There’s something about the holidays that has a way of emphasizing the importance of work-life balance. This time of year will often catch us by surprise, and we wish there was more:
- Time to spend with friends and family
- Flexibility in our schedule to allow for holiday events
- Space to simply relax and recharge
Many workers in Michigan have found that the jobs with the best work-life balance are in the dental industry. In this blog, we’ll examine why the choice to work at a dental practice is ideal for creating more work-life balance during the holidays and all year round.
Fewer Options to Bring Work Home (and Less Burnout too)
For many professions, it has become easier to work wherever and whenever we need to. Technological advances have put work at our fingertips, no matter where we are. It has allowed more workers the flexibility to do their work from home, which is great for many reasons. It has enabled us more convenience and control over how we’re able to work.
But for many, the tendency to overwork from home has proved problematic. The ability to access work remotely has blurred the lines between our work and our personal lives. While many have found ways to keep work and home life separate, the temptation to send just one more email or complete one more project can start to add up.
The overall trend has led many remote workers to work longer hours. And many are even burning out in the comfort of their own homes.
While there are still many ways for a dental practice’s administrative and communicative tasks to follow you home, most dental work is in person and on-site. Many workers love how this creates a barrier between work and their personal lives. By its very structure, workers are more empowered to establish their professional and personal boundaries and create more balance in their lives.
Dental Practices Often Follow a Strict Schedule
The service sector is famous for providing convenience wherever and whenever businesses can find their customers. Dentistry does fall into that service sector. Following the service-oriented trends of telehealth and zoom clinics, there has been a growth in emergency facilities and walk-in clinics designed to address accidents and tooth injuries that can happen at any time.
But dentistry is still firmly rooted in the world of medical clinics and health providers (think dermatologists, physical therapists, and mental health therapists) that have not yet gone the way of 24/7 convenience and availability 365 days a year. As a result, it is still the expectation that the majority of dental practitioners will not only keep strict hours but will be booked out for weeks or months for appointments.
This has allowed many practices to choose the hours that work best for them. Their day-to-day schedule is more planned out and predictable. And this is just the ticket many dental professionals need to better define and balance work hours with time off.
Again, there are many non-traditional options for dental practitioners who prefer to work varied hours in walk-in clinics or even provide mobile dentistry services. But the majority of Michigan’s dental providers operate on strict hours of operation.
The Dynamics of Michigan’s Candidate-Driven Job Market
The candidate-driven job market has allowed job seekers more options than ever to choose from. While dental practices still have clear hiring needs, candidates have more negotiating power in applying for roles with the hours that suit their schedule and even more part-time options.
This can be a significant benefit for anyone looking to make a little extra money during the holiday season.
One thing to keep in mind: Creating more work-life balance means balancing your needs as a candidate with the needs of the employer.
If you’re working with a dental recruiting agency to find your next role, lean on them for all the information you need about the employer, including the hours you’ll be expected to work and any flexible options that may make the role a better fit. And, going into the interview, be clear about what you’re looking for. But remember: The perfect role will not be a cakewalk. It is a negotiation.
For Jobs With The Best Work-Life Balance, Work With Peak Performers
Peak Performers hopes your holiday season is merry and bright! And we know the ideal way to make the most of year–end is to land a job with the best work-life balance. If you’d like to learn more, search our open roles or contact a recruiter at Peak Performers today.
