i am part of a symposium on careers, and please help me!!?

Question

i am part of a symposium on careers and i picked my topic career of being a dental hygienist. the time im talking is supposed to be about 3 1/2 minutes long and a visual aid. so do i do just a little speech about nature of work, benefits, hours, wages type thing? please help me, ill do the research, i just dont know what to do it on?


thank you so much!

Answer 1

My sister-in-law is in this field, but lives in another state so I won't be able to pick her brain from here.

However, you have some GREAT ideas going on. Most people, when hearing about potential careers, are interested in the money and how they earn it. Maybe you can make it catchy? Something like being able to tell someone to shut their mouth and still get paid for it? That's a bit rude, but something to get their interest.

Another thing is education - what does someone need to do in order to become a hygienist? It's also a very fast growing field.

Might be good not only to do some book work for research, but to talk to a hygienist. They probably have a funny story (or two) that can get your audience listening (and keep them doing so). What are the best parts of the job and what are the worst? What's a typical day like?

Visual aid...All I can picture is a drooling mouth. I think I've seen the commercial for Mickey D's too much with the kid wanting to eat someone else's Happy Meal (if you haven't seen it, try to picture it - the woman puts four of those suction things in his mouth.)

Maybe an x-ray? A mirror, pick, toothbrushes (if this is for a class, might be a plus if you can get some donated, huh?)

You could even set them up by saying your career is one where you go into some dark and scary places. I should know when to stop, shouldn't I?

Check out the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (they're on-line) for some info (including a lot of what you mentioned you wanted) and then find a college that offers the program so you'll have the educational requirements. Might look at want ads, too, to show the demand. And definitely try to hook up with at least one hygienist. I bet they have lots they can tell you. Good luck!

Answer 2

Take several seconds to talk about wages and benefits.

Mainly, talk about what it is like to work through the day, the rewards that a person gets from the job, and what there is about doing the job and dealing with the clients that might be a turn-off.

Also, are you under pressure from insurance companies and the dentist's accountant to spend less time and do a less thorough job than you feel is needed? How does one avoid that?

Answer 3

Yes, you should also include some information on the training required. Do you have to go to college or technical school? How long does it take to become accredited? I would include that in addition to what you have already mentioned. Also - is there any room for advancement? Do any dental hygenists ever go on to become dentists? It would be important for potential dental hygenists to know what kind of training they are going to require and if student loan money is available for them. Pax - C