Job search help needed/advice/clue me in!!!

I guess I've been lucky to work with some wonderful MTSO's in the past! I've been an MT for over 10 years, but am just now looking for new work and have not worked for big, national companies before. I posted the other day about testing with companies, and I did and got 2 job offers. Yea!...you'd think.  Ha! 

I thought I'd get offered a decent wage, for starters. Two companies offered me positions, one at 6.25 cpl and the other at 5.5 cpl. Both of them say they go up, the more lines you have. Unless they go up...like double...forget it! At least one of them additionally charges a fee if I don't make my anticipated line count during the payperiod (and I had to make my schedule a month in advance), as well as a bi-weekly service fee for using their software.

Is this what I have to look forward to????? I guess my head has been in the sand, because I had no idea this is what people's contracts had in them. No wonder no one is making any money. Honestly, is this standard? Sorry if I seem so out of touch.

• Job search help needed/advice/clue me in!!! - Sarah11144
  • WHAT !!!!!!!!!! - just me
  • Definitely not the standard. I would not - see message

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

 I was offered a home-based MT job as a direct employee of the hospital with an extremely good per-line-rate.   But yes, it was too good to be true!  Apparently on further consideration, the administrator now says it is too costly (technically) for home set-up; mentioned something about the Lanier DVI desktop and how costly etc. etc.  and some other MT has the license (?what's that about?); also mentioned "Cquence" transcription software program.   They already have 5 other off-site MTs.   Anybody out there with opinions and/or constructive advice...please.  

I am an IC MT.  My MTSO continually loses files that I have already sent her.  I am paid only for what I type per line, not doing secretarial work.  Just today she said that she needed me to resend EVERYTHING I have done for her since October 15.  That's going in, in separate emails so I don't crash her computer, and sending separate emails with each day's work.  I just spent over an hour doing this.

Saying anything will get her irate, because she doesn't understand the concept of IC versus employee paid by the hour. But does anyone have a good sample email for how I would basically say, "I spent an hour on this.  I bill out at $25 an hour, so further resending of previously sent work will be billed at this rate."

That will probably get me fired.  Any better way to put it?

Thank you for posting this and thanks to all for your words of encouragement. I thought about giving up also but I paid too much money for my course to give up.

It was good to read that others failed before they succeeded.

Thanks again.

Pam

This is, I know, an old and overdone question BUT...Please, please other than coffee, protein, water, energy drinks, herbs, and Provigil, please does anybody have a way in which I can stay awake in between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. during my shift? My shift is second oddly going into third.  I am fine when I do third shift going into overnight and early morning.  But, it is absolutely the worst struggle between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.  I would gladly give my highest paycheck to the person who can help me stay awake at that time. That is if I could LOL. Appreciating your replies.

Problems on this job have me seriously considering making a move if there's no improvement soon.  Last night I started to polish up a resume, and realized I'm not sure what to do with references.  I am not ready to tell my current employer that I am investigating my options, and I would rather not have them called for references until I'm in discussion with a company that looks like a good fit for me.

So what to do on the resume?  "Available upon request"?  I have a number of reference letters from when I was an IC that I can attach, if I really need to have references on the resume itself.  Do you think many companies actually followup on references before they interview?  Any thoughts/experience are appreciated!

My friend and her boyfriend of 5 years recently obtained custody of the boyfriend's now 7-year old daughter.   You talk about a handful of trouble, that's exactly what has been packaged into this mini sized monster child.

Bear with me because this will be quite lengthy.  I  will call the girl by her nickname, Tater.

Tater was 5 when my friend (S) and her boyfriend (D) started with the custody proceedings.  Every time Tater would come for visitations, she was full of these wild stories that were quite alarming to S and D.  She would come and tell them how her mom walks around the house naked all the time with all of these different boyfriends, how one of those boyfriends held a pillow over her (Tater) face one time, and how Tater and her baby brother were often left alone for hours at a time and sometimes overnight while her mom was out "getting drunk" with her boyfriends.

Naturally, S and D were really upset by these stories and so they got an attorney and really pushed for custody.  They got custody in March 2005 and their life has been a living hell since she has come to live with them. 

Less than a day or so after she moved in, she started telling them how one of her mom's boyfriends "did things to her" so S and D were once again in an emotional fit because they thought someone had molested Tater.   They called a psychologist and the police.  Had her evaluated, everything.  Even had Tater talk to a detective that works child abuse cases.  His findings and the psychologist's findings were the same.  She had not been abused and, in fact, had a severe problem with delineating fact from fantasy. 

Tater now sees the psychologist once per week.  The goal of the treatment was originally to get Tater to understand the difference between telling stories and the truth, along with dealing with the fact that her mother now has absolutely no contact with her.  It's been rough for S and D as well as Tater. 

Things went well for a short time, then school started 3 weeks ago.  Since starting school, S and D have been called to the school numerous times because Tater has either said that she couldn't do her homework because her daddy was "all drunk", that when S dropped her off at school she was "drinking wine from a bottle in the car" (it was green tea in a glass bottle,) and that they don't allow her to talk to her mother, which is not true. Her mother has supervised visitation but chooses to opt out. 

She has told her aunt and uncle that S killed her cat on purpose when it was actually her aunt who accidentally ran over the cat but Tater didn't know that.  She told one of the neighbors that her mommy had her (Tater) picture taken once and was in a naughty magazine because her mom got money for it and Tater would get it when she was old enough.  OMG yet?  Yeah!  This kid is something else.

She also made a little boy cry in class by rudely saying how he was so stupid and slow during outloud reading time.

S and D have tried all of the things the psychologist have recommended, taking her toys, taking her TV, radio, making her write apologies and hand deliver them, and sit directly behind the bus driver (for even more trouble on the bus.)

She also missed the bus home purposely last week because she was going to go to a friend's house.  Her grandmother had to come all the way into town (they live about 10 miles out) to get her.   When D and S questioned her about what she was doing, she screamed at them that it was "HER LIFE" and she could do what she wanted if she felt like it.  Remember folks, this kid turned 7 last month!

Now, a few minutes ago, S called me in tears.  She got another call from the school because Tater had told some of the boys that another boy was threatening her and making her scared (which was a lie) so she wanted them to do something about it.  These 3 little boys proceeded to gang up on the other boy and he was hurt.  Not seriously but that he was hurt is bad enough.  These 3 boys and Tater are now suspended.  These are first graders and this is a very small town.

S and D are ready to snap.  I don't know what else to tell her.  The psychologist told S and D that she was afraid that Tater had multiple personality disorder but couldn't make that diagnosis on a definitive basis because, as of yet, there are no clear cut documented cases in children of this age.  They usually don't start developing these tendencies until they are in their mid to late teens. 

I have looked online for any kind of research or specialists that can deal with this but it's very difficult to find information even on pre-adolescents that are out of control. 

I am asking for your help.  If anyone knows of a professional or group that can help S and D with Tater, PLEASE post here ASAP.  At this point, I'm very concerned about THEIR well being. This kid is a serious danger.  There is much more but I think I have told you enough already.   We are in Washington State too, just in case anyone has any ideas where to go for help.

Thank you so very much if any of you can help.

I have been working with a national company for 5 years and have enjoyed it but a friend called me recently stating she had a doctor who is despirate for a new MT and she recommended me.  I talked to the doc. today and she is very interested.  I have a meeting with the office manager next week to work out the details.  I have a few questions and would appreciate your advice:

1.  Doc. did not know what type of dictation system they use, but it sounded like a C-phone or DVI system.  Currently I do everything on line, is there a way to dial into a C-phone system through my computor's modem?  I know that this is probably wishful thinking, but it can't hurt to ask. 

2.  Do you draw up a contract?

3.  Are there any questions you would recommend I ask (we have already discussed pay and vaccation/sick time as well as turn around on the reports)?

I am a bit nervous about striking out on my own but the company I work for made a lot of changes last January and it just is not working well for me anymore.  

Thanks for your help,

Mariah

I worked as an IC for a company with questionable business practices and who treated me like a dish rag for about 8 months this past year and when I finally could not take any more, I quit.  In the end I was stiffed for about $1900 in pay but I pretty much knew it was pointless to even try to get my money and decided to leave it in the past. 

Well now, they have just sent me tax papers, evidently they never got my signed forms or lost them or whatever.  My question is do I really have to fill them out and send them back, or should I hold out for my back pay, or what?  I really don't feel like I should do anything for them even though I know that it is wrong.  Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for not returning this form?

TIA,

Still angry MT

Hi, I'm trying to start my own small local MT business, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what contracts/HIPAA paperwork should be signed between Drs. and myself.  I'm clueless on where to begin!

Thnx,

Rachel

I just hope everyone is calling Corporate.

I am amazed and not surprised at how many children we have out here who apparently have not cut it with JLG and now have to bad mouth one of the finest companies there is and I know it! I have had many of my former MT's come to work here -they are making wonderful pay....but perhaps that is because they work?! They aren't sitting on the message boards crying the blues because they didn't listen, couldn't follow simple rules, and probably lied about the length of experience as an MT so they were FIRED!! JLG is one of the finest companies there is. The work flow staff and owners are the finest I have every had the pleasure to work for and I have been in this industry as a CMT and now QA for 22 years.   They pay ridiculously HIGH and you have to have knowledge to make it with them. Stop saying things that aren't true THEY DO NOT run CREDIT CHECKS> FOOL THAT YOU ARE... if you cant cut it as an MT why understand this...JLG asks for a social security# simply to make sure that you belong to that SS# and that you are not an illegal alien working with someone else's SS#, also to ensure that you do not have any delinquent tax liens with IRS because by law they can not employ you as an IC and not pay uncle Sam because if you have not paid taxes before , well that says it all right there. So don't run your toilet when you don't know what you are talking about. What would they care about your light bill, phone bill or any bills on your credit report. That makes no sense but neither does anything negative I have read about JLG. So do yourself a favor, stop trying to work for a top notch company until you build your resume. Perhaps go to an accredited school and learn to be an MT and stop taking mail order courses that get you know where but broke and without a job to pay the student loan back. Anyone wanting to be an MT at JLG should be honored to get hired and also we have more work and more accounts and more new accounts that we can not staff fast enough to keep up. Perhaps you didn't have enough work because you are one lousy MT because that's usually why you don't get work. I wish everyone working here now could here this nonsense but we are too busy to do what you do all day which is make up fairy tales. Apply with JLG. Do yourself the favor don't listen to people that are just disgruntled because they couldn't make the grade. And contrary to MS Opinion....QA knows about everything at JLG. We have to baby sit and grade all the work that MT's do incase they fib about the experience and we have to make sure it is all spell checked and dot their Is and Cross their T's. So QA knows everything from how much work is waiting to be typed, how much has come in and how much will be there the next week. Get off it and get real. Perhaps McDonald's is hiring. Because I make so much money I am buying myself a new 40 thousand dollar vehicle in 3 weeks and let me say this I made just that in the past 6 months. Sorry it didn't work out Now get over it and if you don't like other peoples opinions STAY OFF THE BOARD Back to  my life. Sorry you couldn't have one too.  By the way I wont be back I do have work to do! I just had to come see for myself at the clown like stuff written about our wonderful company.

I have a bright idea for you. Go find your own accounts and charge them the rate that you feel you're so worthy of. I'm sure that if you get some takers at the rate you're asking, you won't have to worry about having too much work to do yourself so you won't have to worry about paying another MT the rate you're asking for.

"Have no clue" is an understatement!!!  Not being nasty here -- just stating a fact.  I know an MTSO who says when she tries to call physician's offices and gets the manager and explains that she is calling requesting to speak with the person in charge about doing their transcription for them, most often the answer she gets is "What's transcription?"  She swears they hire personnel based on a certain part of their anatomy and it's not the brain.

Then, if she's lucky enough to get through to the physician in charge, he is not willing to pay a decent fee.  She has apologized to me for not paying me more but told me that on some accounts they are only making 1/4 of a cent after expenses (including MT pay).  She said they have to bid low to get the work.  She hates marketing now. 

And of course, I'm the "little" Hispanic girl - dumbass!