Chiropractic Assistant 

How did you get your current job?
I was a patient at the office, and when the previous CA needed a week off, I was asked to fill in. That eventually became a full time position.

What was the application process?
I filled out tax forms, however no resume or application was required.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
No, I was a patient, and the doctor was aware of my aspirations to become a chiropractor, so when his assistant needed some time off, he asked if I’d be willing to fill in temporarily. The temporary position turned into a full time, permanant position.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
“How would you like to work here for 2 weeks?” The interview wasn’t traditional in any sense. He asked, I accepted, and the next day, I was in the office working.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes and no. I was thrown into a situation that he understood would require me to learn on the go, so it was natural that I wasn’t going to be fully prepared for all that I ended up learning along the way.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
There was an absolute crash course, including but not limited to learning our patient management program, medical insurance billing, office procedure for greeting and doing new patient consultations, chiropractic examination procedure, x-ray development and machine calibration.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Not particularly. Schools aren’t generally great for preparing you for what awaits you in the real world. If anything, my professional experience proved to be much more invaluable than anything I ever learned in a classroom.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
n/a

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Familiarize themselves with the philosophies of chiropractic. Become a patient, or already be a patient to ascertain whether or not it’s a field they can get behind and believe in, so that their enthusiasm can support that of the doctor(s). General administrative duties are also important, as is a firm grasp on medical insurance billing and procedure.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Requires a cheery disposition, real belief in the healing abilities of chiropractic, general administrative duties are also important, as is a firm grasp on medical insurance billing and procedure. The ability to multi-task and “wear many hats” is also important, as we are constantly switching gears and going from patient exams, to filing, to insurance calls, to receiving and interviewing new patients.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
A high school level education is an absolute must, but these days, who doesn’t have at least that? It’s a fantastic position for chiropractic students or those currently in college.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Be happy. Believe in what you’re doing. Make sure you’re flexible, always be ready to learn something new, and stay open to changes and improvements. If you like administrative work, that also requires you to be a total and complete jack of all trades, this is for you.