Career Research Interview: Part 2

Submitted by: Amelia Jack

Salt Lake Community College - Communication 1010-049
October 1, 2012

Interview Analysis Memo

To: April Cordova
From: Amelia Jack
Subject: Career Research Interview Analysis
Date: October 1, 2012
I recently interviewed Ambree Penrod, an Ultrasound Technologist at
IHC Riverton hospital. It has been my plan for the past 8 years to
become an Ultrasound Technologist, and to begin working towards that
goal when I had the required time available. I was able to ask several
questions about the required schooling and what the typical day is like
in her profession. I was able to gain additional insight and advice as to
what I can do to achieve my goal.
The following information is what I learned as a result of my interview.
Analysis of my Career Interview
Education
Ambree completed a Radiography Technician Program at Salt Lake
Community College and then went on to Weber State where she
completed
the
DMS
Program
(Diagnostic
Medical
Sonography/Ultrasound). The Rad Tech program was a two-year
program and the DMS program was 1 years. The Rad Tech Program
was local and she was only required to go to Weber State twice per
semester, which made the distance to the school an insignificant issue.
The Program requires 24 hours per week of clinical work, which
prepares you for the reality of working as a tech. She was able to do
that in a facility close to her as well. This opened up options for me
because I didnt realize that I could get a DMS Certificate from Weber
State without having to be close to campus. The DMS program is
extremely competitive to get into at the Community College close to
me, and this gives me another viable option.

Ambree also told me that if possible, I should get a 4-year degree

because the 12 months clinical experience, which is required after the
program to sit for the Registry exam, is waived if you have it. This is
important because with the number of graduates these programs are
putting out, if a registered tech and an unregistered tech apply for the
same job, the registered tech will get it. This makes getting clinical
hours after the program finishes very difficult, which in turn extends
the time before I can sit for the Registry Exam. A 4-year degree will
make me more competitive in the job marketplace. This was the advice
she felt was most important to give me.
A Day On The Job
Ambree said that her day is filled with many different kids of patient
exams: OB/GYN, Abdomen, Thyroid, Scrotum and Vessels. Each patient
exam is scheduled from 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the exam.
After each exam, a worksheet needs to be filled out for the Radiologist.
Although she does the same types of scans repeatedly, her job is kept
interesting by the variety of people she meets.
Her schedule is consistent, but it does have one element of variability:
On Call hours. Each employee is required to work one on call shift
per week. These hours can be frustrating because you will be called to
the hospital several times in one shift, so there is a lot of back and
forth. This is the least desirable part of the job for her.
Other difficult aspects of the job are: uncomfortable patients with overfull bladders (especially when those patients are required to wait
unexpectedly for an extended period of time if an Emergency Room
patient requires immediate attention), overbooking, fetal demises, and
patients wanting immediate results which you know but you are
unable to give them.
Job Outlook / Career Opportunities
Ambree has been an ultrasound technologist for 5 years. When she
was going through the DMS program, she worked as an X-Ray Tech in
the same IHC hospital that she did her clinical hours at. This is the
same place she ended up getting a job as an Ultrasound Tech at. It
wasnt hard for her to get a job because of the network she had in
place. She believes that it is going to be increasingly challenging for
program graduates to get a job because even though the job market is
growing, there are more techs than jobs. She doesnt think her job is at
risk, however. For her, the increase in Registered Techs means the
elimination of On Call shifts as those hours are staffed, which she is
excited about.

She agreed that the Occupational Outlook Handbook was correct in its
average salary being $63,000. There are opportunities to increase pay
and get promotions, which include taking on responsibility as a Lead
Tech and obtaining more Registries (Neuro, Breast, etc.).
Analysis of Ultrasound Technician as my Career Choice
The most valuable thing I learned from this interview is that I have
more than one option for DMS programs. The field is competitive to get
into, but having two possible programs increases my chances of
getting into one of them. Knowing that there are required clinical hours
after obtaining a certificate from the program to be eligible to sit for
the Registry exams, and knowing that those hours may be difficult to
obtain because Ill be competing against registered techs for those
jobs, makes me realize the importance of getting my Bachelors
Degree before applying for the different programs so that those
additional hours are waived.
Analysis of My Interview Process
I had prepared for this interview. I knew my questions and what order I
wanted to ask them in. I planned on mirroring Ambree to make her
more comfortable. However, even with this preparation, I still had to
look at my interview plan and read some of my questions, and I
completely forgot to mirror her. I realize that interviewing is a skill and
it takes practice to become proficient at it.
I also learned that an interview is not a conversation. It is not an equal
sharing of ideas. The purpose of the interview was for me to gain
knowledge and advice from Ambree. I found myself wanting to add my
opinion, or even finish her sentences when she paused to find the right
word. I had to use self-control to keep myself from doing that. I found
that the word and meaning she ultimately gave me was not the same
as I thought she would use.
After the interview, I thought a lot about that and my communication in
general. I think I do that a lot. I think I know what the other person is
going to say and I get impatient for them to say it so that I can say
what I want sooner. Often, my focus in a conversation is what Im going
to say next; not really listening to what the other person has to say.
This was a valuable lesson for me: Not everyone has the same ideas
and experiences as me and listening to them will broaden my point of
view.
Along the same lines, I found that I was projecting my feelings onto
her. This was made very apparent when I was speaking with Ambree
about her job and I asked a very leading question: Do you love it?

She responded, I like it. Ya, its good. That put me in my place. Even
though I am excited about this career, the interview wasnt about me.
One thing that I felt I did well was to ask secondary questions which I
had not planned on in order to understand her answers better. I also
was able to get back to my planned outline after the small detours.
In conclusion, this interview process taught me a lot about being an
Ultrasound Tech, and opened up my eyes to the possibilities of other
Programs I can try and get into. I think what is more valuable than that,
however, is what I learned about my communication style and myself: I
can do a lot better at calming my mind during a conversation in order
to really listen to what the other person is saying.

Letter of Thanks
Amelia Jack
11868 Scenic Cove
Riverton, UT 84096
October 1, 2012
Ms. Ambree Penrod
c/o IHC Riverton Hospital Imaging Department
3741 West 12600 South
Riverton, UT 84065
Dear Ambree,
I wanted to write and thank you for meeting with me on September 25
so I could interview you about your job as an Ultrasound Tech. I know
that you are busy, and you were so gracious to me, both when I made
the appointment as well as when we met. You gave me a lot of great
information about schooling as well as what the job is really like.
I had never really thought of Weber States DMS program as an option
because if how far away it is from me. Learning how you were able to
complete the program by only needing to drive there a couple of times
each semester really opened up my possibilities. I had called Weber
before we met and nobody was as helpful as you were! It was great to
learn about what the job is like and how being On Call can really
affect your schedule and your life. Its good to know that, at least for
your department, it is only once a week. Hopefully, like you said, with

so many DMS graduates the Hospital can staff more Techs and
eliminate the need for anyone to be on call.
I truly appreciate your time and the information and advice you gave
me. I wish you all the best, and hope to meet up with you in a few
years when Im doing my clinical hours.
Sincerely,
Amelia (Amy) Jack