I've been on a number of job interviews in the last 10-15 years

I have to admit that not everyone I've interviewed with knows what "CMT" stands for, but when I've explained it (the continuing education part is the point I stress), it is usually received well by the interviewer.  Employers want to know that you care enough to make sure you stay educated enough in your field.

I'm not knocking anyone who chooses NOT to become certified, and I've certainly seen my share of people who are certified who are crappy MTs.  But, I've seen a lot of crappy doctors, too, and they still have their certification in their area of specialty. 

To me, a CMT just means that you care enough to want to align yourself with a professional organization, stay updated in the field by continuing education, etc.  Does it guarantee someone that you are an awesome MT or employee?  Certainly not, and there are plenty of non-CMT MTs who keep themselves educated and up to date in the field, but they can't prove it.  When you are a CMT, you have to get the continuing education credits in order to keep your CMT, and you have proof to a prospective employer that you've done that education.  That's why it is important to me. 

• CMT credentials and AAMT - rambling
  • I've been on a number of job interviews in the last 10-15 years - CMT proud
  • The AAMT went overseas because they smelled the money there..sm - Old MT
  • I believe... - I agree with you!
    • CMT cost? - rochellec
      • Here you go - sm
        • Link - sm

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I never can make the transition.  One consideration is your wardrobe.  You have to start dressing in office attire which is something I don't miss and found irritating when I went back into the office.  I also found that after working at home for as long as I have done it, it's kind of stressful to get out there and try to be social and friendly.  Office politics is another negative.  Offices are very much like high school, very cliquey and filled with gossip.  There is more to working in an office than just doing your job.  At home, it's just me and my PC.  I do the work and I get paid.  In the office, there's you, your PC, the person who shares the desk with you, the person who sits across from you, the person who sits next to you, your supervisor right across the hall, the doctors knowing you by name and seeking you out to complain about their dictation, the constant ringing of phones, chattering of voices.  The people you share office space with, one will always be hot, one will always be cold, one thinks it's too bright and there's a glare on her screen, and one thinks it's too dark.  You can't wear perfume because the girl next to you is allergic...

I could go on... 

Beyond that, I have no idea.

I'm so disgusted and discouraged.  I've had three interviews in the last week, about three more in the last month, and ALL of the recruiters I spoke with had absolutely NO clue.  After listening to their canned speech about their company, they invite my questions.  My main concerns are the platform, how a line is defined (with or without spaces), headers and footers included, progam compatible with Expander that I have (IT or Shorthand), do they take out MY state taxes, (some don't), how is PTO paid, and a few more, but for each interview, but the time I got to this point in my list of questions, I'm totally disgusted because the recruiters cannot or won't answer my questions.(They are good about skirting the major points of things).  They have to contact someone else, who is not available at this time, etc...and will get back to me - yea, right.  WHAT is wrong with these people?  Can't they answer simple questions?  I don't feel that my list of questions is that outrageous, do you?  Am I out of line for even asking these things?   I've been burned too many times to agree to a job without asking these, and quite a few more questions, but can't get past first base with these recruiters.  Are they so far removed from the actual transcription aspect of their companies that they can't find these things out beforehand and be ready for an appplicant's basic questions?  The recruiter makes the first impression for a company, and if they are so far out in left field, what is the rest of the company like?   ANYONE else have this experience?

And the clients have always liked my work.

That is the only CORRECT in my book ... he who signs the paycheck.

My problem with changing accounts was not the terminology, the dictators (I do 4 big hospitals even now), but it was shuffling around to remember account specifics. That is ridiculous.

It is another case of an MTSO (not the client, the MTSO) treating the MTs as a cost center instead of a revenue center. The "money" was for the suits and the editors (no offense) and the MTs who did the work were at the end of the money line.

I've never run out of work, been slow at times, and asked for more.  If you are a well-rounded MT the work is there.  If you are limited to one or two specialities well, work is limited as would be anywhere.  As for the pay, my check was been screwed up twice in 3 years.  I had the difference in my hands the next day, the fedex the check to me. 

Question to you?  How did you treat BTS?  Where you there to work if and when they needed you?  Was your work 98% or better and within TAT?  Most employers will treat their employees they way they are treated.  It's a give and take situation people.  I sign on do my work, send it to the clients and have no problems.  If they need extra help somewhere I usually (but not always) say sure (who can't use the extra money anyway).  When I want time off, they say no problem. 

Did you ever try talking to the owners about your problem with pay or work or to your manage?  You can't complain if you don't try and solve the problem first.!!

and can honestly say I've never had a background check to my knowledge.  They really should let you know beforehand and I guess it is possible I've had one and not been aware but highly doubt it.

Been in healthcare since 1972 :)  Got halfway through my Masters in HealthCare Administration and stopped because I was NOT passionate about that.  Got into this instead. 

I am still passionate about my house and everything else I do.  I'm 55.  I'm not naive, or dumb.  Passion comes from inside you, if you're not passionate, it's because you make yourself that way.

Thanks for the tip, but I don't have anything to get over.  I don't waste a lot of time whining and complaining though.  :)

been IC, but one of the things I did was to have my husband claim zero and at the single rate.  If you're already doing that and it didn't help, you might want to have him pay in a little extra per pay or pay estimated taxes yourself.  I thought with federal income tax, my employer did take it out because I was considered a statutory employee but still IC status.  I think I had a little extra taken out and claimed zero and married at the single rate.  A lot of things go into determining whether or not you owe taxes. 

You say you adopted a child this year and will get that tax credit, did you have any children before?  If not, then you likely didn't have much choice except to pay estimated quarterly taxes and have both you and your husband claim zero and the single rate.  We have 3 children now, which definitely helps, but even still we continue to claim zero on our W4s just to keep ahead of the gov.  We like that little "bonus" we get back for vacation, etc.

I know I always paid estimated state taxes.  In some cases, you can end up paying penalties if you don't.  Talk with your accountant.  He/she should be able to give you ways to avoid having to pay in.  You probably can't reduce what you make anymore than you already have.  It sounds like you've got your deductions covered.  Your only option may be to pay estimated.  Good Luck!

I work a few hours in the morning before kids get up, spend time with kids, do housework, fix dinner, etc. and then I work a few hours after dinner.   I get up at least every 2 hours and do something, may put on a load of laundry, may lay something out to thaw for dinner, may take a power nap, etc.  I couldn't sit for an 8 hour shift if my life depended on it.

It works for my and my family.  My husband works 12-15 hours, a lot of them overnight and he is home by 11 most days, so my schedule works for him too. 

Ever since they first came out I have been using.  I prefer some of the cheaper knock-off brands to the MS though.  Does anyone remember the Wave keyboard?  It was the precursor to the MS and also there was an actual split keyboard and one time, where the keyboard broke in half so you typed with your hands vertically instead of horizontally.  I also tried learning Dvorak and that was an interesting experience!

I have an MS at work and one at home.  My hands hurt less and my shoulders are not as tight.  I can't stand to use a regular keyboard as I tend to hunch over and my shoulders get tight, not to mention make all kinds of errors!  I don't know about using the "B" with your other hand though.  Never heard of that.  I just use a standard technique.

IMHO

and I think it's great.  It can get a little dull because you tend to hear the same things over and over, but you can get good line counts with it. 

and transcribing for 20+

I can't imagine stopping to start all over again. It scares me to think that the "hunt and peck" types are now being catered to instead of learning the keyboard the way it should be learned. But then again, I'm an "old timer."

When I learned qwertyuiop it was on a manual typewriter.  The manual typewriters are what gave us old timers our speed. It also gave us concentration when you had to flip the handle on the left and push the roll back into place for the next line. Not to mention exercise when you pushed it too hard and the whole roll flew off and landed on the floor.

Heck, I used to do MT on a very old electric typewriter with a bottle of  White Out handy.

My top 5 minute timed typing test for a job interview was 138 wpm on an old electric and that was almost 20 years ago.  I think I'll stick with the old stuff.

And, by the way, I have no wrist pain, finger pain, etc. Guess I'm either lucky or it's because of the fact that I'm ergonomic, do my CTS exercises, and wear wrist supports when I type.

every listing contract should say the listing agent will use "due diligence" in selling your home (or something similar).  My suggestion would be to contact the agent's broker, tell them what has transpired and ask that another agent take over the listing.  With your complaints known, I would bet the new agent will give you much better service.

As for reporting them to your state's division of real estate, depending on what state you are in, most likely nothing would be done and a case would not even be opened.  They are after fraud-type cases and rarely, if ever, get involved is situations such are yours.

I have a macro that goes back and double checks for two spaces and changes them to one.

Then I have another (for an old-timey account) that goes back and finds period space space and exchanges it for period space.

That way I don't have to remember.

I find it to be a really easy platform to learn and to use. I've used it for 2-1/2 years now. It has its own expansion program and I also find it really user-friendly.

What did you want to know?  Pay is okay, accounts are good, people are good.