My First Job Interview – A Cautionary Tale

Looking back, I was pretty clueless when I graduated from dental school.

I didn’t really know what kind of dentist I wanted to be, or even what sort of practice I wanted to work in. It was just a case of get a job, any job—and I think most of my classmates felt the same.

I wanted to stay close to London, where my friends were, so I turned up for an interview at a practice in Brighton. Walking to the practice, I witnessed a drug deal on the street. I remember thinking, Interesting location for a dental practice… do I really want to work here?

The interview was a group interview—six of us, all seated together. Intimidating. But I did my best.

A week later, I hadn’t heard anything, so I rang the practice to follow up. I’ll never forget what the practice manager said:

Pretty harsh, but I just kept flipping through the BDJ looking for jobs.

One ad caught my eye—Maldon. I recognised the name because of the sea salt… and the high natural fluoride levels in the water (if you're a UK grad, you’ll know all about that). I thought I’d make a day trip out of it.

The practice was lovely, the interview felt relaxed.I stayed for three years.

There are plenty of other examples of my cluelessness as a new grad. But I share this one because I want to offer a bit of advice:

✅ Be better prepared than I was.
✅ Don’t just say yes to any job.
✅ Think about what kind of support you’ll need. What sort of environment will help you grow?

And maybe avoid the practices where drug deals are happening out front…

Your first job matters —it shapes your skills, confidence, and how much you enjoy your work. But it doesn’t need to be fancy-there’s plenty of time for that.

If you’re in the process of applying, or just about to graduate, I’ve created a short course that covers all of this—how to choose the right practice and start strong in your first few months.

👉 Check out out Start Smart Course here.
It’s the advice I wish someone had given me.

Have a great week

Rosie