Hang in there Lisa!
Posted By: Lilly on 2007-01-24
In Reply to: Disappointed Newbie - Lisa
Hang in there! Something will come your way that is the right fit. Our oldest son was killed in an accident and his two young babies came to live with us for a year. That is the same time I finished my MT education. I was hired before I finished school. I have worked from home from the beginning. I set my own hours, accept work or turn it down; however, I always meet my 24-hour TAT. There is the right "fit" for everyone out there. Don't get discouraged! 
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Do not give up Lisa.
Hang in there. Do not give up because some people are just jeolous and do not want to face their insecurities and would rather tear other people down to gain some self-assurance. There is more to life than that. Take care and God Bless in whatever you decide.
Lisa do not get discouraged!
Only you can make it happen. I would suggest you look at the job seeker's board here on this site. There is actually a job posted there today that is looking for "newbies". Everyone was new once. I did not attend a course per se. I learned anatomy and transcription in high school. I have many years of experience and am still learning every day. Please, do not let negative posters here misinform or discourage you from your endeavors. Do not fear the fact that you did not graduate from one of these so-called 3 great schools. Your work ethic will say it all, and yes even after 20 years, I still use a spellcheck and still leave blanks. It is inevitable, and you learn each and every day. Keep your chin up, and I am actually liking your attitude towards these negative people. Stand up for yourself as no one else will. There was another company called CLK Transcription that had posted a while back on the job seeker's board that wanted to mentor. This may be an avenue for you to stroll. You may not make the big money (none of us do on-line), but you will gain experience, hence, making it easier to find even your own accounts on-line. Kudos for taking life by the horns and riding it out. This is a great profession and much to be said for a job well done!!!! 
Lisa, I don't mean to discourage you (sm)
but there are really only 2 factors to consider here:
1) your 6 children, and 2) the funds for MT school.
Personally, I think the fees for the so-deemed "best 3" are
exorbitant. I don't know the ages of your children, so the only comment, or advice, I can offer you is....by the time you get through school and get the number of years of experience to even get close to swimming above water, well....I think you get my point. When I tell people I work for pennies they think I'm kidding. LOL>some things never change. Unfortunately, this line of work is one of them.
Anyone else wish to chime in and help Lisa out please???
Lisa/Tech Skills
Lisa,
Did you attend that in AZ? I almost did that but decided to go another way.
Please read my thoughts on this, Lisa
I think part of the rub from your post, Lisa, is that you seem to think that you seem very self-centered. Honey, unless you have a disabled child that requires you to be in that house 24/7, you do NOT HAVE to work from home. You just want to really bad. Nothing wrong with that!
However, just because we don't tell you what you want to hear does not mean we are being rude. You just simply don't want to hear the truth.
You even said in one of your own replies that you have decided that your children's welfare was more important than hitting the TAT expectations. Great! You've made your decision! At this time in your life, this is probably not for you.
You can have it all, just not all the same time dear. Concentrate on getting your babies into school, then sit down and concentrate on your career while they are safely looked after in school and learning.
I don't see any reply to your thread as rude in the least. Even the newbies who are encouraging you will probably come back shortly to say they have had it with this profession because they cannot make what they want. Most do.
You've taken the really tough road by starting out at home. Learning inhouse is far better, easier on you, and easier on your family, actually.
While they see you typing at the computer all the time right in front of their little faces, they believe that computer is more important than they are. Wait until they are out of the house with school and then work. This way, when they are at their safe, loving home they feel their mommy is really there for them, not the computer.
Trust me, even later as teenagers, they will constantly complain that all you do is work, all you do is sit in front of the computer. You have tough enough times ahead! Don't rush it!
Good luck, dear.
Lisa, I understand your frustration, but I do have to agree with (sm)
Amanda that this must be looked at as a profession and simply not a convenient way to work while staying home with the children. I don't necessarily think you feel that way, but your post does come across as someone who wants their cake and eat it, too! It is very difficult to become an accomplished MT without the benefit of on-site experience, but it most certainly can be done. However, there are dues to pay when it comes to gaining your experience in a home setting and one of them is to be able to gain that experience at someone else's convenience.
Now, I am not saying that you have to be at available at someone's beck and call, but you do have to realize the time, effort and expense it costs the person mentoring you and appreciate the knowledge and insight so freely given to you. Many companies will not even give that chance anymore, so I would take it as a gift rather than an obstacle.
I have raised 2 children by the grace of working at home and without the benefit of a spouse, as I became widowed at a very young age, but that took a lot of determination, scheduling and humility to do so. It is not impossible and my long days and exasberating nights paid off in the end, but only because I was willing to work at it. I can say quite proudly that I have wonderful, well-adjusted children who have reaped the benefits of having their mother with them and have also learned the respect of a hard day's work.
Of course, you can always obtain your own clients and set your own hours, but you will not gain the knowledge that is required to become a proficient MT, as there really is no one to guide you in what you just don't know. However, if all you are after is a paycheck at the end of week without a true respect for this field, that might be the alternative.
I know it is hard - it is very hard, but if you truly want it you will to the lenghs to achieve it with an open mind and the willingness to reach your goals.
I wish you the best!!
Amanda, you know what? I sat here all weekend thinking about offering Lisa an IC position (sm)
that might be able to help her out, as I work in 12-hour TATs, but the more I saw the posts left from her, the more I chose not to get involved. I come to this board for the specific reason of offering help, as I feel anyone who truly needs a break should be given the opportunity. However, Lisa has made it blatantly clear that the only opportunity she wants is on HER terms and I actually feel slighted that I was willing to take a chance with someone who comes across the way she has.
Also, I am offended by the fact that Lisa states her first job is "Mom," as if mine is not. Yes, I do WORK as an MT and I work hard at it, but I also am there for every single aspect of my children's lives, including class mother, PTA chairperson, basketball, softball, baseball, dance, etc. I work hard daily for the balance (without the benefit of my wonderful husband) and I MAKE it work for all of us and for that I am rewarded and blessed. How dare someone even critique my abilities, especially as a mother.
hang in there...
thanks so much MTStudent -- i wish you lots of luck in your second semester of AMT -- that tells me you have completed basic??. be grateful that it slower. hopefully, you have fully gained an understanding of the basics and if you're in advanced medical transcription, you're probably doing way better than you think you are.
hope that you hang in there and do well in your new career.
and -- thanks for the encouragement! :)
Hang in there
It seems like every new job I've taken has started out with software problems and down times. I've had fewer problems with low work volumes. One reason might be that I tended to work more of a second shift schedule. At my current job (I work in a radiology office), we have lots of computer problems, which makes it hard to keep caught up, but at least I'm on the clock and get paid for the aggravation. I'd just hang in there for a while, periodically letting the supervisor know there is less work coming to you than what you can do, and you might consider looking into working off-peak hours when fewer MTs are gobbling up the work.
HANG IN THERE!
I hear alot of people that have this problem. I got pretty lucky and got a job right away, but I also put in lots of applications everywhere. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on all of the postings on the job board, even the not so great ones and check your local hospitals. You might have to start out on the bottom end, but it gets your foot in the door and more experience on your application. Just hang it there, and it will pay off.
Thanks, Camry
Hang in there
Hi Hon,
I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such a difficult time. I'm not sure what course you took -- but I have seen that the AAMT has a BOS workbook. Perhaps that might help. Also, for AAMT members you can access their Student Alliance Forum that has a short graduate mentor program.
No matter what keep looking. I've heard that it is easier for new MTs to get local positions than national. Also, you might want to ask your school if they have a list of companies that recent graduates have been hired on at.
Good luck!
Hang in there!
I've been a Transcriptionist for the past 14 years, I was doing it full time then went to part-time then took a few months off. When I decided to quit my job and be home again it was SO hard to find a job, I applied to many companies, some I didn't event pass the test with and I got very discouraged. I then landed a job for about 2 days, I didn't feel the person I worked for was being very ethical and she went against my "training" and I called her on it. She was also so nit-picky on things that were not even correct that I called her on it and I never heard back from her again, never got paid for the work I did either.
I felt so discouraged. I felt like a complete "loser". Then I landed my current job and I couldn't be happier. My point is that we all make mistakes and even us "veterans" need time to learn a new account. It will get better and YOU will get better at catching your errors. Make a list of everything that comes back from QA so you have a reference point and you can learn from it and not make the same mistake again. Everday is a new day and we all grow and get better and learn something new.
Good luck!
Hang In There (sm)
Unfortunately, most companies will not hire new graduates unless they are from certain courses that they approve. It is hard if you do not know this ahead of time. I have had several relatives that think they can just take a medical terminology course and get a job and they have found out that they can't.
Try to check with local physicians in your area first. If you can get some experience, it would help a lot. That is how I got my start. I was just kind of thrown into it blindly (no experience whatsoever). Just keep looking and don't give up something should come your way.
If you want to go back and take another course (I know you probably don't, but I thought I would mention anyway), several companies will hire graduates from Career Step (I know Medquist does).
Good Luck and like I said, keep on looking.
Hang on a minute there,
First of all, in many cases, the answer to a question is the answer to a question. If you're given the definition "difficulty swallowing" on a test and you answer "dysphagia," you would be correct. What's the difference if a computer corrects you or a person does? The answer is dysphagia, period.
As for no support, NOT TRUE. You can get help ANY TIME you need it. There are MTs on staff, and there are also former MT recruiters on staff--that's right, the people who actually HIRE MTs in this business. All you have to do is send an email or call with a question, and you'll get your response--quickly.
Career Step is a GOOD course. Don't let anyone scare you or frighten you into thinking you've got to spend a lot more to get an education.
Just hang in there....you'll get use to them
xx
Ugh, ophthalmology? I never did get the hang of that...
I have never liked ophthalmology or gynecology; too many strange/new words for me!
What platform are you on? I know EditScript and Dictaphone allow you to search through reports and that is very helpful. If you are on something that doesn't have that feature, just e-mail/call them and tell them you would like more samples if available. I'm sure they'll understand and not expect you to just KNOW it all right off, especially with a mumbler! My very first report with my company was a horrible PA who no one likes to get. I told my "trainer" who it was and I couldn't understand a lick of what he was saying and she apologized and gave me a different speaker and then sent me her normal/template for the awful PA.
Don't get discouraged!!
You're doing fine-just hang in there (sm)
You're doing fine. In fact, you're doing quite well for 8 weeks!
Just keep on doing what you are doing. You'll eventually improve as everything comes together.
You can look for ways to improve your efficiency, but you should not try to "go faster." Trying to speed up usually results in increased errors and correction rates.
It's easier to focus on not making any errors, on listening far enough ahead that you never have to erase and make a correction, and on eliminating wasted time and effort.
Eating and drinking, smoking, listening to music and/or office chatter, a disorganized desk, interruptions from children, phones, and housework, EMAIL, and inefficient work habits will be THE main things that reduce your productivity.
If you look at your work activities, you will probably see more time spent doing "other things" than doing transcription. What you want to do is eliminate all the things that are NOT transcription, by which I mean keying in text and/or truly necessary job responsibilities.
The easiest way to improve your productivity is to simply start spending 99.9% of your work time actually working. If you observe yourself closely, you'll be able to see the not-work things you need to eliminate.
Over time, for many MTs, this occurs naturally, but you can help it along!
Hopefully you won't be crushed. It might be difficult, but hang in there. nm
X
You hang in there.....I know it feels overwhelming
xx
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