Lori Murdock

Interview Project: Part 1

Communication 1010-042
9/8/2014

Background Information
My Interviewee:
Im planning on interviewing Kathy. She works at the Highland Care Center as an
Occupational Therapy Assistant. I chose to interview Cathy because I had a job shadow at the
clinic she works at and thought all the workers did such a great job with their patients. I plan
on interviewing her on September 18, 2014 at 1:00pm at the Highland Care Centers gym.
Career Research:
I wanted to take a JATC class and thought Occupational Therapy would be interesting to
learn more about. I got into the program, which was a semester long, and learned a lot. I loved
the class so much that I decided thats what I wanted my career path to be. I decided to go to
Salt Lake Community College to get into their Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Right
now Im taking pre-requisites so I can apply to the program next fall.
OTA seems like it would be the perfect job for me because I would love working with
people and changing lives every day. OTAs help people with disabilities or medical problems
develop skills so that they can become more independent. There are 8 areas of Occupational
Therapy: Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Education, Work,
Leisure, Play, Sleep/Rest, and Social Participation.
On a daily basis, Occupational Therapy Assistants assist and care for others and record
the information and progress of the patients. I went on 3 Job Shadows while in the JATC OT
program and got to see hands-on what it would be like to be an OT/OTA.
I learned from UtahFutures.com that to be an OTA, you just need an associates degree.
The average Utah wage for OTA is $25.79 hourly or $53,640 yearly. If I was looking into being
an OT, a masters degree is required.
The American Occupational Therapy Associations (AOTA) vision mission statement
reads: AOTA advances occupational therapy as the preeminent profession in promoting the
health, productivity, and quality of life of individuals and society through the therapeutic
application of occupation. The AOTAs goal is to support occupational therapy by setting
standards and protecting the members of this field.

Interview Schedule
Opening:
Hi Cathy! Thanks so much taking some time out of your day to let me interview you. I
really appreciate it! Ive been to your clinic before on a job shadow and I really liked the
environment here.
The purpose for this meeting is so I can interview you on the career you have chosen.
Its an assignment for my communications class, but is something I am very interested in as well
because Im considering becoming an OTA too. Ill be asking you questions about how you got
started in the medical field, what a typical day is like in the field and its impact on your
continuing education, and family life.
Im going to be writing a few notes, but keep talking while I write. The interview should
take anywhere from 10 minutes to a half hour. Are you ready to start?
Body:
Topic 1: Getting Started in the Medical Field
First, Id like to find out how you got started in this field.
1. What made you decide to start a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant? (Primary,
Open)
2. Do you have any regrets about working in the medical field? (Secondary, Open)
3. What are the requirements to become an OTA? (Primary, Open)
4. Are there any elements, other than schooling, that are required? (Secondary, Closed-but could be open)
5. What skills would be helpful to have as an OTA? (Primary, Open)

Topic 2: A Typical Day

Now that I know how you got started, Id like to hear what your current job is like.
1. What is a typical day like for you on the job? (Primary, Open)
2. What tasks are the hardest to accomplish? (Secondary, Open)
3. Which are the most simple? (Secondary, Open)
4. What is your favorite part of the job? (Primary, Open)
5. What is your least favorite part? (Secondary, Open)
6. Do you like working with Geriatric patients? (Primary, Closed)
7. Have you ever worked in Pediatrics? (Secondary, Closed)
-(If yes) Which did you like better, working with Pediatrics or Geriatrics?
(Secondary, Closed)

-(If no) Do you know of anyone who has worked in Pediatrics? Did they enjoy it?
(Secondary, Closed & Open)
8. How accommodating is your schedule to your personal life? (Primary, Closed)
9. Are you allowed to take days off when you choose? (Secondary, Closed)
10. Do you get vacation days? (Secondary, Closed)
11. How does this career affects your family life? (Primary, Closed)
12. How does your work life affect your children or spouse? (Secondary, Open)
13. If your child was sick and you were scheduled to work, what could you do? (Secondary,
Open)

Topic 3: Continuing Education

My next questions are about continuing education.
1. Are you required to take continuing education classes? (Primary, Closed)
2. How long do the education classes last, typically? (Secondary, Closed)
3. How often are you required to take continuing education classes? (Secondary, Closed)
4. Could you tell me about the education you are currently involved in, if any? (Primary,
Open)
5. What educational resource have you found most practical and valuable to your career?
(Primary, Closed)

Clearinghouse question: The interviewees turn

1. Is there anything that you think I need to be aware of that we didnt cover already?
(Primary, Open)
2. Do you have any advice for me on becoming an OTA? (Primary, Open)

Closing
Well, thats all of the questions I have. Thank you so much for letting me interview you!
This has been a great experience and Ive learned so much! Youve been extremely helpful.
Would you mind filling out an evaluation of how well I did on this interview? I need it
for my Communications grade. It should only take a few minutes and then I can just take it with
me and give it to my teacher. Heres an envelope to put it in when youre finished.

Thanks again for doing this for me! Its been a pleasure to meet you. (Handshake) Good
bye.