Career guide · Application and interview
Spontaneous application and networking: finding a dental job without a posting
A good share of dental clinic hires happen without a posting, through referrals or spontaneous applications. Here is how to get into that circuit.
Why are the best positions not always posted?
Because well-run clinics anticipate: they keep good applications and recruit by referral before even having to post. A well-targeted spontaneous application often arrives before the competition, especially in a banner planning openings.
How do you target spontaneous applications?
Choose five to ten clinics according to your criteria (distance, hours, technology, culture), read their pages, then send a personalized email with resume and availability. A growing clinic, like Go Dentiste preparing Saint-Zotique for 2027, keeps these applications for its openings.
Does networking matter in dentistry?
Enormously: the field is small, hygienists know each other, dentists talk. A colleague’s recommendation is worth ten resumes. Maintain good relationships with current and former colleagues, your teachers and placement supervisors.
How do you use professional social networks?
An up-to-date profile (position, licence, skills, availability), following clinics and sector groups, and watching for opening announcements. Clinics post their positions and projects on their pages; a polite message to management often works.
Are internships and replacements entry points?
The best ones: a successful placement or a maternity leave replacement very often leads to a permanent position. Accept a replacement in a clinic you like; you will be the first called when a position opens.
Do associations and conferences help?
Yes: conferences (Journées dentaires internationales du Québec, OHDQ conference) bring clinics and professionals together; federations and professional associations circulate postings and create ties. A conversation at a conference can be worth an interview.
Should you go through a placement agency?
It is an option, especially for replacements and beginners; agencies know the market and sometimes negotiate well. Check who pays the fees (never you), and know that many clinics prefer direct hiring, cheaper for them and more stable for you.
How do you ask for a referral without awkwardness?
Simply and precisely: « I am looking for a part-time hygienist position near Vaudreuil; if you hear of something, could you tell me or pass on my resume? » People like to help when the request is clear. Always say thank you, even if it does not work out.
Do clinics offer referral bonuses?
Many do: an employee who recommends a hired person receives a bonus after a few months. It is a sign that the clinic prefers recruiting through its network. If you know an employee of a clinic that interests you, she has every reason to recommend you.
How do you get known to a clinic before a position opens?
Send a spontaneous application, ask for a visit, follow its news, greet the team if you are a patient. At Go Dentiste, the job page assistant forwards your interest directly to Maryse Milton, even without a posted position. See the Careers page.
Go further
- Application email
- Jobs in Saint-Zotique (opening 2027)
- Dental career guide: the 1,000 questions
- All positions at Go Dentiste
Sources and references
- Personnel Dentaire — Is there really a shortage of dental hygienists in Quebec?
- CDHA — 2025 job market survey of dental hygienists
Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.