Page 16 - Laker Connection 2014

Health Care Management faculty members evaluate the student’s capabilities, help focus on emphasizing strengths, and assist with improving interview responses. Everything counts: punctuality, appearance, attire, body language, communication, professionalism, and knowledge. Leading the exit interview session is (L to R) faculty member Deborah Gritzmacher with student Anna Byars, Dr. Marcia Butler, Dr. Kendolyn Smith and Dr. Ronald Fuqua.
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
By Dolores Cox
“Tell me about your interest in this position and why your qualifications make you a strong candidate for the job.”
How does a prospective graduate prepare and compete -- par- ticularly in the rapidly expanding health care field? Students in the Health Care Management degree program have an over- whelming advantage: their capstone course is the culmination of exhibiting proficiency and expressing effectively the best responses to these critical questions.
Every senior participates in the exit interview - a mandatory component of the capstone course taught by Deborah Gritz- macher, associate professor of Health Care Management. She is fully invested in helping students achieve their potential and navigating through this pivotal stage. What makes the Exit Interview truly valuable is getting immediate feedback and constructive suggestions – such as doing research about the company at which the candidate is interviewing to thought- fully engage with questions.
This individualized, in-depth approach is unique to Health Care Management because each and every faculty member in the department is involved. They are active health profession- als in a variety of fields: human resources, long term care, Centers for Disease Control, pharmacy, nursing, dental hy-
giene, professional associations, public health, and policy ad- ministration.
How do students feel about this intensive experience? “This instills a sense of taking responsibility. This is real life. The exit interview exercise shows that the faculty members care about you, your career, and your success,” says Health Care Management student Anna Byars.
The interview is only one measure of professional skills. An- other is the audition. For a music student, hours of practice peak in those few moments on stage. Students at Clayton State University have the privilege of performing at Spivey Hall.
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THE LAKER CONNECTION
Department of Health Care Management