Chawla discusses the value of conversations, confidence, and social media. As he and Dr. Waschuk recall how they met through LinkedIn, both Chawla and Dr. Waschuk comment on how to use social media platforms and which are more important in the dental industry. Chawla mentions the significance of creating a profile for visibility, networking both online and in-person, and how to connect with people through authenticity.  

Whether you’re just starting in your first year of dental school this fall, about to graduate or complete the NDEB equivalency process, there’s a great deal of networking that you can do now to set yourself up for a fantastic dental career once you complete your program. In addition, networking places you in a stronger position, as your classmates today maybe the people you work alongside in the future. Watch the full conversation below or on our YouTube page here.

 

 

Beyond networking in professional environments, it’s important to remember that everyone has something meaningful to offer. Reassuring yourself of this will allow for more meaningful conversations that will enable you to be more memorable. You can also start a LinkedIn profile with your updated resume, professional experience, volunteer and student leadership positions that will help you stand out while in school to get your name out in the industry and become top of mind for future employers.

And you don’t need to worry about having a huge following. “It really does come down to authenticity. Authenticity is really what’s wanted and needed and what people really resonate with,” says Chawla. 

 

About the Series

Our Prep Doctors Careers in Dentistry series is an opportunity for you to peek behind the curtain of various avenues of dentistry you can take from a career and business perspective. Hosted by Dr. Waschuk, we sit down with highly regarded dentists to discuss their career paths, the challenges and benefits of the field, and how you can get started on your dentistry journey.

Click here to learn more about Prep Doctors and the stories of our dentists. Have a question? Please reach out to us on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!