Glad someone asked this question; I've been wondering, too.

• How do you do it? - wondering
  • Same with me. I've had to learn to live with much less money. - Flibertygibbit - nm
  • May sound silly but strict focus - Me
  • Never proof a report - So automatic
    • I type straight through, then run spell-check, - Flibertygibbit - SM
      • My VR platform is sooooo good that - So automatic
        • But don't you think editing is boring? I would -- (nm) - Flibbertygibbit
          • editing - GF
          • Let me see, VR versus straight, which is boring? - So automatic
            • But at least with straight you're creating a document, not - - Flibbertygibbit
              • Yes, but ...... - So automatic
  • When I see mistakes I repeatedly make, I make a quickcorrect for it (sm) - Lisa
  • If you run Spellcheck and have lots of shortcuts - Okie MT
  • Glad someone asked this question; I've been wondering, too. - soon to be ex-MQer
  • I read my reports before sending - DW
    • I agree with this, but get paid! - nana
  • Always have. Never proof again. sm - proof as I go
  • QA and line count - nana

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I am an April 07 graduate of Career Step and I wonder how many years it will take us newbies to become at least 98% accurate and speedy!  My applause and admiration to all the speedy accurate MTs out there! 

I really like doing this kind of work, but I think it may be more of a hobby than providing a helpful income to my family.  I am on the waiting list for Spheris....waiting for a dialup account.  I could have already been hired by Spheris or several other companies that I tested with, but I only have access to dialup and most companies require DSL or high speed.  I am thankful that there are some companies who give a new grad the opportunity to begin this profession.

Thanks for all the very good advice!

I worked for a factory for awhile in the finance department (see message about the giant floppy discs).

When returns were backlogged, I'd help out. The forms had several carbons. First page was white, then copies were blue, green, yellow and pink. I had all the "White Out" colors and every time I made an error, I'd have to paint. My hands would be so covered when I got home I looked as if I worked as a painter.

the test too.  The cons to me are:

1.  It's expensive to take and my employer only offers a one-time $25 bonus for it.

2.  It seems like there is a continuing expense associated with it because I believe you have to get CECs to keep the credential, and you have to pay for those.

3.  I am tired of taking long standardized tests like that.   I've taken the SAT, ACT (2 times), and GRE (2 times).  I don't mind learning stuff, but I'm tired of tests that are several-hour ordeals. 

On the pro side, I think it could pay off to have it if I ever want another MT job, and  I think the day may be coming when it is required for all MTs. 

Not that I worked 3rd shift, but when my older son was still at home, he'd get home from work between 10:30 and midnight and wake me up every single time.  He's very loud with one of those voices that carry for miles.  If it was 11:00 and he was on the phone, all I could hear was, YAH, I HEAR YA DUDE. . ."  We could ALL hear him! :) The whole time he's slamming the microwave door, rattling dishes and silverware, etc. Earplugs were my only hope.

It's been sooooo quiet since he moved out on his own.

used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and  Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?). 

Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best.  In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander.  Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love.  My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything.  You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros.  I love it.  I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.

What do you think the hardest account is to type for? 

Just wanted to see if it all ended up being the same..

If you don't mind sharing, what is your skin care regimen like?

I am only asking because my husband and I have been going round and round about the fact that I buy Oil of Olay Total Effects and the Total Effects eye gel, plus the night cream.  He thinks I'm crazy, that they don't work. I say why take the chance that they DO work and miss out on the benefits.

I'm going on 37, but think I look pretty good for my age. Just wondering if anyone else buys into these notions that these products can help us *age gracefully*. I don't want to look like I'm in my 20s cause I'm not...I have a son who's almost 19...so I'm proud of my age, just don't necessarily want to look quite as old as I am....thanks and have a wonderful day!

I read in your post that you "don't agree with people who use it [abortion] as a form of birth control."  I was wondering why.  Is it because you feel that one abortion is OK, but more than one will make it wrong, and if so, why was the first one not wrong? 

Or, is it because abortion is too expensive and just too much on the woman's body to use as a form of birth control?  I don't understand your comment and wish you could explain how you arrived at that.  Thank you very much. 

I want to use my laptop full time but not sure if I should leave plugged in all the time or what.  I read somewhere it wasn't good to leave laptop plugged in all the time with the battery in place.  Sounds like you use the laptop on battery power, then plug in and use plugged in until battery charged?   Seems like a lot of plugging/unplugging if battery only lasts two hours.  I don't want to shorten the battery life, would like to keep it optimized for when I want to use the laptop on battery power only while away from home. 

I would just like to know an approximate amount of dictation minutes each of you would consider as full-time work?  Basically, how many minutes you would commit to transcribe daily, five days a week, and would expect to keep you busy for roughly 8-hour days/40-hour workweek. 

In most of the ads I see, if they do specify an amount, it is usually a line requirement to be transcribed daily (although I have seen some that list the amount of dictation, and seems like it may be about 60-90 minutes per day for full-time).

Obviously, we all know that there are many variables as to how long it would take to transcribe a certain number of dictation minutes (or produce a certain number of lines), but I would just like to get an average, if possible, by seeing what each individual considers full-time work for them, in dictated minutes.

Thanks in advance for your responses!    Oh, and feel free to add any information you feel is relevant (i.e. been doing these docs for 20 years so . . ., do a lot of ESLs so . . . , etc.). 

Thank-you!

why US companies won't hire Canadian employees?  Maybe they want to keep US jobs in the US?  But if you go to almost any border city, you'll find Canadians working in the States.  And also find many US going to Canada for health care. 

Guess this opens up a whole can of worms. 

Anyways, thanks for the info.  Now I know why you are looking for a Canadian company!  Makes sense.

Good luck to you in finding a company that fits for you!