Recruiter Insight: Interview with Deaconess Recruiters Kristi Eggers and Jasmine Mouncil
Ross President and CEO George Grayeb recently hosted a podcast in which he chatted with Kristi Eggers and Jasmine Mouncil of Deaconess Health Systems about their individual journeys in healthcare, what it means to work at Deaconess, and what does Deaconess look for when hiring new employees. Read their enlightening conversation below, especially if you’re interested in a career in healthcare or are on the job hunt.
George Grayeb – So, Kristi, can you please tell us about your background and how you got to your current position with Deaconess?
Kristi Eggers – So I started in healthcare when I was 17-years-old. I worked for a multi-specialty clinic doing charge entry. I didn’t go to college, but I was given the opportunity through my work ethic to be able to advance to different areas. I moved from charge entry to the insurance department. After working in the insurance department, I left the multi-specialty clinic and joined an eye care office where I was asked to lead the front desk. That led to more management and supervision responsibilities. I moved on and became a practice manager for a family medicine and pediatrics office for six years. I then pursued a desire to grow, which led me to my role here in human resources as a senior recruiter.
GG – What obstacles have you had to overcome along the way?
KE – One of the major obstacles I had to overcome was the fact that I didn’t go to college. But I was able to thrive in healthcare thanks to some great mentors, my confidence, and my drive. Nowadays you need to have a certification or degree, but I feel blessed that I had the opportunities to grow in my career.
GG – What about you Jasmine, can you please tell us about your background and how you got to your current position with Deaconess?
Jasmine Mouncil – I was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, and went to school in Bowling Green, KY (WKU). After college, I started working at a private medical office in Evansville and worked my way up from Benefits Specialist to HR Generalist. I then moved to Deaconess as a senior recruiter before becoming an HR coordinator. I currently oversee all of our student programs, aiming to attract high school or college students to work at Deaconess.
GG – Did you encounter any challenges as you were progressing in your career, both on the personal and professional side, and how did you kind of manage through that?
JM – For me, not having an HR degree was a big challenge. I had to put my work first and show my manager I could succeed. I’ve always believed that if you train me, I can do the job well. I had to work hard, and it took two years to get to where I wanted to be, which is in HR now.
GG – Can you please tell us more about Deaconess?
KE – We were founded in 1892. We serve 51 counties throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.
When I talk with students, including Ross students, we always talk about what Deaconess means. By that I mean, we’re not just a place of business, we’re a purpose. Everything we do is patient centered with the major focus on our CREDO. At Deaconess our CREDO is compassion, respect, empathy, dignity and optimism. We don’t just talk about that, we live it.
GG – What are the things that incoming students and new employees can anticipate in terms of support and training?
KE – Everyone goes through onboarding with the first person they meet being our CEO, Shawn McCoy. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn more and meet our leadership. Managers come to have lunch during the onboarding break. This gives the manager and employee time to discuss what their first day will look like or catch up on questions. The manager will connect the employee with someone that will be their point person within their department, give them a tour, and introduce them to other colleagues.
GG – What resources are available to the employees?
JM – Deaconess offers a program called Step Up which is a unique opportunity being offered to Deaconess full-time employees (60 hours or more). It’s intended to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to achieve advanced education at accredited institutions for positions while working at Deaconess and receiving pay for hours spent attending class. Employees can receive tuition reimbursement as well.
We also offer child care, a loan wellness program and mental health support.
GG – What advice do you have for students who are thinking about going to school to be a medical assistant?
KE – We really need good, dedicated healthcare workers. I encourage new students to think about what makes you want to become a medical assistant? Do you have a passion for it? I want to know what drives them because I think it is best for someone to not just pick a profession. Instead, pursue a profession that interests you and excites you.
GG – What advice do you have for potential employees as they begin the application and interview process?
JM – In looking for a job, I encourage people to spend time researching any business they will apply to. Please read about the company, their mission statement, find out how many locations they have, etc.
One thing that I recommend for each student is to take the time for an observation visit. Take the time to see what the work environment looks like.
GG – What does Deaconess look for in applicants?
KE – Like many employers, we look for work ethic, desire and skill set. We are looking for employees that are a good fit for Deaconess and will put patients first. Do they meet the qualifications and can they live out our CREDO?
GG – At Ross, we have seen huge demand for entry level health care. What have you seen at Deaconess?
JM– We’ve seen a huge rise in entry-level positions, too. I spend a lot of time visiting high school students throughout the year, and most of them already know what they want to do after graduating high school. I see more and more sophomores and juniors saying they want to be a patient care tech, nurse, a physician, or even work in a clinical setting. And that’s very exciting.