If I Had to Start My HIM Career Over, Here’s EXACTLY What I’d Do
- Shonda Holloway, RHIT
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Forget what the professors told you.Forget the job boards full of “HIM Clerk – $17/hour” listings.Forget trying to figure it all out on your own.
If I had to start my HIM career from scratch—no experience, no connections, just strategy—this is exactly how I’d build it.
This post isn’t sugar-coated. It’s what I wish someone had handed me the day I passed my RHIT.
Step 1: I’d Stop Searching “Health Information” and Start Searching by Outcomes
The term “Health Information” won’t get you paid. Search what employers actually want:
“Revenue Integrity”
“Risk Adjustment Coding”
“Chart Review Specialist”
“Data Integrity Analyst”
“Informatics Coordinator”
“Denials Analyst”
📌 HIM is the foundation.But if you want a career not just a job—you need to specialize ASAP.
Step 2: I’d Pick a Money Path Early (And Stick to It for 12–18 Months)
These are the 4 HIM lanes that actually lead to $$ and career power:
Lane | Why It Pays |
🧾 Risk Adjustment & Revenue Protection | Tied directly to reimbursement, data integrity |
🧠 Informatics & Systems | You fix workflows, not just documents |
📊 Health Data & Compliance | Required for reporting, audits, and privacy |
🔍 Clinical Documentation & Audit | Protects money AND quality metrics |
💡 I’d pick ONE and get scary good at it.Not 5 certs. Not 3 side hustles. One lane. With purpose.
Step 3: I’d Use My RHIT Like a Weapon (Not a Weak Flex)
RHIT is powerful if you pair it with the right narrative:
Instead of this:
“I have my RHIT and I’m looking for any job in health info.”
Say this:
“I specialize in documentation accuracy, EHR workflows, and coding quality—RHIT certified and focused on revenue cycle integrity.”
📌 The key: Position yourself as a solution, not a beginner.Your cert doesn’t talk. You do.
Step 4: I’d Skip the $17/hr Entry Job and Take a Contract Role First
RemX. CSI. Maxim. iMedX. Vatica.These firms hire fast, train you on the job, and get your resume real experience.
Then:
Add the buzzwords
Show results (“abstracted 300+ chronic condition charts”)
Stack it into the next job (within 6 months)
Step 5: I’d Post on LinkedIn 2x a Week (Even If No One Likes It at First)
Here’s why:
It builds your confidence
It builds your digital footprint
It makes recruiters FIND YOU (seriously)
What I’d post:
“Today I learned what RAF score means in Risk Adjustment”
“3 Things I Didn’t Know About Inpatient Coding When I Started”
“What I Wish I Knew About Epic Systems Before My First Job”
📌 You don’t need a following. You need visibility.Start showing up like the HIM professional you’re becoming.
Step 6: I’d Get a Targeted Resume + Skills Analysis Done by Month 3
Not a generic one.Not a resume that says “Responsible for reviewing charts.”
I’d get one that says:
“Reduced documentation discrepancies by 35% through targeted abstraction and CDI flagging, using Epic and CMS coding guidelines.”
And I’d pair that with a skills analysis that shows:
What roles I already qualify for
What keywords I’m missing
What cert or course will 10x my ROI
Step 7: I’d Stack 1–2 Certs That Open Doors (Not Just Add Letters)
Goal | Certs That Matter |
Coding + Risk | CRC or CCS |
Compliance + Privacy | CHPS, CIPP/US |
Data + Analyst | CHDA, Google Analytics Cert |
Informatics | CPHIMS, Epic training (if you can get it) |
Revenue Strategy | CRCR, CSPR (HFMA stack) |
📌 I would NOT chase every cert—just the ones that match my chosen lane.
Step 8: I’d Stop Playing Small and Apply Like I’m the Asset
I’d stop applying like I need a job.
I’d start applying like:
“Here’s what I fix. Here’s what I protect. Here’s what I improve.”
Because HIM is full of “doers”—but the ones who win are strategic thinkers who speak in outcomes.
💥 Final Thought:
If I had to start over, I wouldn’t:
❌ Waste time on titles like “HIM Clerk”
❌ Play humble about my skills
❌ Wait for someone to promote me out of coding
❌ Let LinkedIn intimidate me
❌ Think RHIT was enough on its own
I’d choose a lane. Show up with clarity.Speak in results. And build a 6-figure track record—one problem solved at a time.
Not Sure Which HIM Path to Pick? That’s What the Career Map Is For.
If you’re reading this and thinking:
“Should I go into coding, compliance, or analytics?”
“Do I need more certs—or just better positioning?”
“How do I get to $80K, $90K, $100K without wasting time?”
Then it’s time to get your Career Map.
✅ Personalized HIM Career Roadmap
✅ Target roles that match your certs, experience, and goals
✅ Clarity on which lanes lead to remote work, 6-figures, or job freedom
✅ Strategic steps to pivot fast—without guessing or gatekeeping
📌 This isn’t a generic “just apply more” answer. This is real strategy from someone who actually does this.
🔗 Tap here to purchase your Career Map Service and finally get direction that pays off.
Comments