We are going to discuss tips for putting your career
on the fast path so that you can land where you want to be (career-wise,
of course).
Networking, volunteering and mentoring are endeavors
that will impact your
ability to get and do what you dream of in this field.
Networking
Networking is defined as” interacting or engaging in informal communication
with others for mutual assistance or support.” Consider that the word “networking” is
made up of the two words “net” and “working?” Yes,
networking is very hard work but it is done anyway because we all
need mutual assistance and support. It is work that actually provides
a safety net for
your career.
Did you ever consider who in our profession is
going to be able to give you mutual assistance and support?
First,
your HIT and CIM instructors here SBCC are some of the leaders
in our field. Get them to know you and your career is already
advanced! They
hire, they are asked for references, and they make referrals
for jobs.
Second, your fellow students are the HIM leaders
and employers of tomorrow. Developing a string relationship with
them will not
only be fun but will
definitely pay off as you proceed with your career in HIM.
How
else can you meet other professionals in our field?
Volunteering
Let’s
talk a bit about Volunteering in a HIM Department or Tumor Registry.
What
are all employers of HIT and CTR professionals looking for?
They
want a credentialed professional who has experience! But how does
a student get experience? Volunteering in a HIM Department or a
Tumor Registry is definitely a requirement for those who aren’t
already working in our field or are working in one capacity with
the desire to move into a
different and better job.
Do you know how powerful volunteering
is? It says to that manager that you are motivated and that you
are willing to give your time to learn and
gain experience. Most volunteers wind up getting a job in the
department they volunteered in!
Let’s discuss other ways to
volunteer and meet your colleagues and future employer…
All
of our States have state-wide health information management associations.
In California it is the California Health Information Association
(CHIA). Some of the large states, such as California, have local
organizations as
well. So for those of you in California, there is a state and
local health information association that holds meetings, has educational
programs, and
provides opportunities for networking with the other HIMs in
that
area. This is one way you can meet the leaders in your local
area, who are usually,
at the same time, the employers in your area.
All of these state
associations offer student rates for membership, which are extremely
reasonable. CHIA, for example, has a student membership rate
of $20.00 per year. The CHIA Journal, which you receive as part
of your membership, is a fabulous source of current information
in our field. To
apply for student membership to CHIA, please go to CHIA Membership
for Students.
So check out your state and local health information
associations for the networking as well as their educational
programs. All of our states have
HIM organizations that are ready to greet you with open arms!
You can find a listing of AHIMA component state association (CSA)
websites
at http://www/ahima.org
/directory/csa.cfm. If you are currently an AHIMA member, you
can also check whether a particular CSA has a Community of Practice
(CoP) posted at the
AHIMA website www.ahima.org.
Mentoring
A mentoring program links an experienced person
with a less experienced person. There are several wonderful mentoring
programs immediately available
to you. One is under the auspices of AHIMA and for those of who
join CHIA, the California Health Information Association, there
is a great mentorship
program you might investigate.
The CHIA and AHIMA Mentor Programs
link and promotes ongoing dialogue between HIM students and experienced,
enthusiastic, and committed HIM professionals
who are willing to contribute to the future excellence of the
HIM profession. AHIMA mentors share their experiences with students,
offer advice and encouragement,
answer questions, and act as the leaders and advisors that we
all
wish we had access to at the beginning of our careers.
A CHIA
mentor is an HIM professional who is willing to teach, guide,
share and serve as a reference person to students when they first
enter
an HIA/HIT program and continuing throughout their studies.
AHIMA’s Mentoring
Program
Mission Statement—The AHIMA Mentor Program
links and promotes ongoing dialogue between HIM students and experienced,
enthusiastic, and committed
HIM professionals who are willing to contribute to the future excellence
of the HIM profession. AHIMA mentors share their experiences with
students, offer advice and encouragement, answer questions, and
act as the leaders
and advisors that we all wish we had access to at the beginning
of our careers.
Both the CHIA and AHIMA Mentor Program strives
to provide:
-
A forum where students can obtain practical and honest career advice from seasoned professionals.
-
A safe environment in which students and professionals can communicate honestly and without fear.
-
Information for students that is timely and useful, and responds to contemporary and ongoing student concerns.
-
Mentor responses that are thoughtful, accurate, and representative of the current climate in HIM.
-
A support system for students in times of professional difficulty, crisis, or confusion.
-
Opportunities for interaction that bring out the best in both students and professionals and which could lead to life-long relationships.
-
Examples of conduct that inspire students and instill in them a sense of pride in the profession they are entering.
-
Increased awareness about the association’s commitment to the future of HIM, about the vast array of online and other CHIA and AHIMA resources available to support students, and the many benefits of continued membership.
-
A method for efficiently directing students
to appropriate external information sources when necessary.
-
A way of identifying and gauging the future direction, needs, concerns, and challenges of the HIM profession as a whole.
In the AHIMA program students will also have the
option of communicating with the mentors privately, through channels
outside
the Student CoP (such
as phone or e-mail), for matters that are personal or otherwise
not appropriate for public viewing.
In the CHIA Program, the
mentor and mentee decide for themselves how they will work together.
If you are interested in the CHIA Program, go to http://www.californiahia.org and click on CHIA Mentor and Mentee Program.
As an AHIMA member,
you may review the AHIMA Mentor Program Guidance by accessing the
AHIMA CoP at www.ahima.org, and type the keyword “mentor” in
the search function.
Final Thoughts:
The goal is to get you integrated into the HIT/CIM
Communities ASAP. Please give this a great deal of thought right
now and start yourself on the path
to the job you want. Volunteer! Become a Mentee! Get great grades
so your teachers get to recognize your name and recommend you for
a job you want!
Do all three! |
