I always found the tests more difficult than actual work (sm)
Posted By: anon on 2007-03-13
In Reply to: Newbie finding it hard to get first job. - Florida Girl
I think they try you out on their most difficult to see how you do. It also may be the stress of taking a test too. I tested with anyone who would let me test, and I failed a lot of them, but just keep trying. Persistence does pay off. It sounds like you have a great start and you should probably stay where you are to get the experience. Yes, it will count. Best of luck to you!
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Have you done any actual MT work yet?
If all you know of MT work is what you were exposed to in your training, then you have NO experience. To claim that you do have experience would be dishonest. Claiming your school work as experience would fool no one. MTSOs are not unintelligent people. They can see through things like that.
If the test file has such difficult ESLs, you don't want to work there anyway! It would be
s
Is your coding work done from home? I have heard it was very difficult sm
to get coding work at home, you have to go to work for a company somewhere. Has this changed? I know coders are always needed, but we don't have any openings locally for at-home coding. TIA.
Are you offering mentoring or an actual job for newbies? nm
s
Does anyone know how much actual dictation Gatlin offers? (sm)
It appears to be only a very small amount.
Anyone know for sure?
...top 3 programs from this board or attend an actual
b
If your schooling includes actual transcription...
not just book work, you've really had the basics you need. There are lots of different preferences out there. The big issue will be hearing what is said and putting it down accurately. So much has to be learned on the job depending on your specialty and who you work for.
If I were you, I would focus on getting the right tools - basic reference books, an expander, wave pedal, etc. Be sure you have a good resume and cover letter/email, then locate the companies that hire newbies and begin your search! Once you get your foot in the door, you can get off and running.
Hearing actual dictation files versus professionally read ones was a major plus
s
They should not be difficult...
The report is laid out, as you know, in a SOAP format, which is Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. Are you having difficulty understanding which section to transcribe within? If you have any questions, feel free to E-mail me. I will try to help you. mtmentor@gmail.com
Difficult dictation.....
I was hoping that someone could give me some advise for difficult doctors that dictate with a very strong acient!! I need help!! Any advise would be great! 
Thank you!
Difficult dictators
Ask for one week of dictation of nothing but this one dictator. I guarantee you after a full week of listening and getting used to the "cadence" of this particular person, you will begin to know what is being said. ESLs oftentimes have limited vocabulary in English and you will find them using the same phrasing throughout the PE, for example, which they reel off very quickly and then will slow down for pertinent findings. We have a few difficult dictators and have found the only way for someone to train is to do that one dictator for at least one week and no one else. Once that occurs, you will be requesting that dictator (believe it or not) and will spin through the transcription. I have seen it happen with at least 6 MTs already. I hope this helps.
As a newbie, it is very difficult to
I am a radiology transcriptionist, and I like it...but...I could not transcribe for 8 hours straight. I like this job working part time; however, working in the fitness industrie, it is very difficult for me to sit at the computer all day. It was difficult to find a job, so I decided I go back to school to start a nursing career. I know many MTs have trouble finding work, but nurses are always wanted. Don't you enjoy your job?
If you want to work from home make sure you choose the right school!!
Good luck to you :)
Y would it make it MORE DIFFICULT?
Having NO school experience is worse than having school experience????? I find that very hard to believe.
Difficult but possible. Most companies want
FT people so that may add a little difficulty on top of the fact that you are a newbie. It depends on what school you went to how easy it will be for you to find a position. If you want to one of the 2 best recognized schools, M-Tec or Andrews, your chances are pretty good. It you went to PCDI or At-Home Professions it will be extremely difficult, though not impossible. Post your resumes on all the various free MT job boards. I would also suggest looking locally for a clinic or hospital position. If you didn't come from one of the better schools you're going to need a lot of mentoring and working on-site is a good way to get that.
That s/b difficult but not impossible. nm
You didn't say what was difficult about it to be
able to help you.
You are going to have a difficult time. At-Home
is not one of the better "schools." You can post your resume on all the free job boards as there are companies that will hire from resumes but don't post positions. You probably need to get a menitoring position. There are companies that will hire newbies, but there are some who aren't legit so you need to ask questions before jumping in with both feet.
If you read the job boards you will see the equipment varies per company, just as pay does. If you need to download a test you can just use hot keys for that. Some foot pedals are configured to only work with one particular program, so no since is buying something that you might not need. I'd start building a reference library first because you'll need that anywhere you go.
I think you can download a test at www.mttest.com so you can get an idea of what it is like to test. If you Google on-line transcription tests you might can find other sources. I would do this a few times, see where your strength and weaknesses are and work on those.
You would probably be better off trying to get an in-house position until you have some experience. Try your local hospital and clinics.
the difficult part is trying to understand what the
doctor is saying because the accents are ridiculous and sometimes it sounds like they are slurring words.
Hopefully you won't be crushed. It might be difficult, but hang in there. nm
X
It is very difficult w/o formal training!
I know people that went to one of the top 3 schools and still have problems as a newbie getting work, without 2 years experience! I don't know about interships, especially without training. As far as the money, I am new and cannot tell you much about that. With a Master's degree, I would think that you would make more than any of us?! What do you plan on doing with your degree?
TAKE THE TESTS!
Most places will let you take there tests, then they can determine if they feel like you have the experience to work for them. The worst they can do is turn you down. As for entry level johs, search the boards. There are usually a few on there all the time. You might start out with a low pay rate, but it will give you the experience that you can use for the better paying jobs in time.
Thanks!
tests
No I do not need help on the tests. I was stuck on a word in a transcription assignment. I had researched it but came up empty. I just needed to know where else to look or anything.
I do not need help with tests.
typing tests
Don't understand the reason either.....I just take the test...
Taking Tests
I am considering MT as an at-home career also and I wanted to know what is the procedure to sending in resumes, taking the tests, etc.? Also, are you hired on an hourly basis or by the amount of lines you can produce in a certain time? Any help and advice you can send my way is very much appreciated.
Employment tests
Most services want to see 98%, or at the least 97%, on an employment test. Anything less than that is "failing" in their eyes.
Think about it from their perspective. If their clients expect 98% accuracy, you need to be able to produce 98% accuracy. If you can't do that while being tested, which they assume is your best effort, you're not likely to do it on the job later.
Not saying this is a great thing or not, just that it's what they may think.
online tests
I also took the Medquist exam after they sent me an email requesting that I take it. I felt very confident that I did well but was told I did not pass. They said to take it again in three months, which is now.... and now I have no confidence at all to do it.
Passing tests but . . .
Is anyone else having this problem? I am passing tests and being told that though I passed, I don't have the experience required for the position I applied for. They then tell me that they will keep my application on file until some thing opens up that I do qualify for. How often do we see a position listed that doesn't require experience? I know I did well, so I don't think that they are lying to me, but it is frustrating. The only skill I lack is speed, but that will only come with experience. I guess I'm just writing this to vent. Why won't anyone give me a chance?! Ok, now I'm off to take another test.
If you can't pass the tests. . .
If you can't pass the tests, that is an indication that your knowledge and/or ability isn't what it needs to be to do the job.
If you're getting a chance to test, they ARE giving you a chance. THE TEST is the chance.
You can improve your chances by learning more. Get some materials that Allied didn't use and study with them. Get the BOS and learn it by heart and be able to apply it. Get some HPI training materials and transcribe them. Then try testing again.
The one thing that won't help is begging for "a chance." Employers can't afford to spend money on that chance--they have a job that needs doing at 98% accuracy. If you can't show them you can do that, they're not going to give you a job.
Typing tests
I've never seen a typing test, timed or untimed, as part of any medical transcription application process. Transcription tests, yes, but not TYPING tests.
If I had ever been asked to take one, I'm afraid I would have gotten up and walked out. I would have assumed that the employer didn't understand the nature of the work they were calling "medical transcription." If they didn't understand that, they wouldn't be likely to understand much else about it, either, and that would be unfortunate for everyone.
If you're applying to legitimate MT employers, I don't think they will ask you to take a typing test. I do not believe our students have reported having to take a typing test, either.
You might want to check what MT services actually require.
That being said, you should . . . of course . . . improve your keyboard speed. That isn't achieved by going faster, but by keying slowly enough that you don't make any typos, but just keep going on and on. Eventually, you'll speed up. Try keying medical reports and books. There are lots of them on the internet.
In order for you to work comfortably as an MT, you'll need to be able to keyboard a whole shift, or about 7 hours with a 10 minute break every hour and a half-hour to an hour break in the middle.
You can do this if you start now and work at it gradually and without causing yourself stress. :)
Typing Tests
I have applied to several online companies and I haven't found any that don't require a typing test. Do you know of any? Also, as a newbie with no working experience, it's extremely to get my foot in the door anywhere. Thanks.
The timed tests are a test of how well you know
your stuff. Some of comes from education, most comes from experience. If you are unable complete the test without it timing out then you know you still have lots to learn. No 2 tests are the same so you can't take it enough times to get all the answers, but it gives you an idea on what kinds of things they are looking for and shows you your areas of weakness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I have nearly 20 years of experience and I have some across questions on testing that I had to look up. Not all tests are timed, but I did take one test that was timed and it timed out on me too; more probably because I was rereading everything and didn't realize it was a timed test, but I was still offered a position. You just might get started on clinic notes rather than acute care and your pay rate will most definitely be lower than if you had scored better.
I flunk many tests at first, but I learned from each one - sm
that is what you must do. I used to joke that I learned more from the tests than I did from my course. Not quite the case but I did learn a lot from the tests too, they were certainly eye-opening some of them. All you can do is keep trying, what is the saying you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, well finding a MT job is sort of the same thing, in both finding a job and finding one you like. Try again at Transolutions when they say you can try again (usually 6 months) and in the meantime apply anywhere and everywhere that you can. Good Luck.
Are you not passing the hiring tests or isn't
s
You can leave blanks and some tests even have
instructions on how to notate a blank. I have 20 years of experience and I have only had one test in my career that I have had to leave a blank, but there are usually different levels of reports. One report may be very clearly dictated, clinic type work where there really isn't a lot of medical terminology. Another may be an acute care report, possibly an Op, and then one may be a report there the sound quality is bad, an ESL dictator, or a fast talking US dictator.
The company is trying to get an idea of your skill level. If you do very well on the first report but not so well on the second and horrible on the third, then they will probably offer you a clinic account and start you off at the bottom of the pay scale.
Leaving a blank wouldn't count against you as much as guessing at something and getting it wrong. I don't think leaving a blank will stop you from being offered a position, but excessive blanks would probably would.
trouble with online tests?
Anyone else applied to Medquist or FocusInfomatics and have trouble passing the test?? I cannot figure out why I did not pass the transcription test and they can't tell me...just hoping I'm not alone...thanks
Sorry, meant pre-employment MT tests.
nm
have you found anything yet?
Do you know someone in the industry with experience that can help you out. Maybe they can have you type and they can QA your work and train you at the same time? That would be in a perfect world I guess, but it was just a thought. I graduated from a business college 15 years ago and was fortunate enough to be hired on as a trainee in a hospital. best thing that ever happened for my career. Where are you located?
I found a new one
Looks like it is just starting but I don't know if I can post it
mt-xtreme.com/post/phpBB/index
not from either and found job
I also did not go to Andrews, M-Tec, or CareerStep. I got a job before I graduated. I attended a school many called a matchstick or matchbook school. However, I did not only study what was given to me. I studied extra and typed way more than was required.
While I think that if someone has the money they should go to one of the bigger schools, it does not mean that if you did not go to them you wont get a job.
Hard work and perserverance get you a job.
Are you taking tests and failing or not even getting responses? nm
s
eMedicine website - neurologic tests
This website is great reading. This link takes you to a page of neurologic physical examinations, but it has everything, not just neuro. I guess it's a site for doctors. You do have to register to certain things, and I don't know if they require you to be a doctor to register because I haven't tried it lately. There is plenty to see without seeing close-ups. Something constructive to do while waiting for that first job.
http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic632.htm
Not true. I score tests for new and experienced MTs.
I'm shocked at what should be basics that newbies do not have. Shocked.
There are a few good newbies but most have not a clue what they are typing. Applying knowledge to actual transcription is FAR different than just spouting off what a term or value means.
Graduates, has anyone found
that M-Tec's curriculum was superior to Career Step? Also, for M-Tec grads, were you able to repeat a section (if you tested poorly) until you got it right, and improved? Was there a limit on how many times you could re-test on any given area (I'm thinking of my weaker areas that might need extra time.)
TIA! :) -Anne
I would not advise it. You would be found out.
567
Newbie found a job
I wrote last week about what a hard time I was having finding a job. I appreciate everyone's advice. The best advice I got was "persistence pays off".
I found out how to find that out.
It look like I am getting about 80 words a line. But as my line count per hour increasese, wouldn't I be better off because even the one word and partial lines count as a sentence? It doesn't seem like it would be that bad of pay. But, of course, I am a newbie and do not know the ropes yet.
Something cool I found...
Hi guys,
I don't know if this will help anyone or not, but I thought I'd post it anyway since it helped me. It's laboratory reference ranges. It's like 6 pages long. You can print it out. I don't know if you can paste addresses anymore, but you can Google it, or you can e-mail me, and I will send you the address.
Everyone on the forum has been so much help to me, I hope that this will help someone else.
newbie found job
I have only been out of school for one month. I found a job withing days. I found a website that list 137 companies. I applied to all of them (which sounds like a lot), but I got 13 requests to test. 10% responses is NOT BAD with ZERO experience. I went with the first company that contacted me because I liked what they had to offer. If you email me, I can email you the list of companies. You may some luck with them.
I found this info... don't know if it could help
What companies hire new MTs?
Very few, best start is with local contacts.
MedWare, Emergency Room Transcription, Karen Dual, Director of Human Resources, 1-800-881-3131. Don Flannery, MedWare@internetMCI.com
Medi-Scribe, http://www.medi-scribe.net P.O. Box 31651, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, 925-689-2617, carolrowan@medi-scribe.net, Carol Rowan
TransQuick (Rodeer), Atlanta and Phoenix areas, local. 4848 Riverdale Rd, Atlanta, GA 30337, 770 991 2220
Rapid Transcript, 800-592-4602 or 213-964-0400 (ask for Ora or Cris), Fax 213-964-0412. 4311 Wilshire Blvd. #209, Los Angeles, CA 90010-3716, Attn: Resource Management. ojemi@aol.com or eauh73a.prodigy.com
InHealth Transcription Service, http://www.inhealthtranscriptions.com; Atlanta, GA, Samuel Edelman, 1-800-477-7374 Fax: 770-394-2183. New MTs are only hired locally in Atlanta.
Also found something else of interest
When I clicked on their "Jobs" link, there's a link there under "latest news" that says: "World Direct Partners with Sten-Tel, Inc." The link, however, when clicked directs to the home page, which is empty.
I found another job lead
Once again, I did not check this site out. I have been reading the posts on this site. I feel bad because I found a job as a recent graduate. Maybe I can help someone. Just never give up! Here is the other job lead:
Rider and Associates are looking for entry level MTs. Please take their test.
http://rider.mttest.com/
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