It’s easy to get caught up in resumes stacked with experience and technical know-how. After all, clinical precision and administrative efficiency are critical in our field. But here’s the truth: you can teach someone how to use a practice management system, take X-rays, or handle insurance claims. What you can’t teach is the right personality.

In the Dental Success Companies, we live by the values of being humble, hungry, and smart—where “smart” means emotionally intelligent, or people-smart. These core values shape our culture and guide every decision we make, including how we hire.

Here’s why hiring someone who aligns with your vibe and values is more important than hiring for experience—and how it can transform your team.

Skills Can Be Taught, Personality Can’t

You can train someone to verify insurance or work with your billing software. But qualities like humility, eagerness to learn, and emotional intelligence? Those are part of someone’s DNA. They dictate how a person handles challenges, builds relationships, and embraces feedback.

Shared Values Build Trust

A cohesive team thrives when members share foundational beliefs. Humble employees are team players, not prima donnas. Hungry team members are driven, always seeking growth and opportunities to excel. Smart people know how to connect, communicate, and collaborate. Together, they create an environment where trust and respect thrive.

Culture Fit = Long-Term Success

Someone who aligns with your vibe and values is far more likely to adapt, grow, and stay with your practice long-term. When the team vibe is a match, there’s less friction, stronger communication, and better morale. On the other hand, even the most experienced hire can disrupt the balance if they don’t share the practice’s energy and vision.

Define Your Core Values (and Talk About Them!)

At our practice, we emphasize humility, hunger, and people smarts. During the hiring process, we don’t just mention these values in passing—we weave them into every step, from the job posting to the final interview. Let potential hires know who you are and what you stand for from the beginning.

Look Beyond the Resume

A spotless resume is impressive, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. During interviews, focus on open-ended questions that reveal a candidate’s character. For example:

• Humble: “Tell me about a time you received feedback. How did you handle it?”
• Hungry: “What’s a personal or professional goal you’ve pursued recently?”
• Smart: “How do you approach conflicts or misunderstandings at work?”

Use Trial Periods or Working Interviews

A trial day or working interview can reveal how a candidate interacts with your team and patients. Do they make genuine connections? Are they proactive and eager to learn? How do they handle the unexpected? Experience matters less when their personality shines.

Involve Your Team

No one understands your vibe better than the people living it daily. Have potential hires meet with current team members to see if there’s mutual chemistry. Often, your team will pick up on nuances you might miss.

When the Fit is Right, the Potential is Limitless

We once hired a receptionist with no dental experience but an infectious positive energy and a knack for connecting with people. She soaked up training like a sponge, became a patient favorite, and now leads our front office team. Her success is a testament to what happens when you prioritize personality and values over a laundry list of experience.

When you hire people who embody your core values, you’re not just filling a role—you’re investing in the future of your practice. These individuals will grow alongside your business, contribute to a thriving culture, and deliver the patient experience that sets your practice apart.

Your Team, Your Legacy

At the end of the day, your team defines your practice. By hiring for personality and shared values, you’re not just building a staff—you’re building a community of people who believe in what you do and how you do it. That’s something you can’t put on a resume.

Until next time,

Sydney Robinson
Executive Director of Operations
Dental Success Companies

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