“Why do you want to be an orthodontist?” is a common interview question.
Orthodontists are dentists who make sure their patients’ jaws and teeth are in the right place. They may use braces, retainers, or headgear to help people get the look they want or a better bite. When you interview for a job as an orthodontist, your interviewer might ask you why you want to work in this field. In this article, we talk about why employers ask, “Why do you want to be an orthodontist?” We also give you examples of answers and show you how to answer this question in three easy steps.
Employers often ask, “Why do you want to become an orthodontist?”
During an interview, an employer may ask you this question to find out more about why you want to work in this field. This can show what you believe or what skills you have in your personal and professional life. This is important because it can show how good you are at your job or how much you care about it. It could also help them figure out what kind of team member you are likely to be or what kind of attitude you might bring to work.
Employers may also ask you this question to learn more about who you are. This is a good way to figure out a person’s personality in places where getting along with others is important. This information can help the interviewer figure out how well you would get along with the other people on the team. When you ask someone why they chose their job, you can also learn about their past. This might help them figure out what you can do or bring to the office.
How to answer “Why do you want to become an orthodontist?”
This is a common interview question, so it helps to have an answer ready. You can plan your answer by doing the following:
1. What’s your favorite thing about being an orthodontist?
To start your answer, write down a few things you like about this job that may have made you want to do it. For instance, you could talk about the chance to help improve the lives of patients or the chance to work in a field related to medicine. You can also think about important role models, exciting new technology, training you’ve already had, and other things that make orthodontics a good choice for you.
People want to become orthodontists because the job has so many good things about it. A high salary, good benefits, and a set schedule are some of these. You can talk about these in your answer if they are the main reasons you want to be an orthodontist. It might be a good idea to add reasons that have more to do with the job duties or results. This might show that you’re interested in the job itself, which can give your potential boss confidence that you’ll be dedicated to the job.
2. Tell a personal story
Sharing a professional story with your interviewer can be a great way for them to learn more about you as a candidate and as a person. If you remember the first time you thought about becoming an orthodontist, that could be a powerful story to tell. You can also talk about a time in school that helped you figure out what you want to do with your life or a role model who inspired you.
You could tell a story that has something to do with why you chose to become an orthodontist or more than one reason. This can help you connect your story to the answers you’ve already given, making your answer more coherent. Putting in specific, personal details can also help your story. These might get the interviewer’s attention and help them remember you when they’re thinking about the best candidates.
3. Connect your story to the chance in question.
Show how its parts relate to the present to finish your answer. This could mean talking about how the story changed your career path or showing how your current career goals and actions reflect the same values you talked about. This is a great way to show the interviewer how you ended up wanting this job.
You can also talk about the company that is currently offering the job. You can explain why this job or organization fits with what you want to do with your orthodontics career. So, you can answer the common job interview question, “Why do you want to work for this company?”
Three answers to the question “Why do you want to become an orthodontist?”
Here are some answers to this question that you can use as models for your own answer if you are asked it in an interview:
Example 1
“I come from a long line of doctors, and I’ve always wanted to help improve the lives and health of my clients, just like my parents do for their patients. When I was a junior in high school, I did an internship at Fairview Hospital. I watched an anesthesiologist work as part of that internship. I’ve always been afraid of needles, and this made me even more sure that I didn’t want to be a traditional doctor.
I remember coming home that night and crying at the dinner table because I didn’t know what to do instead. When my mom told me I was going to get braces, my worries turned into excitement. I knew this would be the perfect job for me because it combined things I liked about working in medicine with tasks I knew I could do. I’m really excited to make a difference in people’s lives here. I’ve been training for years.”
Example 2
“The most interesting thing to me about being an orthodontist is how precise the adjustments are. I have always been interested in anatomy and mechanics, and each client’s situation is like a puzzle for me to solve. I’m also interested in how technology is improving imaging and dental impressions. I went to a conference for dentists last year where the main topic was how technology was getting better. It was an amazing experience, and I really liked meeting people who agreed with me that the future of orthodontics lies in making client visits faster, more pleasant, and more convenient.
At that conference, I heard about the new Zadim 3D imaging scanner, which I saw your office uses. You seem to be on the cutting edge of new ideas, and I can’t wait to work with other dentists who are just as interested as I am in how new technology can make their clients’ lives better.”
Example 3
“I’ve always liked working with people one-on-one. When I get to talk to people and help them, those are my favorite days at work. When I was in high school, I went to Dr. Jill for my braces. I was very self-conscious about how I looked, and I was afraid that getting braces would make me feel even worse about myself. Dr. Jill saw how nervous I was and told me to talk about it. Then, every time I went to get my braces adjusted, she tried to reassure me and make me feel good about myself.
Even though I had braces, Dr. Jill helped me a lot to learn to love myself. As an orthodontist, I want to give the same care, kindness, and attention to all of my clients. I really value the effect I can have on young people because they are still growing and are more open to change. I want to work somewhere where people talk about and support these ideas. From the nice things I’ve already seen here, like your beautiful compliments whiteboard in the waiting room, I know this office is perfect for me.”
