Just thought I would give some food for thought. nm.
Posted By: Jenn on 2008-02-06
In Reply to: Thanks for your opinion! more.... - christy
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Food for Thought...
While reading a lot of the posts on this board, I see that grammar usage in posts is brought up A LOT. While I understand that many of us come here to relax and kick back, this is my idea...
Say you were a newbie that posted on here about wanting to find a mentor or job. If your post is littered with incorrect grammar and spelling, the chances of someone replying to you is thin. However, if you were to take the time to write correctly, maybe someone will see your post and email you back!
I was one of those lucky ones who made a few really good contacts and even better friends on this site, and I am now working in my first job. It isn't the worst job, isn't the best job, but I'm learning a ton and I know it is a stepping stone to where I want to be one day. I seriously doubt that any of those would have started to talk to me or email me back with helpful insights had I used slang and poor grammar and/or spelling.
I'm not trying to start a war, I just thought it was something to put out there! Good luck, and congratulations to all of you who just graduated or are about too! I know I'm happy to be out!!!
I thought that was what I was doing???
Actually, I have been in this profession for a few years, and when I refer to seasoned MT's, I put myself in that category as well.
THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT!
/
Thought I was...
until I started my course at M-TEC. I feel like I have to learn it all over again! Commas and hyphens are my big problems, but they are getting better as as I go along! :)
I thought it had to be a joke too. nm
Just thought I offer (sm)
this link to HPI's website. They have helpful books and other resources. I don't work for them, but I like their Radiology Imaging Words and Phrases book and some others.
I thought I was learning a new
regional phrase and I was gonna ask where you are from!
I can't answer your question because I'm not new. But hang in there. 
After school I thought about doing the same...
different......From what I looked up and what I am working with right now are completely different. I don't think that it helped me out much besides making me more confused!
Good luck
I thought CS was a good fit for me...
and I was hired as an MT before I finished the course. I do have medical background from previous college work though so I new my stuff, but their program was a good fit for me. Good luck!
Have you thought about just going to work inhouse
It's best to do that.
If your focus is to work at home, you probably will not fare well with this career -- one really has to want to do MT work to be successful at it and productive.
Do what's best for your career -- go work inhouse for at least 2 years in a hospital setting, learning every dictator, every worktype, until you are competent on it.
Then you will easily find work and be a equipped to focus on your production.
i thought this was for the new MT, not the MT who knows everything in the entire world..
oh brother.
Just glanced here for a second, and thought I'd share ...
When I first started, I thought I knew a lot from what I learned in school. They never tell you that it'll be 1000 times harder than your courses. It's tough to jump into the "real" and find out how different it really is.
I used to QA, and I can't speak for anyone but myself, but anything I EVER corrected was NOT a personal slight. And while I knew it was rough for the newbies to get constant feedback, I hoped they understood that I wasn't doing it to make them feel bad - I was doing it to uphold quality that I was responsible for.
I know it's tough, but try to look at all of the "nitpicking" as an opportunity to be a better transcriptionist. The harder they are on you now, the faster you'll become a solid, fantastic transcriptionist. The more you can be thankful for the feedback, rather than let it get you down, the less feedback you'll need to receive in the future.
Good luck! I know you'll get there. This is the hardest part, and you're already partway through it.
I thought she was talking about the E school
Right, that couldn't have been M-Tec. Wonder if the person attended that school with the name that looks like M-Tec?
Couldn't have been Andrews, either. They provide quality references as part of the course, so you don't pay extra. They're the ones some nationals require you to have. They use SUM and now include the ESL set. Their instructors teach different modules, so you learn to deal with a variety of QA approaches and styles, but they all use the same guidelines. They also help you see what can vary, so there's no surprise later. They doesn't require attendance at online classes, but they provide technical support even for grads, even years later. Support for jobs begins at enrollment with focus on employer needs and how to fit with that and you get access to employer recommendations well before graduation. Andrews simply has a list of employers who will hire their grads even if they otherwise require years of experience. I don't think they've ever had a grad who had trouble getting a job and most seem to get the job of their choice. They also remove problem employers from their list as soon as they hear about undesirable practices so that their grads don't get burned. So, whatever school that woman went to, it wasn't Andrews, either.
I thought the thread was for everyone...not just newbies BTW are you a newbie? nm
x
Thought I would point out that you misspelled accurately
since you seem to be so keen on everyone being accurate around here.
thought it soundy pretty scammy...
thanks for the heads up...thought it sounded pretty fishy/scammy. I just need to find something ASAP and am really getting aggravated with the whole job search drama. Any input or help would be greatly appreciated.
On sedond thought, when I do a word count on
MS word with a 65 cpl the lines are more than what I get paid for actual lines. So it seems like I am getting ripped off.
That is what I don't understand
Darn the Luck! Thought I nailed test!
I'm fairly new, fairly old. Ha! Old should count as a little more experience! Ha!
I took a test with Medquist and could have sworn that I nailed it! I crossed my "t's", dotted my "i's". BUT they said I didn't pass the test. They didn't have the details of the test. Does anyone know if they count time? I spent a lot of time BECAUSE everytime I lifted my foot, the dictation went back to the beginning! I couldn't get the file onto Express Scribe, just onto the MP3 player.
Soooo... I have looked on eBay, Amazon and HPI websites and have ordered textbooks, new and used, to continue study. These should also give me a head start if and when I get a chance to study with one of the BIG schools! Also picked up ideas from some of the posts here.
Some books are H&P A Nonphysician's Guide to the Medical History, The Language of Medicine by Chaboer, and an anatomy & physiology book - Memmier's The Structure & Function of the Human Body, 8th ed. So newbies, don't stop studying!
Don't Give Up!
I graduated in March of 2005, and I thought I would never find a job. I eventually had to take another job to supplement income, but then out of the blue my prayers were answered and I got a job working at home with my kids. So don't give up, it is possible to work out of your home out of school.
No one is going to give you something for nothing.
Life just doesn't work that way. You will need good training to have any reliable prospects, regardless of what line of work you decide to go into. If you want to be an MT, get the best education you can. The better your training, the more options you will have and the better your income will be. There are two schools that are universally recognized by MT employers as turning out job-ready employees: Andrews and M-Tec. With an education from one of those two schools, doors will open for you. Don't waste your money or your time on one of the cheap schools or allow yourself to be taken in by someone who offers to "mentor" or "train" you "for free", then just keeps you working and working for nothing. Andrews or M-Tec, period.
Don't give up
Rainbow...your post goes to show that it is not EASY. Some people think we just sit and type. There is so much more involved. The only way to get the hard words is through experience. If you try using Stedman's Smartype the words come up if you can get the first few letters. It helps a lot.
Hang in there.
Don't give up...
I also took the PCDI course. What a waste of money! However, before I even finished the course, I tested with a company and was hired and received a job offer from another company. Both companies were small and local. I think your best bet is to check with local transcription companies, check newspaper classifieds, and check with any MTs in your area. Another MT gave me a list of several small MTSOs in my area that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.
Good luck! You can still find a job even with the education (or lack of) that you got from PCDI.
Don't ever give up!!
I was pregnant when I graduated from my program at the community college. So I waited until I had the baby before I started looking for work. After I had the baby, I started pounding the pavement (or keyboard for that matter). It took me four months, but I finally landed that first job!! I love it!!
Keep looking, you'll find your match when the time is right!!
Don't give up!!
As a new MT, I understand your frustration. It took me 3 months to find a job. I work at home for a local dermatology clinic with 2 wonderful dictators. They hired to me so they could free up the in-house MT to work on insurance stuff. I've been doing all the typing since my 2nd week.
The only advice I can offer is to make sure your resume looks awesome and apply and test everywhere possible.
It will happen for you. Don't give up. We have to prove to everyone that we can do it.
Good luck!!
Don't give up!
I have been in this field for over 7-1/2 years and never have taken a course...my mother has taught me everything and basically I worked for her. I have so many people that want to do this profession, but basically they want people with experience...and that is it. I got into it in 1998 with a BS in Biology and after working as a retail manager...I was lucky. My first on-line job, I cried, even after working with my mother on local accounts for over a year. It is tough. I will even say I lied and told them I had worked for a major hospital in order to get jobs...you do what you have to do and hopefully you can just pull it off. This is the only advice I can give you...and good luck! Also..if you can narrow down your expertize, that is a HUGE help...I personally do ophthalmology, which is truly simple, but not many people out there can do it and that narrows the focus for employers. Find something you really like doing and focus on that subject...Radiology is another good one. :0)
Don't give up!!
I went to community college for my MT degree. I was pregnant when I graduated and waited until I had the baby before I started looking. I had some voice files to practice on to keep my ears in "tune." But once I started looking, I found a job working at home for a local dermatology clinic in about 4 months. I love it and don't really care to work for a national. From what I read on here, there aren't any "good" nationals to work for.
Keep plugging. You'll find your opportunity.
Good luck!!
Don't give up...
Don't give up. I started out without any training at all and never worked in house. I actually had a BS in accounting. I convinced a local doc to let me do his transcribing. Because he was so difficult to understand and it was oncology none of the other transcribers would take him on. Three years later and I have worked for Spheris and now a local hospital. Just remember, don't give up.
Don't give up.
All I can tell you is to keep taking those tests. I too graduated from at home professions. I don't think they adequately prepared me and sadly I have experience doing transcription. I has been years since I was actively working though. Good luck and don't give up. It can take up to 5 months to get a job in this field. You might also want to consider trying local doctor's offices/hospitals where you could work in the offices. I am wishing I would have had the money to take a different course.
Don't give up! If you can, get the BOS II. A lot of SM
schools still teach MT based on the first BOS (AAMT Book of Style), but almost every company tests their applicants based on book #2...there are a lot of differences between the books, so I highly recommend you get a copy of the 2nd edition and study it. (You might already, but if not, that is my suggestion.)
Good luck to you!
Chickadee
just don't give up...sm
You will pick up a lot of negativity on this board.
I got my first MT job last March after searching for approx. 4-5 months. I did not go to one of the "Big 3", I went to my local community college. I wanted to work for a local clinic rather than a national because of all the scam artists there are in the world.
I now work for a dermatology clinic in town and pick up tapes daily. I have 2 kids, 4 and 17 months. They go to mother's morning out, 3 days a week for 3 hours. I cram everything I have to do in that time (errands, workout, etc.). I do the bulk of my work when they are napping. When they get up from naptime, they play while I work. I have up a gate so they are contained while I sit on the other side at my desk and type. If they have a problem, I deal with it. Otherwise, they are happy to play while I type. I type until time to start dinner and if I am not done, I finish up after they go to bed at night. I feel that I am more than able to concentrate with 2 small children in the room and do not feel that my work suffers because of it.
If you want to work at home, you can. It is up to you to find what works for you and make it happen. Just don't let anyone on this board make you doubt yourself and your abilities.
Keep plugging and good luck!!
Do not give up!
Doesn't your school have a list of companies where you can apply? You could also post your resume on various forums. There are also lists of companies on the web, and you might have to send out many resumes. You will have to be persistent, though.
Don't give up....sm
I don't even remember how long I searched for a job. It was a lot longer than 2 months though. I took test after test and no job offer. Don't throw in the towel. Go to mtdaily.com and look under MT comapanies on there and it has 30-something pages of companies in all states. Go down the list. That is how I got a job. Finally one of them gave me a chance. The company is no longer here because the owner passed away but that is what I done. I said the same thing how do I get experience if no one will hire me? Finally someone will. I sent close to 40 resumes to companies.
Do not give up
I am also a newbie. I finished school in October and was just offered 2 jobs last week. I convinced someone who did not want to train me that I would do a good job and the same day I was offered a job with a mentor. I started my job last night and feel that I will really learn a lot.
I sent my resume to everyone. I did not send if it said no new grads but if not it was fair game for me. I tested with several companies, which is good practice.
I feel that it is a learning process and you have to start somewhere. If you need to make less money for a while to get experience there is nothing wrong with that.
I know that Medivoxx will hire new grads if you pass their test.
Good luck!
About 20,000 give or take - (nm)
xx
I give up - how many? nm
Don't give up
Don't give up hope on working from home. I took countless tests online for 7 months. I just passed one. Just keep trying, the tests you fail will help you to eventually pass one. Good luck!!!
Won't give up!
Well, at least I'm not alone! You know, I got discouraged for about a day or so. But this course has taught me something, when all seems hopeless, keep plugging away and you will arrive and succeed. That is the way I am looking at this. I've come this far and I'm going to finish and do something with this. I think we both need to remember that there is more negativity out there than not, so I know we're going to go somewhere with this. Hang in there!
Don't give up!
I know it is so hard to find experience when you have just graduated. I spent over 6 months looking for a position. I eventually had the good advice to do the following:
1. Look at local transcription companies. Smaller companies are often more willing to hire someone with less experience.
2. Call your local doctors office. If anything, you are at least getting your name out there.
3. Offer yourself as an intern/overflow worker. Maybe one of the doctors will be willing to hire you when their Transcriptionist calls in sick.
The above are great ways to get your foot in the door, but you want to proceed catiously. If you know anyone who works at a local office, find out the situation. You don't want to irritate anyone in the process of trying to find a job.
It takes time, and it can be a trying experience, but eventually you'll get something.
Neither one of you should give up yet.
It definitely is harder to get a job when you finish a course like At-Home Professions, but people have done it. The grad who got the job so quickly probably attended Andrews School or M-TEC. They are much more expensive, but they are much better schools, and the people hiring MTs know this. Unfortunately places like AHP just want your money and don't really give a crap if you get a job or not.
If you really want to be an MT, don't give up. Test anywhere that will let you test. Point out that you are hard-working, honest, and dependable (I assume that you are). Of course I don't guarantee that you'll find a job, but I'd really hate to see you give up!
Cyndi- How do you know you've passed the test if you haven't heard back from the companies?
don't give up
Don't give up. I graduated from AHP too and I have been doing this for about 5 years now. My first job was typing legal and then I slowly crossed over to medical. I couldn't get hired at first either, but I didn't give up. I send out resumes to everyone and took everyones tests and finally it happened. I live in Michigan too and I tried sending flyers to doctor's offices but ended up doing the working from home through a main company since most hospitals go through them now. Best of luck to you.
Never give up!!!
"The grad who got the job so quickly probably attended Andrews School or M-TEC. They are much more expensive, but they are much better schools, and the people hiring MTs know this. Unfortunately places like AHP just want your money and don't really give a crap if you get a job or not." (quoted)
I do not usually post here, but I do read occasionally. I felt the need to reply to this post because I continuously read about no one will be able to get a job unless they go to one of the "top 3" schools. Another poster wondered why more graduates that were able to find jobs did not post such. Well, I am here to give that little bit of hope and inspiration to these grads that are not able to find work. NEVER GIVE UP :)
With that being said, I did NOT go to one of the "top 3." I attended VLC (go ahead and slam me; it makes no difference. :) I am a big girl and can take it. I not only found one job, but two; one being BEFORE I even did my finals, and the other shortly thereafter. One is doing acute care AT HOME and the other is for clinic work, also at home, and let me add that the latter PREFERS VLC grads over the "top 3." I feel my training was more than adequate to be able to work at home, although this may not be the case for everyone. I feel it all depends on how much work and dedication one is willing to put in. This is hard work ... period.
Nonetheless, to all you new grads out there, never give up. Work hard, be determined, and you WILL find that chance. Best wishes to you all!!
everyone wants experience but no one wants to give
us that experience. Anyone else frustrated at this? There are no local MT jobs in my area and the closest city is 45-50 miles away which I can't do. Any suggestions on someone who is willing to give experience????
Can you please give a link or something
x
Should you give SS# when applying?
X
Definitely don't give up, but keep practicing while you are looking.
Not a newbie!
Thank you all. I will give it a few more days
I will call them. I still feel really uneasy, but maybe this is just the way it is. I'm too much of a newbie to know any better! Thanks!
What would give you that impression?
/
There are plenty, just keep trying and don't give up!
x
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.
give yourself a break and...
hang in there. You just started last week? Oh... then plan to give it at least a month or so before you start being too hard on yourself. I remember having total meltdowns in the beginning and wondering why I was even trying. I spent all day and night trying to get the work done. I got a new account recently and had to learn my first ESL Dr... At first, I felt like giving up, but after a few weeks, it got so much better. I think anyone can relate to how you feel. Dont give up, at least not yet!
Dont give up...
I might add I did eventually get a job I have been with for 8 months now so don't give up.
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