Application Package
The first element of my Application Package is the Advertisement. This shows the position that is available which is a volunteer at Kindness In Action, a company that focuses on oral health in third world countries. The advertisement calls for anyone who has the desire to help, this includes oral health professionals and non-professionals. The project is 9 days long with donations that cover the essentials; accommodation, flight, food and equipment. Below is a PDF file of the Advertisement.
Position: Volunteer
Kindness in Action welcomes new volunteers. Our only requirement is a sincere desire to want to help. Good “gophers” are as necessary and valued equally as are trained professionals. Our primary focus is oral health. However, the communities we work in are high need and we have been able to accommodate people with skills other than dentistry. You don’t even have to leave the country; being entirely volunteer based, we need committed people to assist with everything from translations to fund-raising right here. A “typical” project is nine days, from a Saturday to the following Sunday. This allows for reasonable travel, work, and a day to rest and be a tourist. The average cost per volunteer is about $2500.00 and this covers meals, travel and accommodations.
We send out brigades annually. Teams vary in size from fifteen to twenty-five. Project dates and locations are established at the annual general meeting held every May. Airline reservations are made shortly after so a firm commitment is required by July to participate in the following New Year.
If you require more information, please contact us. If you would like to join us, please fill out our online application to receive newsletters and updates. Be sure to check our website regularly to find out about the next dental brigades.
Kindness In Action. Volunteer. Kindness In Action. Western IT Solutions. 2013. Web. Accessed on 9 July 2015. <www.kindnessinaction.ca/HowToHelp/Volunteer>
The second element of my Application Package is the Cover Letter. The cover letter discusses strengths including my 5 years of work experience as a Dental Hygienist with 2 of those years focused on periodontal disease in a workplace of low-income patients. Furthermore, the letter expresses my flexible, hard-working, and adaptable personality.
West University
Houston, Texas
July 15, 2015
Dr. Dave Maskell, Vice President
Kindness In Action
Box 760
Redwater, Alberta
Canada, T0A 2W0
Subject: Letter for Consideration of Application for a Volunteer Position
Dear Dr. Maskell:
Please consider my application for a volunteer position in your program as advertised on kindnessinaction.com. Your mission statement is one that I truly believe in and can relate to. It is the main reason why I am interested in volunteering and I feel that your program is one that will help me achieve my goals. I appreciate the duration of the projects that are short and affordable which makes it reasonable commitment.
Together with the goals of your organization and my satisfaction in education and management of disease, we share a common interest. My experience treating low-income patients who present with periodontal disease will be an asset for you. My belief that disease prevention is the utmost importance and education is the key to reaching this goal reflects my desire to help you achieve your objectives.
I gained my Dental Hygiene Diploma from Oxford College of Arts, Technology and Business and have been practicing as a Registered Hygienist for 5 years. I am currently nearing the end of my Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene through distance education at the University of British Columbia. As you can see in the enclosed resume, working in multiple dental offices that presented with different work environments has given me the flexibility and adaptability to work in various surroundings. As an experienced Hygienist, I am able to adjust to your work environments to achieve the best results.
I have worked hard to get the experience I have and am ready to use my skills to help others without receiving or expecting anything in return.
If my background meets your requirements, please contact me any weekday after 5:00pm at zahsurani@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Zahra Surani, RDH
Encl. Resume
The third element of my Application Package is the Resume. The resume portrays my education in the dental field beginning with Dental Assisting and furthering my studies to become a Dental Hygienist while continuing my education to advance from a Diploma to a Degree in Dental Hygiene. The resume also shows my work experience as a Dental Hygienist in different dental offices which allowed me to grow as a Hygienist and adapt to various work environments.
Zahra Surani
Houston, TX, 77005
Objective: To apply my experience and knowledge to a new work environment that contributes to the less fortunate. To achieve satisfaction in helping others stay healthy and to fulfill the objectives of Kindness In Action as a team member with the same interests.
Highlights:
- Hard working, motivated personality
- Proficient dexterity
- Works well independently and as a team
- Adapts quickly to new work environments
- Demonstrates a positive attitude towards learning and growing
Education:
Sept. 2010- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
Present Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene)
Oct. 2006- Oxford College of Arts & Business, Scarborough, Ontario
April 2008 Dental Hygiene Diploma
Sept. 2005- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta
June 2006 Dental Assisting Levels I & II Certificate
Sept. 2003- Mount Royal College, Calgary, Alberta
May 2004 General Arts and Science Program
June 2003 Dr. E.P. Scarlett, Calgary, Alberta
High School Diploma
Employment Experience:
April 2014- Registered Dental Hygienist
Current BLVD Dentistry, Houston, Texas
-Accelerated Dental Hygiene
-Scaling and Root Planing
-Disease Prevention Therapy
-Oral Hygiene Education
-Eaglesoft Dental Software
July 2011- Registered Dental Hygienist
August 2013 Saddletowne Dental, Calgary, Alberta
-Scaling/Oral debridement
-Oral Hygiene Education
-Digital Radiographs
-Laser Periodontal Therapy
-Dentrix software experience
May 2011- Registered Dental Hygienist
July 2011 Lifepath Dental, Calgary, Alberta
-Scaling/Oral debridement
-Oral Hygiene Education
-Digital Radiographs
-Dentrix Software
Sept 2008- Registered Dental Hygienist
Feb 2010 Millennium Smile Crowfoot Dental, Calgary, Alberta
-Scaling/Oral debridement
-Oral Hygiene Education
-Digital Radiographs
-Laser Periodontal Therapy
-Power Practice software
2006 Registered Dental Assistant Level 2
Monterey Dental Care, Calgary, Alberta
-Assisted in various dental procedures
-Worked as a team in sterilization
-Application of rubber dam
-Charting procedures
Hobbies and Interests:
- Constantly keeping up with good oral hygiene
- Participating in health and wellness activities
- Educating others on optimal oral hygiene
- Keeping up with continuing education courses
- Traveling to expand my knowledge
REFERENCE LETTER REQUESTS
The fourth element of my Application Package is a Reference Letter Request to Mebs. Mebs and I have worked together for 2 years at Ranchlands Dental Clinic. He observed my skills and personality and I believe he can provide a good reference for me. He has also been involved in volunteering overseas. Below is a PDF file of the Reference Letter Request to Mebs.
Reference Letter Request for Mebs
West University
Houston, Texas
July 13, 2015
Mebs Sayani, DDS
Ranchlands Dental
7750 Ranchview Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta
Subject: Request for Reference Letter for a volunteer position with Kindness In Action
Dear Mebs,
Working with you to achieve patient goals was a pleasure. With your knowledge and experience, I admire your dedication to helping others voluntarily. You are a role model of what I would like to achieve when helping others. I would like to apply for a volunteer position with Kindness In Action and was hoping to get a reference letter from you for my application.
I am very interested in volunteering abroad to help individuals who are less fortunate. I want to educate people on good oral health habits as well as clean teeth for those who have not had the luxury of easy access to dental cleanings. With the 5 years of experience I have, I am ready to indulge in something other than a clinical setting.
If it is not too much to ask, I would really appreciate you helping me achieve my goal by writing a few things about me since we worked together in the past. Since you are the secretary of Kindness In Action, I was hoping you could support my interest in my desire to volunteer.
If you need any further information, you can email me at zahsurani@gmail.com
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Zahra Surani, RDH
The fifth element of my Application Package is a Reference Letter Request to _____. ____ and I have traveled together and have learned many skills from different countries. We traveled to Spain, Greece, Prague and France. Overseas we learned how to communicate through language barriers, figure out travel and accommodations and adapted to cultural surroundings effectively. I feel that she can provide a good reference for me as traveling together has taught us a lot about eachother. Below is a PDF file of the Reference Letter Request to .
Reference Letter Request for
West University
Houston, Texas
July 13, 2015
__________
Consultant
Caglary, Alberta
Subject: Request for a Reference Letter for a Volunteer Position Abroad
Dear ______,
I am interested in applying for a volunteer position with a company called Kindness In Action. I want to apply my dental hygiene expertise to helping the less fortunate through education and treatment for improved oral health.
Since you have experience volunteering in a third world country and we have travelled together, I was hoping you could write a reference letter about our travel experiences together to help me achieve my goal.
If there is any information you need you can contact me at zahsurani@gmail.com
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Zahra Surani, RDH
The sixth element of my Application Package is a Reference Letter Request to Faisal. Faisal and I have worked together for 2 years where I enhanced my skills with periodontal disease patients. He has witnessed before and after patients who had periodontal disease which healed to a healthy mouth. Therefore, Faisal can provide a reference on my skills for transformation of a diseased mouth to a healthy one. Below is a Reference Letter Request to Faisal.
Reference Letter Request for Faisal
West University
Houston, Texas
July 13, 2015
Faisal Kassam, DDS
Saddletowne Dental
12 Saddletowne Circle NE
Calgary, Alberta
Subject: Request for a Reference Letter for a Volunteer Position Abroad
Dear Faisal,
It was a pleasure working and learning from you as you have a lot of admirable knowledge and experience as a Dentist. I gained the most experience working at your dental office than any other office and I truly appreciate the opportunity you gave me. I am in the midst of pursuing a life long goal of traveling abroad to volunteer my dental hygiene expertise to the less fortunate. It would be of great help to me if you were able to write a reference letter to support my application.
As I have worked with you for two years, I gained a lot of experience treating low-income patients who lack the knowledge of good oral health habits and who have not had regular dental cleanings. The experience with these patients has progressively inspired me to pursue my volunteer goal.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could put in a good word for me about my work experience at your office. If you have any questions you can contact me at zahsurani@gmail.com.
Thank you for your time.
Yours Truly,
Zahra Surani, RDH