resume advice needed, please!

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!

• resume advice needed, please! - in-hiding
  • my advice? don't put it on the resume...sm - flybye
  • I would state "references available". - (sm)

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 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.

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 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.

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 have been an MT for over 10 years.  I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day.  However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years.  I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice.  However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs.  My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.

Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:

1.  Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.

2.  If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.)  Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).

3.  Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize.  MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website.  Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas.  They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common.  Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.

Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.

Whenever I click on Apply Now on any job ad on the job seeker board here, my resume is automatically pasted into the box!!

How did that happen? I don't paste it - it's already there.

I am kind of at my wit's end here.  I have only worked for two different companies as a  transcriptionist, one for 17 years and the present one for 12 years.  What do I need to put on a resume, besides these two companies that I have worked for.  Should I list the types of reports I have transcribed?  Does anyone know of a template that I could use for this?  Thanks to all!!

What I have found to be a constant problem in placing ads for positions is indeed the resume.  I know that they say you only get "one chance to make a first impression" but a resume IS your one chance.  If you are asked to paste to email only and download it instead, you have already lost.  If you are listing your experience in Cardiology, Radiology, etc and capitalizing items in the resume that should not, you are have lost.  Our profession calls for precise knowledge of things capped and not capped, hyphen, none, etc.  So if a resume is a reflection of the person then as an MTSO not sitting and interviewing you in person, you have a resume in hand to go by.  It should be as close to perfect as can be.

Giving away age is as simple as stating you have worked in WP 5.1 or 6.1.  AND some companies, mine included will eagerly look for those experiences because it shows you have been around a while and know the field.

When you get say 200 resumes for a position, you have to whittle down the responses so you first go by the appearance of the resume, and by that I do not mean something aesthetically pleasing, but use of grammar and caps.  Then I check for qualifications...if I asked for experienced only apply and they dont have experience, circular file.  If I ask for specific background or equipment and they dont have it, circular file.  There is always a method to getting down to the people that are qualified and testing those people, but it is a long and time consuming process.  To respond back to all resumes is time consuming and to do it in a timely matter is difficult so process of elimination is utmost.

Does your resume show a lot of short-term jobs?  I look for that because I believe most companies are looking for long-term IC not fly-by-night, so again, there are many things a resume tells a person.

Does it list the equipment you OWN?? I dont care much for what equipment you may be able to work, but own yes.  In this day of computers and Dictaphone, Lanier, voice files, etc, a company asking for specifics, like owning Lanier or Dictaphone want to be able to see that reflected on the resume.  I have probably sent out 200 emails asking about equipment, even though my ad clearly states 'MUST HAVE' I will get 100 resumes from people that dont have the equipment, dont have the experience, have never even transcribed or taken a course.  So do not just assume that we KNOW you meet our requirements listed because you apply, we may have to ask if it is not on a resume.

The resumes I like the most are short and to the point..

name, add, phone number, email and cell phone

course work or where you learned transcription.  I truly do not care what grade school you went to, high school or college.  If it does not pertain to MT work then frankly it doesn't help to know you are an Honor Student from some college.  That will NOT GET THE REPORT TRANSCRIBED CORRECTLY. 

work experience - and start with most current going back.  I dont want to read your jobs from 1800 and work my way up.  I want to see where YOU ARE NOW in this field and work my way back.  We all start somewhere, were a newbie once, but at the time of hiring, I need to see how FAR you have come.

reference materials - yes they help, being able to Google something is fine, but having a reference source at hand to know the caps, not capped, etc, is important.  Google has things done so many ways it is not always the most precise for that purpose.

equipment OWNED - like own Dictaphone, Lanier, computer, fax - is it dedicated or shared - computer, etc.

platforms worked, i.e. Citrix, Star, HBO. Meditech, RadTrans, that type of thing.

WHAT I DONT CARE TO READ IN A RESUME

hobbies - could care less about your bowling experience or knitting projects....they have nothing to do with work

movies you like

jobs that did NOT pertain to MT work. I dont care if you were a great bartender or worked third shift for Motorola for 10 years.  I DO CARE about things that pertain to what I am hiring for.

When an ad stats looking for STEADY, RELIABLE MT, that means just that...so if I see you had 10 jobs in 5 years, the word steady kinda goes out the door.  If I email you back once and no answer, could be glitch, twice and not answer, reliable is wavering now also.

There are a lot of variables to WHY a resume is not responded to.  If I have to sift through a bunch of stuff that does NOT pertain to what I am looking for, I dont, I move on.  Without seeing yours I cant say why, but I hope this helps a little bit.

Tiffany

Old Transcriptionist needs help updating her resume.  Any suggestions are welcome. thanks!  

Molly

Send in a resume/letter to the head of HR and the MR Dept asking if there are any openings and if the use an outside service would they please pass on your resume to them as you are very interested in working for the hospital.  Wouldn't hurt.  Better than a phone call and they can see on paper what qualifications you have and perhaps sign you on as an employee, IC or something.  

When you are applying at another company for part time work, but plan to keep your present job can you withhold the name of the company you work for?  On my resume under experience, I put:

Employed:  Transcription Company name 1995 through 2000

                  *****  2000 to present time

Is that acceptable?  Will not listing my present company be an unfavorable factor when read by a possible future employer?   I do not want my present company contacted for references because I have no plan to leave them. 

Would appreciate any ideas as to how others handle this situation.  Many thanks.

Hi there,

I have been working as an MT now since January and want to add this experience to my resume.  Can anyone help me make it look good?