Your Career Deserves a Mid-Year Tune-Up—Here’s How To Start

As summer approaches, the mid-year point naturally prompts a moment of reflection. For many dental professionals—whether you’re a hygienist, assistant, front office team member, or associate dentist—this is a time to ask yourself: Am I where I want to be? Between graduation cycles, seasonal transitions, and evolving practice dynamics, May and June are ideal months to pause and assess your career satisfaction.

Dental professionals often consider career moves mid-year

According to DentalPost’s annual Salary Survey, more than 38% of dental team members consider making a job move in the second half of the year, and nearly half say they regularly explore opportunities—even when they’re not actively job hunting. Whether it’s burnout, lack of upward mobility, or simply a desire for new challenges, mid-year offers a perfect window for thoughtful change:

• Spring graduates enter the job market, adding competition or shifting team dynamics
• Workflows may slow down, offering time to reflect and plan
• Licensing renewals or CE tracking prompt professional development check-ins
• Changes in compensation, benefits, or culture become clearer over the first six months

Signs it might be time to consider a new opportunity

For some, it’s not about leaving the field, but expanding within it. You might be exploring new roles in another specialty—such as moving from general to pediatric or cosmetic dentistry—or looking for a better cultural fit. Others may be aiming for better work-life balance, higher pay, or more leadership opportunities. Regardless of the reason, staying stagnant out of comfort or fear can stall both personal and professional growth.

Here are signs it might be time to consider a new opportunity:

• You feel underappreciated or unsupported in your current role
• You’re not using your full skill set or see no clear path forward
• Your work environment has become toxic, high-stress, or disorganized
• You’re consistently overworked with little flexibility or reward

Pro tips to prepare for a career move

Before jumping ship, though, it’s wise to prepare. Start by updating your résumé or your DentalPost profile to reflect your most recent achievements, certifications, and skills. Reconnect with mentors, research salaries in your area, and identify what really matters to you—whether that’s culture, compensation, or career development.

Tips on preparing for a career move:

• Refresh your résumé and DentalPost profiles with current certifications and metrics
• Review salary benchmarks to know your market value
• Think about the type of environment and leadership that helps you thrive
• Use platforms like DentalPost to search anonymously and find culture-fit matches

The takeaway? You don’t have to wait until you’re unhappy to start thinking about what’s next. Career growth is intentional, and checking in with yourself now can lead to exciting, fulfilling new opportunities in the second half of the year.