Credentials

STEPS TO LAND A JOB AND BUILD A CAREER IN TODAY’S MODERN HIM JOB MARKET By Priscilla Keeton, MS, RHIT, and Patricia Pierson, RHIA

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THE RAPID EVOLUTION of health information management (HIM) has created enormous opportunity for those individuals who are up for the challenge and prepared for the work. With the emergence of electronic health records (EHRs) and supporting technologies, the roles of HIM specialists are under reconstruc- tion. Both new and seasoned professionals are required to ob- tain the knowledge and possess the skills to navigate through the new world of HIM. A plan to traverse the road ahead is nec- essary to build a successful career in HIM, and begins with de- termining and taking that fi rst step. As Winston Churchill once wisely said, “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM HIM degree programs are essential to the development of tomorrow’s workforce. Th ey prepare future graduates with the

latest domains of knowledge that will be necessary to appreciate various facets of HIM. Beyond the A&P fl ashcards and stack of coding books, there is a shining light of opportunity in the Pro- fessional Practice Experience (PPE). However, program directors report that it is increasingly diffi cult to establish PPEs for their students due to shrinking HIM departments and the increasing number of staff working remotely. Despite these challenges, HIM directors and leadership teams are remiss in not taking this occa- sion to train the next generation of HIM specialists.

Th is is an equal opportunity for HIM students and directors to take advantage of this unique juncture to learn from and inter- view each other. And make no mistake—a PPE is an interview. It is an extended interview for the students to demonstrate their skills, learn about the various functions of the HIM department in order to discover their ideal fi t, and examine the culture of a com- pany to see if this is where they would ultimately like to be em- ployed. HIM directors devote their time to host PPEs for students with the hope of fi nding the best candidates for future positions.

Every aspect of the PPE is under surveillance—timeliness, professional dress, teamwork, work ethic, time management, critical thinking, and work standards. Take advantage of this opportunity to promote your value. Over-deliver when you can and do what is expected—both before it’s expected and better than it’s expected. Th ese are the students that directors want to hire and the employees that will advance.

With this unique opportunity to make all the right moves comes the prospect of also making the wrong ones. Th ere are some common mistakes that can land you on the “do not hire” list. Among the top off enses are those related to inappropriate use of social media, the Internet, and smartphones. Th e world is certainly technology driven and people are increasingly con- sumed by the need to stay connected, but there is a time and a place for these activities. During work hours and/or the PPE, personal use of apps, sites, and gadgets should be minimal. Em- ployers will also make note of inappropriate attire as a reason that someone may not be hirable in the future. It is widely as- sumed that the way a person shows up for an interview is the best they will ever look at the job. Even though this is a PPE, re- member that it is still an interview and one should put his or her

best foot forward in all areas, including professional attire. Another way to gain visibility as a student is to demonstrate

interest in the profession. Participate in AHIMA activities and a state and local HIM association when possible. Volunteering is a great way to meet professionals and it can also be highlighted on your resume and during your interview. Mention the things you did, new information learned, speakers you heard, topics you enjoyed, and whom you met (chances are your interviewer may know them). Remark that you stay abreast of the professional literature and cite the journals and websites that you follow. Th ere are many free journals and e-newsletters you can sign up for, as well as AHIMA e-Alerts, to stay informed of current trends. Networking with industry professionals is also an ideal way to fi nd out about employment opportunities.

Social media can be a powerful tool a student can use to begin networking. Create a LinkedIn account and profi le that high- lights your skills and strengths. Be sure to include industry key- words and information about achievements, associations, and professional goals. Th is ensures that employers will be able to fi nd you on LinkedIn and take that all important next step of re- questing your resume. But beware the blunders of social media as well. While employers use social media to fi nd candidates, they use it to screen candidates as well. Facebook profi les that lack discretion or are not in line with a company’s image can prevent employers from recruiting someone.

Now that you have obtained your degree and made some profes- sional contacts, you need to commit your qualifi cations to paper.

WRITE AN EFFECTIVE RESUME Large companies typically utilize search tools that electronically comb though sub- mitted resumes for keyword matches to a particular job description. It is important

to carefully read the job description and extract key phrases that you can include on your resume to increase your chance of be- ing selected for review by hiring managers. Th e next part of the recruitment process is generally focused on accomplishments and results. Be clear about your qualifi cations and experience.

Resumes should follow some general guidelines: � Demonstrate the value you bring to the company. Resume

screens are typically done in seconds, so your resume should highlight what you are good at and what you want to do, as well as clearly outline how you fi t the job’s requirements.

� Highlight your accomplishments. Employers prefer re- sumes that are accomplishment-oriented rather than those written with general resume language. Employers want motivated candidates that consistently perform past their basic job functions. Focus on demonstrating how you were able to save time or money, gain effi ciencies, build relation- ships, or solve a problem.

� Place job-relevant skills near the top of your resume. Specifi c skills relevant to HIM should be included in the summary section at the top of the resume.

� Utilize a bulleted format. Bulleted lists are more reader- friendly and widely preferred by employers. Be consistent with the use of bullets to prevent the reader from ques-

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tioning why some material is not bulleted or indented. � Don’t list references on your resume. Th ese should be listed

on a separate sheet if you choose to submit them. However, references are generally not submitted unless requested by the employer.

� Verify the formatting of your resume. Formatting on e- mail attachments varies from computer to computer, so it is recommended to experiment by sending the e-mail to various users to verify that format is consistent. Using a text version of the resume is generally the most common format for e-mail.

PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW If you have written an eff ective resume and your skills are a good match for the position, you are likely a promising candidate for an interview. Large organizations commonly schedule a phone interview with a recruiter

as a fi rst step. During this phase, the recruiter will ask a series of questions to determine why you are interested in the position, what your salary requirements are, and if you would be a good fi t for the culture of the company. Although this feels very informal, it is important to take this step seriously. Make sure you are in a quiet environment during the phone call with your resume at hand.

If you pass through this initial fi lter, you may fi nally be granted the offi cial job interview. You may not be the only candidate that inter- views for a particular position so you need to make sure that you stand out from the crowd. Th e number one thing you can do is pre- pare. Preparation not only shows that you are very serious about the position, but it helps to alleviate nerves that may otherwise hinder your ability to exhibit that you are the right candidate for the job.

Begin by learning everything you can about the company. With the abundance of information available online, there is no excuse to show up to the interview with little to no knowledge about the company. Scour the company’s website and fi nd out

everything you can about their mission, their range of services, locations, history, news stories, etc. Th e information you gather will help you converse with the interviewer and ask intelligent questions that will demonstrate you have done your homework.

Familiarize yourself with the job description so you know what the employer is looking for in the person they hire. Highlight the skills you possess that are aligned with the job description using examples from your coursework or previous work experience to validate your competency. Practice responding to anticipated interview questions so you can develop concise answers with suffi cient detail. Carefully choose interview clothing that de- picts your professionalism and demonstrates you are serious about the position. Prepare a notepad or portfolio to take with you to the interview that contains extra copies of your resume for distribution, questions that you would like to ask, and extra paper to take notes during the interview. Remember that an in- terview is just as much about you determining if the company and the position is a good fi t. Ask the questions that you need answered to decide if this is the right place for you.

LAND THE JOB While interviewing can be nerve-wracking, most interviews will contain some common questions that you can prepare for in advance. One of the most common interview questions is “Tell me about yourself.” Be prepared to an-

swer this concisely and with focus on what the interviewer would like to know about you with respect to the open position. Th is is not about where you grew up or your hobbies but rather about how you would fi t into the job you are interviewing for. Focus on strengths and skills that directly pertain to the open position. You need to demonstrate that you are the exact person they are looking for. Provide examples with results such as “I increased productivity by 10 percent over a nine month period by… .”

If you are a new graduate with limited experience, don’t let your lack of relevant experience trip you up. Discuss any exposure you had to similar functions during your PPE and demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the function. If you had access to EHR applications during your degree program or during your PPE, be prepared to establish that you were able to quickly adapt to the software and provide examples of what you were able to ac- complish with those tools. Just remember, what the interviewer is really looking for is your ability to evaluate a situation, determine what needs to be done, and think ahead to the next steps. Th ink about examples you can use during your interview that illustrate this critical thinking, regardless of the context.

In addition to HIM knowledge and computer skills, employers are increasingly seeking soft skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Interpersonal skills (how well you work with oth- ers) and communication skills (the ability to eff ectively communi- cate with various groups) are among the qualities most sought after by employers. Th ese skills, along with time management and work ethic, indicate higher functioning employees that will get the job done quickly, eff ectively, and with minimal supervision.

At the conclusion of the interview, be sure to reiterate your ex- citement for the position to illustrate your enthusiasm and moti-

Landing a Different Job Within Your Current Organization

WITH THE CONSOLIDATION of HIM departments across the industry, many HIM professionals are fi nding them- selves having to re-interview for new jobs within their orga- nization. To make the transition to the new roles, it is neces- sary to understand what employers are looking for as they restructure their HIM departments with staff that will help them meet the demands of the EHR, the “meaningful use” EHR Incentive Program, and regulatory requirements.

In this scenario, it is important to show enthusiasm for the changing environment, establish that you understand the needs of the new job and have a willingness to grow, and provide examples of how you have met challenges in the past. As a bonus, demonstrate your passion for the profes- sion by discussing how you stay current on HIM topics by reading industry magazines and how you are involved in local organizations for networking opportunities.

STEP 3

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vation. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, refer to the list of questions you prepared ahead of time and see if there are any outstanding topics you would like to discuss. Finally, re- member to thank the interviewer for his or her time and ask when you might hear back from them or what the next step will be.

TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER It is not very often that someone new to a career lands their dream job right out of the gate. For new graduates and career chang- ers, there is a process for getting to where

you want to be. Th e key is to plan out your next career step. Do you have aspirations of becoming an HIM director? More edu- cation and/or further certifi cations may be necessary to reach that goal, so look at the road ahead and plan accordingly. Are you looking for advancement opportunities at your current organiza- tion? Networking is a valuable tool for fi nding out about oppor- tunities. Make others aware of your goals so that they can let you know when they hear about open positions that may interest you. By letting your manager know about your career goals, they may be able to help you gain the knowledge and skills you will need to take that next step. Seek out an HIM mentor in the organization that can guide you to the next level.

Th e employment opportunities in HIM are endless—infor- mation governance, data analytics, and clinical documenta- tion improvement are just a few of the new HIM roles that need skilled professionals. HIM professionals possess a unique range of skills that make them valuable in so many diff erent facets of healthcare. When new opportunities become available, remem- ber to speak up and let employers know you are up to the task.

Th ere are numerous avenues to get to where you want to be— but you have to know which direction you want to take. If you know you want to advance but don’t really know what that en- tails, there are career planning tools available through AHIMA— visit www.ahima.org/careers—and other organizations that can

help a person visualize where they want to be and how to get there. Stay connected with local, state, and national HIM orga- nizations. Th rough networking and giving back to the profession a person can learn a lot more about available opportunities.

Th e above steps will help you navigate the evolving roles in HIM and map out a successful career path. Make the most of your PPE, write a professional resume, prepare for the inter- view, and network and utilize professional resources. You are now ready to step into the HIM profession, land the job that you want, and map out the career of your dreams. ¢

References Bowe, Hertencia. “Developing Skills for a New Era.” For Th e

Record 23, no. 3 (February 2011): 8. Hansen, Katherine. “Avoid Th ese 10 Resume Mistakes.”

QuintCareers. www.quintcareers.com/resume_mistakes.html. Polk-Lepson Research Group. “2013 National Professionalism

Survey Workplace Report.” Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania. January 2013. w w w.yc p.e du /me d i a /york-w ebs ite/c pe/ York- C ol le ge - Professionalism-in-the-Workplace-Study-2013.pdf.

Sundberg, Jorgen. “How Interviewers Know When to Hire You in 90 Seconds.” Undercover Recruiter. http:// theundercoverrecruiter.com/infographic-how-interviewers- know-when-hire-you-90-seconds/.

Th ompson, Greg. “Building a Better Resume.” Advance for Health Information Professionals. March 26, 2013. http:// health-information.advanceweb.com/Student-New-Grad- Center/Student-and-New-Grad-Center/Student-Top-Story/ Building-a-Better-Resume.aspx.

Priscilla Keeton ([email protected]) is project analyst for

health information management services at Texas Health Resources, located

in Arlington, TX. Patricia Pierson ([email protected]) is a full-time faculty

member in the health information management department at Collin Col-

lege, located in McKinney, TX.

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