What should you do when you are ready to leave the classroom and enter the world as a career professional?  ADAA membership should be the answer because membership provides you with access to a plethora of resources about issues and topics of interest in dental assisting.

Recently, the ADAA hosted a Connection Zone discussion forum:  From Graduation to Your Future in Dental Assisting.  This slide presentation covered the following tips (and others) that would help you find a job and help prepare you with:

• A great resume,
• How to improve your social media influence,
• Dressing for success,
• Expanding your network of professional contacts,
• Continuing to learn more with leading edge CE,
• Utilizing the tools of AI,
• Preparing great answers to those difficult interview questions
• The importance of questions you should ask of potential employers.

This type of information is just an example of how staying a member of ADAA strives to help you, the student.  Other ADAA  initiatives are in the works to help students and their journey with transitioning into the professional arena.

Speaking of Education, our Council on Education is very busy preparing for some outstanding webinars in the very near future.  ADAA is devoted to bringing members information about issues and topics of interest in the dental industry.  For example, a very “hot” topic is circulating about expanding the role and functions of a dental assistant.  We are gathering information on this now and will be preparing a discussion on this. Stay tuned for future ADAA topics.   Some questions that have recently emerged are: If dental assistants learn to master new skills with a standardized assessment criteria, will we be more valued and appropriately compensated and earn a better, more livable wage?  Will the dental assisting profession be elevated by increasing responsibilities and roles?  Could we all benefit by having these type of discussions together?    The answer is a resounding YES!  Involvement and collaboration with our colleagues are a key component in presenting a unified voice for our profession and ADAA is that voice.  Do you have questions?  Then stay involved, engaged and in the loop by renewing your membership in ADAA and be an advocate for your profession.

I would also like to make a big “shout out” to our dental assisting educators.  Not only do they devote themselves to shaping our future professionals, but they are beacons of resilience, adapting to a dynamic field of change and innovation for their students.  National Teacher Day is May 6, 2025, and National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9, 2025.  Show your gratitude to these dedicated educators.  We at ADAA  have the deepest admiration for educators who give 110% to their students and the profession of dental assisting. 

Those who are preparing to graduate need to prepare for success. Being a member of ADAA is the best way to get tips on how to land a job and stay current on Continuing Education and the changing legal landscape of our profession.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to everyone!

Ronda Lane