Testing For Sten-Tel

• Testing For Sten-Tel - Jen

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no matter what a company wants, be it ESL specialist, etc., the best test to give ANY applicant is one that is not planned, one given right on the spot, verbal, one that has not been scheduled so the person has had no time to get nervous, but throw about 15-20 questions at them, general knowledge for their level of skill, and it can tell you wonders about their knowledge that is retained!! I actually find that the retention rate of folks hired this way is actually higher than intense testing given by some of these larger national companies.  We all know that it takes sometimes a couple of weeks for even the best MTs to understand (I am speaking of the ESLs or bad dictators).  There are some companies that give these as tests and what does that tell?  Tells nothing and means nothing!  Some of these that do well on these actually cannot do the work.  How do we know that these folks have not actually had someone else do the test for them?

I find the best way is to pull a pop test on the spot in the middle of the interview and it works!  Don't ever give the same questions to two separate applicants.  Have a database of questions to pull from.  Score from the ones you ask and move on from there.  If the person cannot do the work, you know it in a day. 

I believe it was the old EDiX that used to give over the phone questions, but they still scheduled this and people had time to get nervous.  This way there is no time and well, you would be surprised at what folks actually do know...and in some cases...what folks actually do not know when given multiple choice, but to me this is an excellent way of testing, takes very little time, which I personally consider to be too valuable to waste 3-4 hours on a test, which someone who is experienced and has worked for 10 to 15 years in the field should not be required to do anyhow, should not be asked to do.  When you have worked 12 hours during that day for a company (and some have), why should they have to take 4 hours to do a test?!

Think about it!!

I have recently spoken to other recruiters from other companies and they have agreed with me on this and I hope it catches on because it certainly is less time consuming and tells you all you need to know without giving them the actual work to do.

I'm looking for any information I can find out about Sten-Tel based out of Springfield, Massachusetts?  Are ICs obligated to a set schedule, set number of hours/lines, etc.  Do they have a lot of ESL dictators?  How flexible are they?

Thanks tons!!  I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Do any of you work for Sten-Tel? I was thinking of accepting their offer, but could not find any recent posts about this company. Would appreciate any information what it is like to work for them.

Thanks!  

Anyone else with Sten-tel on the ASP platform out of work or is it just me that is sitting here twiddling my thumbs?

I am testing on Friday for a new job. I need this job very badly, because of the benefits. If anyone has any suggestions on where I can find some practice tests(written exams), please let me know! Thanks.

   Can anyone out there explain to me why when taking a test for a national company they would tell you, Note: The audio is bad and that is part of the test.  Why in the world would a company want to give you a bad audio tape to test on?  Is this a Joke?  I feel this is very humiliating to a transcriptionist.  Just give a decent test.  How is anyone supposed to pass it if the audio is bad?  I do not care who you are and how many years experience, if the audio is bad, then no one is going to pass.  This is totally ridiculous.  I am glad I am starting to look into coding for a new profession because these National companies are making a mockery of this field, which was once respected.

Should testing transcription be done verbatim or do you suppose it could be lightly edited? I was not sure about this. I have never had a company instruct me on what they prefer.

Thanks

Which is what one of our bright and fab docs says everytime he starts a report...

LoL... I wonder if he comes back and says, Is this thing on?  

Yep.. It's one of THOSE days. 

***Edited by Moderator***

Had six or seven short notes to type and you got one that you just couldn't figure out and there would be blanks, would you finish it with the blanks, even if there were quite a few, or would you not do it and tell the person you're testing for that you weren't able to transcribe the note? 

I am trying to test (not medical) and they had me download something called DSS Lite, so I could transcribe what they e-mailed me.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  I cannot get my foot pedal to work with it.  Thank you in advance.

I agree.  And my foot pedal does not work with most of these companies for doing the test.  I have to use the F keys to start and stop.

I got my current job with transcriptionmatchmaker and had to take only one test and they contacted the companies looking for help.  But they are not doing that anymore right now, or at least the person that helped me is not there. 

I was recently laid off after 6 years doing transcription for a surgical/imaging center.  I had to transcribe all imaging and surgical procedures.  I would like to test my skills so I can be up on the recent changes.  Is there a web site for this.  I have 20 years experience in all modalities having worked in the hospital setting for 8 yrs, rehab etc..  Any ideas would help.

Thanks