Assignment

1. The primary function of Health Care Administration Association (HCAA) is, "To support health care benefit administration" (HCAA, n.d). HCAA supports third party administrators by education, networking, and providing resource and advocacy needs. Additionally, they are avid promoters of the self-funded industry and how it can impact health care. Their five core values, which I feel are the foundation of their standards of practice, include: leadership, development, integrity, inclusiveness, and quality (HCAA, n.d.).

By obtaining my Master's degree in Health Care Administration, my hope is to move into an administrative role at my workplace. In order to do this, I feel all five of these core values presented by HCAA should be present. To hold an administrative role, the individual must possess leadership and integrity values. I feel as my years of experience increase, I will gain more leadership skills and the proper knowledge to make wise-decisions. As I further my education, I am developing new skill sets and knowledge focused directly in the health care field. Additionally, I am able to grow and improve my networking skills to include myself in various groups. Lastly, I must hold myself to the highest quality standards as I strive to promote positive patient care and improve my professional development plan.

2. The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the national public health organization that aims "to support the health of all people and all communities" (American Public Health Association, 2017). The mission of APHA is to "Improve the health of the public and equity in health status." Essentially, APHA strives to make healthcare a right, not a privilege, and make healthcare easily accessible to all people. APHA also has a vision to create the healthiest generation in history, providing an example of their dedication to make health education a forefront of American life. Finally, the APHA has several core values that it represents: community, science and evidence-based decision making, health equity, prevention and wellness, and making real progress in improving health (American Public Health Association, 2017).

I am excited when reading the APHA website because these are all professional and personal standards I hope to live by and adapt into my career. My primary goal is to find a career where I can make a difference, especially in bringing health education, accessibility, and equity to people around the world. The APHA represents the ideals of modern public health, and seeks to motivate its professional members to step up and make a difference. My professional development plan is about finding an organization or health business that truly makes a difference and can help me find my passion while also helping me create myself professionally and become more of an expert in the public health field.

3. The most difficult interview I've encountered took place a few years ago for a hotel management position. The interview had multiple layers, over twelve questions, and most of them were behavioral-based questions. I was asked about specific instances where I solved an issue, how I handled conflict, engaged disgruntled co-workers, and specific examples of goals I set and accomplished in a team environment. I did not perform well in this interview because I did not prepare! As I already worked for the company, I thought the format would be casual. Needless to say, I did not get the job and I was embarrassed about my performance. I learned to ask one very important question: will the interview consist primarily of behavioural-based questions?

I find that it is very helpful to prepare in advance for interviews by writing out possible questions and outlining personal examples. In many instances, if it is an interview for a job within the same company, the human resources department will give you an interview outline with examples of possible questions. This is a key element to succeed and perform well in interviews.

Another important part of the interview process is showing that you've done research on the company and know the mission statement and history of the company. When my husband recently interviewed for a competitive position, he did extensive research on the company and we role-played possible interview questions. You can find so many helpful resources on the internet! One resource we used was the Career Services page on the Princeton website. It outlines how to prepare in advance, including researching the company, examples of appropriate attire, and practicing positive non-verbal cues. The website also provides sample behavioral-based interview questions. Examples include motivating an under-performing co-worker, show-casing time-management skills, and resolving conflict. Interviews are a chance to showcase unique skills and personality strengths. They require research and preparation. I've also learned it is important not to rush and it is completely acceptable to ask for a minute to think when answering a tough question. In future interviews, I plan on focusing on the person who is interviewing me and reading their cues so I can respond in an appropriate manner.

4. A resume is a snapshot of professional accomplishments and outlines achievements in a clear, concise way. A resume should be easy to read and visually-pleasing to the eye. It's a first impression in written format and will determine if an employer wants to take the next step of scheduling a phone or face-to-face interview. While there are certain staples that should be included like education and certifications, a resume should use a personalized tone that sets the person apart from other applicants. This tone gives the resume a unique flair that propels information to jump out at the reader.

In "11 Steps to a More Powerful Resume," the author presents an outline on how to create a strong and effective resume. Most important, a resume should be brief (1-2 pages) with a clearly stated objective that is tailored depending on the specific job description (Pompeo, 2017). Font, margins, and format are also important because they determine the ability for a hiring manager to clearly read the information (Pompeo, 2017). Achievements should be listed as specific accomplishments rather than vague objectives (Pompeo, 2017). For example, listing how a goal was achieved is more effective than just stating professional strengths. A resume should only list accurate and truthful information regarding education and accomplishments (Pompeo, 2017). Finally, it should be free of spelling and grammar errors and reflect accurate information that gives the reader a clear picture of the applicant, without being ambiguous (Pompeo 2017). "Your resume should be your career's ‘trailer,' not the movie itself. A good trailer will illustrate the high points without being misleading, encouraging the reader to move to an interview" (Pompeo, 2017, p. 42).