Health Information Technician Graduate Uses Newfound Perspective to Land Job
Rasmussen College hosted its second-annual Virtual Career Fair October 23, 2018. This free event presented students, alumni and community members with networking opportunities with more than 100 leading employers nationwide. The virtual platform offered job seekers and employers more flexible and efficient engagement opportunities to connect than traditional job fairs. In addition, participants could attend mini-preparatory, career-focused workshops and interact directly with Rasmussen College’s Career Services team, who was on-hand virtually to answer questions and provide career advice. For one student in particular, this Virtual Career Fair opened a new door of possibility.
Cindy Mossberg, a standout student from the Rasmussen College Health Information Technician (HIT) Associate’s degree program at the Blaine campus, landed a position from the fair that fit her perfectly. 
Mossberg made the decision to go back to school after suffering a rotator cuff injury that made her previous career in direct patient care no longer possible. She says, “I never would have imagined myself going back to school at the age of 59 and 60 had I been asked just a few years ago, but it’s completely opened a new door of opportunity.” Mossberg originally came to Rasmussen College to pursue Medical Billing and Coding, but later decided to apply her experience as a registered nurse to a new path. “I had over 25 years of office administration experience before becoming a nurse, so I thought pursuing a degree in HIT would be a good way to encapsulate both,” says Mossberg when recalling the transition. “It’s been absolutely wonderful! Everyone is so helpful here, which made the transition stress-free.”
Since switching programs, Mossberg was pleasantly surprised to hear about ongoing educational opportunities from her various faculty members. One of these opportunities was the possibility to attend and volunteer at the September 2018 American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) National Convention. Mossberg heard about it the week before applications were due but was determined to apply, which is how she found herself in Miami for an all-expenses paid trip, attending the convention as a student volunteer. This provided her with the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies and training methods, all while having the opportunity to network with industry professionals. One of her favorite experiences from the convention was getting to attend a mentor luncheon with Brad Justus from Himagine Solutions. He made an impact on the way Mossberg looked at future career opportunities. “He’s the one that got me thinking outside the box and made me realize my education and capabilities branch far beyond just HIT,” she says.
With Justus’ advice in mind, Mossberg attended Rasmussen College’s Virtual Career Fair shortly after returning from the Convention. There, she connected with a human resources recruiter and landed a job as a registered nurse in telephone triage for Minnesota Oncology, a role she never would have previously considered. While the role was not in the HIT field, Mossberg says she would not have gotten the job had she not been enrolled in Rasmussen College’s HIT program. Without the Virtual Career Fair, she says, “I never would have known about the opportunity…. It really showed me all education is of value.”
If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing a degree in HIT, visit the Rasmussen College Health Information Technician page to learn more about the HIT Associate’s degree program. To explore more about the career resources Rasmussen College has to offer, check out the Career Services page.
