First Impressions Matter — and Your CV Is Your Smile on Paper!
Written by Upton, Marketing & People Engagement Director
Practical tips from a recruiter who’s seen it all – and wants to help you stand out for the right reasons.
Working in recruitment gives you a unique insight into what makes an application shine, and what makes it get skipped within seconds.
At S4S Team, we review countless CVs every week from dental nurses to hygienists looking for temp, agency, part-time, or full-time roles. We know what catches a recruiter’s eye and, more importantly, what convinces a practice to pick up the phone.
Because here’s the truth: dental practices have even less time than we do. If your CV isn’t clear, up to date, or easy to contact you from, it might not matter how good you are at your job, you simply won’t get noticed.
Here are some real-world tips (and examples) to help you set yourself up for success, no matter what type of role you’re applying for.
1️⃣ Keep your CV up to date - every time
You’d be amazed how often we receive CVs where the last job listed ended in 2021, even though the nurse has been in their current role ever since.
If you’ve been in a position for two years, make sure it’s shown. Gaps in employment history don’t look good, and they make recruiters wonder if you’re still working or not.
💡 Recruiter tip: Platforms like Indeed often auto-generate an “Indeed CV” when you set up your profile. This can pull information from years ago and usually doesn’t include your contact details.
So when you apply, upload your own PDF version of your CV with:
Your up-to-date work history
Accurate contact details
Your location and availability
We’ve had fantastic candidates we couldn’t even reach because their Indeed CV had no phone number or email address. Don’t let that be you.
2️⃣ Cut out unnecessary details
If you’ve been a qualified dental nurse for several years, you don’t need to include your first Saturday job in retail, or that two-week summer stint in 2008.
When a practice manager is scanning dozens of CVs between patients, they’re not looking for your teenage job history, they’re looking for relevant experience.
Focus on what’s current and connected to the role:
What types of dentistry you’ve supported (NHS, private, orthodontics, implants, cosmetic)
Whether you’ve used systems like SOE or Dentally
Any qualifications or CPD relevant to the position
Those details make you more hireable, not your weekend job at Greggs from a decade ago (no offence to Greggs, of course).
3️⃣ Make sure we can contact you
It sounds obvious, but we receive brilliant CVs every week with no phone number or email address.
If we can’t contact you, neither can the practice.
It’s also worth checking your voicemail. If it’s full or still says “this user hasn’t set up voicemail,” you might be missing call-backs.
A quick voicemail check could’ve made all the difference.
4️⃣ Have a professional email address
We’re all guilty of hanging on to an old email from our teenage years, but if your CV still says lilhottiez@yahoo.com, it might be time for a refresh.
It doesn’t need to be formal — something simple like firstname.lastname@email.com looks professional and trustworthy.
Recruiters and practices both appreciate the small details, and a professional-looking email address is an easy win.
5️⃣ Follow the job instructions
If a job advert asks for a covering letter, portfolio, or answers to screening questions, include them.
Missing those steps tells us one of two things: a) You didn’t read the advert properly, or b) You didn’t take the time to complete it.
Neither is ideal when attention to detail is key in a clinical environment.
💡 Example: If a private cosmetic practice in Leeds asks for a short cover note explaining your experience with high-end patient care, and you send a blank application, they’ll assume you’re not serious.
The extra two minutes it takes to tailor your application could be the reason you get the interview.
6️⃣ Communicate with professionalism
Recruiters and practice managers notice how you communicate. Every message, email, or phone call leaves an impression.
✅ Double-check the name of the person you’re speaking to. (If it’s Steve, don’t reply with Hi Simon. It happens more than you’d think!)
✅ Be polite and responsive.
✅ Let us know if your situation changes — ghosting is never a good look.
💬 Real example: A nurse once missed out on a great temp opportunity because she replied to messages five days later, after the practice had already filled the shift. In the fast-paced world of temp and agency work, timing matters.
The nurses who get the best shifts are usually the ones who respond quickly, communicate clearly, and stay professional.
7️⃣ Be genuinely ready for a move
We all have off days at work, but if you apply every few months and then get cold feet, it creates a pattern that recruiters and practices notice.
Before hitting “apply,” ask yourself:
Am I really ready for a new role?
What am I looking for? More flexibility, better pay, a different environment?
We’d rather help you when you’re truly ready to move forward than chase applications that go quiet.
8️⃣ Attention to detail matters everywhere
Whether you’re applying for a permanent full-time job in a busy NHS practice or temp work at a private clinic, the same rule applies: the way you apply reflects the way you’ll work.
If your CV is polished, your communication is clear, and you follow through on commitments, that professionalism speaks louder than anything else.
Final thoughts
Applying for jobs isn’t about being the loudest voice or having the longest list of qualifications. It’s about presenting yourself as capable, reliable, and ready.
Practices and recruiters want the same thing: someone they can trust, who takes pride in what they do, and who communicates well.
So before you click “apply,” take a few minutes to review your CV, check your contact details, and make sure your application represents you at your best.
Those little things really do make the biggest difference.
Written by Jen Gall, Marketing & People Engagement Director at S4S Team
Subscribe to The S4S Times today on LinkedIn to stay connected and informed! Be the first to access exclusive content, including first releases of our latest series, actionable tips, and industry insights tailored to support your practice.
📩 Click below to join and never miss an update: