Careers e-books from the BDA library service

UPFRONT EDITORIAL Choose wisely I David Westgarth, Editor, BDJ Student n the final throes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indie makes it past some giant buzzsaws, performs a leap of faith and walks across a floor that has no support before advancing to a room filled with chalices. He has to pick the right one in order to save his stricken father’s life. But some are big and shiny, and others are a bit more basic – which to choose! I shan’t spoil the ending. That scene is a microcosm of life, endless choices. OK there’s no lifeor-death to it, but choosing wisely is important. It sets an initial direction, a journey. For us mere mortals, we’re allowed the good fortune of being able to pause and turn around should things not quite work out, and that’s OK – being able to say something isn’t working out and doing something about it is a sign of strength, not weakness. Which brings us nicely to this careers themed edition of BDJ Student. Choosing your path, setting out on your journey, making life-changing decisions is not easy, so we’ve got stories from right across the profession to give you details and lived, first-hand experience of what career pathways are out there and are like. Each of these contributors has the experience, the knowledge, the stories – good and bad – to share, so please do make the most of the opportunity to lean into them and learn all you can. There are more available on the BDA careers hub and I urge you to check them out. In other career-related news, we’re on the lookout for our next student editor. This is the final edition for incumbent Hfsa Fahad who has been a revelation in the post, and we’re going to be sad to see her go. She’s represented us at press events, the Houses of Parliament and even Downing Street. If you’re interested – and why wouldn’t you be – and for further information on how to apply, read here. David Westgarth ■ Careers e-books from the BDA library service Compiled by Pete Folly, Library Manager, British Dental Association Deconstructing the Interview Duncan Harding, 2018 Deconstructing the Interview takes a fresh look at how to succeed in interviews. Instead of just giving you lists of things to remember, it examines what really makes an interview go well. The book focuses on the key factors behind success and helps you build strategies and skills that work for any type of interview. To access this e-book click here. How to Develop Your Career in Dentistry Janine Brooks, 2015 This book is all about helping you plan a successful career in dentistry. It shares case studies from people working in different dental roles and shows why mixing things up with a portfolio-style career can give you more options than just following a straight ladder. Written by a top UK dental expert with decades of experience, it showcases the opportunities inherent in specific areas of dentistry and how you can take advantage of them. To access this e-book click here. Career Paths in Oral Health Rodrigo J. Mariño, Michael V. Morgan, and A. Damien Walmsley, 2018 The practice of oral health care includes a wide variety of roles and careers, clinical and non-clinical. Written by both academic and nonacademic authors and taking an international perspective, this book is full of comprehensive information about the career pathways available in oral health and the diverse roles an oral health professional can play. Each chapter contains the authors’ personal stories and descriptions of why and how each one took the career path they did, highlighting the lessons gained from personal experience. To access this e-book click here. Oxford Handbook for the Dental Foundation and Core Training Programmes Hemash Shah and Chris Barker, 2023 The first few steps of any professional career are both challenging and full of opportunities. This is a vital time for any individual and can potentially shape their future career in both a positive and a negative way. This handbook provides a resource for those just starting their career as a dentist and fills a gap for reliable information on foundation and core training. Covering all aspects of dentistry and training, this guide covers not only all clinical disciplines but also essential leadership, management, and governance skills. To access this e-book click here. Further information Your BDA Library service is available at the touch of a button - our resources include over 800 e-books, hard copy book loans, online journals, document supply service and evidence-based literature searches. Go to https://www.bda.org/learning/ library/ to view our full range of services. Email or call 020 7563 4545 if you need a password to access the e-books or with any comments, suggestions or questions. We are always looking to add to our selection and would welcome any suggestions for new e-books. BDJ STUDENT 37 ONLINE PUBLICATION | MAY 2026 © British Dental Association 2026. All rights reserved.  (...truncated)