I'm not a very "outgoing" person and I find extremely difficult to sell myself. So the ide
Posted By: KYMT on 2006-05-09
In Reply to: I hear such mixed thoughts regarding getting accounts by going door-to-door soliciting yourself. - sm
going door to door selling myself causes me to have a major anxiety attack! But here is my two cents anyway. I work FT for a local hospital from home, but I have two of my own accounts I do on the side. My biggest piece of advice is always carry a business card, ALWAYS! Wherever you're at, make sure you have them in your purse. I have found that when I go the new doctor's office, like for example recently I was referred to a dermatologist for a mole removal. While there the doctor chit chatted with me and asked me what I did and I said I was a transcriptionist. She asked how long I had been doing that and I told her 15 years, yada, yada. Anyway, long story short, she asked if I was able to take on more work and I said sure. She asked me to leave a business card with her and she would have the OM call me. I left a card and a couple days later sent a followup letter basically thanking her for her time and her wonderful bed side manner and then included another card with the letter with a little friendly and if you ever need any help with your transcription, remember to give me a call...
They did and they are one of my greatest accounts. One other time at an auction at a business school that was going under, my husband (who never meets a stranger) struck up a conversation with this very professional looking woman who was buying up all the good office furniture and equipment. It seemed like she was willing to outbid everybody and so my husband being curious struck of a conversation and found out she was a psychologist opening up a new office and was there to try to get some office supplies. He proceeded to introduce me and tell her that I was a transcriptionist. She asked if I had a card and I did. Gave it to her, wrote down my per line rate on the back with a note that said it was negotiable and to give me call. She did and that is the second account I have.
I mean if you have the personality to sell yourself and go door to door, I say go for it. I'm just one of those stand-offish kind of people that has trouble making the first move, but once the door is opened for me, I'm always prepared.
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I've proofread legal documents; not difficult, but extremely dull.
In addition to MT QA, I worked for a large law firm proofreading about 15 hours per week. The pay was good. The work was incredibly dull. The terminology was new and different at first, of course, but there are resources on the web for legal terminology just as there are for medical terminology.
I find it is extremely so! sm
THe other thing is, unless you are ultra fast or so wonderful you are in high demand, you won't make a living at it. I know some cake decorators and it is high pressure. I could make and decorate 3 cakes in a day, of the 2 or 3 layer variety, but they wanted 10 or 12 just the decorated part. I found that daunting myself.
I can only make one of my signature cakes a year (heart shaped cake covered with handmade, real buttercreme roses...think about 150 to 200 roses) about once a year and I need to have time off of work to recuperate anymore. My hands ache and ache!
Why would you find this so difficult to believe?
Especially considering that Brad PItt - famous movie star - had the world by the family jewels with a beautiful wife, Jennifer - multimillion dollar mansions and $$$$ coming out the ying yang, yet he up and left it all to be with a woman who's a lesbian, Angelina Jolie, PLUS he adopted her two orphan children to boot, as well as knocked her up.
Now .... who do you think has more power over Brad - his mother or Angelina? Think about it, not that it needs a lot of contemplation...Angelina can do things for Brad his mother never can, if ya' know what I mean, which is why I told the original poster to LET IT GO because she's FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE SHE CANNOT EVER WIN.
I am extremely curious as to what new hires do when they find out they have not work. Do they quit,
do they get transferred, what happens to them.
I find that difficult to believe -- not the money but the hours.
That would leave only 6 hours a day to sleep, bathe, eat, do housework, errands, LIVE.
Naaaaa. That's a legend. LOL
Difficult to find, haven't found one yet (sm)
but I keep looking 
i have a Geneticist that i type and find it extremely hard with the terms of all the genetic disabli
;
I hear it's very difficult to find the file..for obvious reasons I guess! LOL
x
I can use the deduction now, and when old and ready to sell, hope sell price is high enough won't
matter. Also, I think there is a time frame of not working that negates the job deduction factor.
What comes around, goes around. I imagine one day this person will find
zz
I work for the person. I know. Very excellent person, personally and business-sense.
It is an INSULT to have QA hovering over seasoned MTs who know what they are doing. She trusts her MTs and again if there are questions there is one person, a trainer, who can answer them via phone, e-mail or instant message or you can send the whole report to them if you choose.
Point was is the person willing to make up for the slack of the person who types 1 job when there is
if that is all they WANT to type. Is the person who wants to be a supervisor willing to make up for those people?
You have crap supervisors, editors and mts in the business like you have good ones. Sadly, the really good ones of all of them are few and far between.
When you have a QA person that is picky and another QA person that is very lenient where does that
leave the MTs because some are getting a lenient reviewer and others are getting one that picks at everything. How do you reconcile that issue with the difference in QA mentality. Some people make out well and the other people could be just as good but dont. I wonder about that.
The person MTSO pays is the person who
dsf
So you can fix it up enough to sell it-- then do so
and split the money with the sister. So what if she didn't help. You should be able to get at least 5K if you clean it up. So work two weekends, clean it out, sell it and take your half of the 5K, which is $2500 which is more than enough to cover the $1000 you need. And think of it as a blessing for his sister. Plus $2500 is a nice chunk of change for house de-junking, don't you think?
Extremely helpful - thank you!!! nm
nm
It was extremely perverted.
Be grateful they took it off. I would repost whatever you had to say.
this is extremely sad. I started on with MQ
0.0775 cpl. You're only going to get desperate newbies with that pay. If you want an "experienced" MT as you say, pay them what their experience is worth.
They are extremely close.
From what I know of both companies, oddly enough it is MQ catching up to changing its operations to par with Spheris with the new Rewards Plan.
However, while Spheris has already had their compensation/benefits package settled for a while, they seem to be aggressively pursuing purchasing other companies and increasing their offshore entities.
MQ seems to be focusing on it's US clientele.
MQ has ASR and if Spheris has it, I haven't heard of it yet. I would imagine ASR came in with a recent purchase if Spheris has much in the way of it right now.
You are welcome.
ok now I see it - extremely annoying. NM
x
I am extremely careful
Geesh, June. I am extremely careful, and my girls have been told not to open the door unless they know the person on the other side. You know children do not always listen. I had been down the hall using the bathroom, and my 13yo thought the 16yo had stepped outside and locked herself out. Since it was a soft knock and a familiar one, she thought she knew who was on the other side. When she realized it wasn't who she thought it was, she shut the door right away and came and told me there was a man in our garage. We've lived here for 10 years, and this is the first time anyone other than family has knocked on that door. There isn't a lot of crime in our area, and we leave our garage door most of the time. We never have any problems. I know...there's always a first time....never say never and all that...but I am careful.
A couple of weeks ago, religious solicitors walked up to our door. I was working, and my 16yo opened the door to them because they were women. Not anyone she knew, but she opened the door because she didn't find women to be intimidating. That's why I say children don't always listen to what you say.
After those Missouri boys were abducted in rural areas, I've talked to my girls again about being careful, beiing aware and watching out for each other.
My hubby thinks I'm paranoid. I'm the type to keep my doors locked at all times, day or night, and he thinks it's silly because we're in a rural area and probably fine. When I dispute the point with stories from the news, his rebuttal is that a locked door will not keep out someone who wants in. Maybe not...but they'll be a lot more noisy trying to get past that locked door than they would an unlocked door.
It works extremely well for me. sm
I am in a very, very rural area as stated; all woods. I was also told it works as good as your cell works. Our cells are "patchy" in this area, but are fine in our home and we have all metal roof too, which usually causes outages but not in our case. I was constantly frustrated with Wildblue and no signals on bright sunny days even. Like I said, in 3 months I have not had one problem with losing a signal and I am on the net 24/7 almost literally, lol. I know in my case, they gave a 30-day refund in case it didn't work out for you. So I would say give it a try first and if it doesn't pick up well for you, then look into HughesNet. The wireless was the BEST move I have made period and I am extremely happy. I did call tech suport on it when first setting up and the hold was very minimal and tech was very helpful. I was fixed and up and running within 5 mins with AT&T. Now I will say my first bill was also about $170 as they bill in advance so I had to pay first month and then 2nd month, but to get started all I paid was for the USB thing itself. Oh, if you do go with wireless, don't get the "cards", get a USB one that way you can change it from different computers and be mobile with it rather than just working in 1 computer. Say if you have laptop and desktop you would switch the USB between computers and if you got a "card" it would only work in one of the computers, the one which you bought it for.
Anybody else notice extremely low IC pay?
I have always worked as an IC acute care transcriptionist. My line rates have always exceeded what an MT can make as an employee, which is only logical because as an IC, you have to pay your own taxes, no benefits, etc. I always peruse job listings on this and other boards, just to see what's out there. Lately, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It seems like most MT companies/MTSOs are only offering .08/line for IC. Unless that is for a gross line (and goodness knows gross lines are a thing of the past), that is outrageous!! When you consider that an IC has to pay approximately 15% of his/her income in self-employment taxes alone, that means a net rate of about .068/line! While .08/line for employee status is still low (in my opinion), at least social security and medicaid taxes are paid, and there are usually benefits, PTO, etc.
If I were an MTSO, I would be embarrassed to offer .08/line to any quality IC MT. For a newbie, sure. But for any MT worth his/her salt, .08/line for IC is an insult.
I know that competition with overseas firms makes it seem necessary for American transcription companies to lower their MT pay in order to be competitive. However, American MTSOs will never be able to compete solely on price; overseas transcription companies will always be able to do it cheaper. It is a slippery slope that has already lead to the failure of many American transcribing firms. The question for American transcription companies should not be can we do it cheaper, but can we do it better??
In today's market, American MTSOs need to stand their ground and quit underselling themselves and undervaluing the value of their American transcription workforce. American MTSOs need to start marketing themselves differently, stressing quality, accuracy, dependability, security, and good old fashioned patriotism. I don't care how low the overseas companies can bid a job. There is no way they can compete with the quality and accuracy of American transcriptionists. I myself have worked for an MTSO who lost a contract to a firm in India, only to have them beg her to take them back a few months later because the quality of the overseas work was so horrible. I am quite sure this is not an isolated incident.
While there are always going to be hospitals that will try to get by on the cheap, there are also hospitals and doctor's offices who realize that they get what they pay for and will put quality first. If you compare transcription services to cars, overseas work is the Hyundai while American transcriptionists are the Cadillac. Cadillac would never slash its prices to compete with the cheaper imports. They know that they have to cater to their own market, people with more discriminating tastes.
I am fortunate enough to work for a company that realizes the value of its services and takes the stronger, wiser stance. They are not after contracts at any cost. They will pass up work if they have to bid ridiculously low just to get it. And guess what? Any bid that only allows you to offer your IC transcriptionists .08/line IS TOO LOW!! And any quality MT is not going to stick around at those rates.
I get extremely car sick
I posted on the gab board and while I was typing this message moved, so am copying my reply here too in case the other message gets lost -
I get extremely motion sick in a car. I cannot read at all. I can't even read maps to help husband in areas we don't know (can't tell you how many arguments we still have over this and it's been 25 years), and if there are a lot of road signs I can't read them, therefore I would imagine that if you can't read due to motion sickness typing would be hard, because as an MT I am always reading what I type to make sure there are no typo's or I don't hit a wrong key. A couple years ago we took a drive to the Mendocino coast in California. Lots and lots of curves. I thought maybe I had grown out of it (motion sickness), but my DH had to keep pulling over. I was so sick it was awful.
If you take a product like dramamine it will make you drowsy (I should know cos I'm the Queen of Dramamine) Taken enough of it at different times and I end up sleeping through the trip if I take it. I'm not sure if they have any non-drowsy. A lady did tell me once that I should eat a little carbohydrate before I travel and that might help. Again, a big "might" and I don't want to take that chance.
I think the biggest problem with typing while a vehicle is moving is the constant movement of the keyboard. If you go over a bump or hit a rock or swerve, your sure to hit a wrong key. I'm not sure I know of any employer who would allow this. I'd be more apt to be looking at the scenery rather than concentrate on what I'm typing.
You are EXTREMELY lucky...
I can't remember the last time I even took a day off, let alone a week or weeks. I've often put in way more hours in a week than you say you work regularly and still have never come close to the kind of money you're making.
You would need to be extremely fast on your
computer in order to straight type 3000 lines per day. I never did that many and said before, used to have people seek me out in the office as they would hear me typing fast and they wanted to watch me. Straight probably for me never got over 2500 if that. Having said that, had 2 bosses at different times and would be willing to say both probably consistently got that per day. Your speed, I would think, would have to be around 150 to 160 or higher. Can you do that?
Actually, if you did turn around and sell
the computer and stole the SS numbers, don't you think you would be arrested and maybe go to jail or even be fined.
Sure, ya could, but would ya!
We have stood behind what we sell.
How many times should we exchange the pedal before she tries to troubleshoot it through the software or the computer? We exchanged it even though we did not feel that was the problem. When the original pedal came back to us it was confirmed that the problem was not the pedal. The pedals we use are widely considered by the transcription industry to be the most durable pedal available. They are Infinity pedals.
Do you have property you can sell or
borrow against? A house you can take an equity loan on??
Bless your heart. I feel for you.
Don't sell yourself short....
I charged docs/clinics 12-14 cents/line 5 years ago. They had no problem with this. Being paid by the hour in Canada at home where I work for a local hospital I make $18.33/hr plus 14% in lieu of benefits plus 4% vacation pay ($21.73 per hour) For contract work MT's in my area charge $25 per hour or 14 cents a line. This is not through MT companies - just for docs asking for extra help and our Physiotherapy Depts that do independent medical assessments contract it out to local MTs. Hope this helps. I'm in Ontario
Don't sell yourself short.
If you think that you need to "lower" your rate because you're not driving and picking up, then charge .10/line; otherwise, I would stick with the .11/line and consider it a "raise" if you get the job. Honestly, if the OM is happy with the quality she'll get at .06/line, then you probably didn't want that account anyway because I have found those OMs are the biggest pains and you're better off without the aggravation. JMO.
Anybody sell on Ebay? If so...
I've bought dozens of things on Ebay, only one item there.. today.. then it tells me I have a second chance offer. Not sure what this means, even after reading what it said about it. Any help appreciated !
Yes, yes, yes. Go IC and sell yourself. Get out of the house sm
and actually DRIVE to places where transcription takes place. Leave a business card, a brochure, etc. Usually, you'll have opportunity RIGHT THEN AND THERE to meet one of the doctors. Two practices I stopped at made me WAIT in the waiting room while they got the MD to meet me because they were DESPERATE to find someone who KNEW what they were doing. I have turned down work in the past year because I was not able to keep up. One of these days, I might think of operating a small company. For now, I'm quite content.
Sell the furniture if you have to
You can always replace it later. I once sold a bedroom suite to come up with a mtg payment when I hit a low period in my life.
My fear is that your home does not sell for 30G. In Calif., real estate market is saturated with homes not moving and this is not the best time in the world to "flip" a house.
Sell my own stuff.
I had to take my site down for a while because I've been too busy but I make soaps, candles, rice socks, bird houses...lots of stuff.
I'd just get a new computer and sell the old one.
You can get a new computer for $299 when Dell or HP has their closeout model sales or refurbs. Otherwise, you can buy RAM cheap and install it yourself. It's pretty basic. What kind of system do you have? You need to make sure you have an open slot for additional memory.
Should I sell my Lanier?
I have an older Lanier transcribing machine. I do not plan on ever working for a company that uses it. I'm not officially selling it yet, just want feedback from my fellow MT's what I should do. I work after hours using regular mini-cassette tapes for local companies and another company uses Gear Player. If there's an MT that can use this one, I'd gladly help out! Thanks in advance...
Don't sell yourself short
Hiring seems to have slowed down quite a bit over the past couple of months (from what I've seen). I have four years in and have been looking for a second company and I can't even find one right now. I know four years is nothing compared to most, but still. I could take my pick in companies this past spring/summer...this always happens though. There will always be a slow down depending on the time of year.
Give it some time, you will find a company THAT PAYS.
Good Luck!!
Ugh - how extremely nauseating and immature -
nm
I don't think that's " a big IF." That is an extremely sturdy structure. sm
It has a drainage system in the lower levels so it's not like it's going to fill up like an aquarium. It also has an extensive generator system, so it's not going to turn into a giant greenhouse effect. They did not direct people there "to contain the bodies."
Either you started at an extremely low line
rate to begin with or you are blowing smoke. I personally don't believe a word you say.
If you are so extremely thin and beautiful,
then why are you on this site. Are you a transcriptionist. If you are as beautiful and thin as you say you are, I doubt very seriously that you'd be typing for a living.
That was extremely rude & uncalled for.
Noone deserves to be harrassed or "kicked' when they're down!!
I have tried one- extremely hard on my knees
xx
Thought this was extremely old news
nm
Yes...extremely low volume since just after Christmas! nm
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This is extremely dangerous reasoning. SM
It isn't what the "suits" are saying, it is what they are doing. These are two totally different and separate entities. My God, are you so complacent that you cannot even take a look around and see the face of the future? No one is telling anyone to not just "be happy." A little foresight and present thinking is imperative, not only in the MT world but in many other areas of business, especially IT. It's all going over to Asia and it's all same-same there.
Extremely well put Witch...regardless of personal..
religious beliefs..we could ALL learn to be better "people" from how the Amish treat their fellow humas.
Um, in this country!?!? lol Extremely common.
Poor grammar is everywhere, unfortunately, and ya can't fix what they don't know. ;)
not absurd, just extremely exceptional,
nm
That was an extremely eloquent post!
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