She makes some very good points and offers
Posted By: Sandy on 2005-12-04
In Reply to:
very useful advice. Newbies would do well to pay attention. There are plenty of professional MTs, experienced and freshly minted, who will be able to understand and follow her instructions, so I doubt she'll be spending much time on her own. She has every right to expect applicants to be able to understand and follow instructions.
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You make some good points, BUT please SM
It's interesting how you only see PCDI grads and the like complaining that no one will hire them as new grads.
I can't remember ever seeing an Andrews, MTEC, or CS grad complaining they can't get a job.
I know a couple of recruiters who have told me they won't even look at PCDI grads. Are they possibly short-sighted? Maybe, but sometimes it's just not worth picking through the haystack to find the needle when you have another source of needles.
I would suggest looking for a smaller MTSO or a local physician/hospital to start out with.
You've made some good points.
Thanks for posting.
This makes sense, good logic....nm
nm
When QA points out error on a report, will you call
x
Why did you decline two offers??
Job offers...I am happy....! sm
Well, ladies (and gentlemen), I graduated from my school with High Honors at the very end of February. I have been looking for a job for just over two weeks. I have no medical transcription experience, but I do have about 10 years of legal transcription experience.
So far, I have been offered three jobs! It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are wanted! Granted, one of the positions is paying terribly (although they seem very nice, and that's important too). The other is a sporadic assignment (not medically related). The lady in question will call me every couple of months or so with different interviews to transcribe. This will be nice as an added "extra" now and then, and I have already accepted her offer. The third position is paying fair money, and they seem like a dream company--just what I am looking for! I wanted part-time IC work (20 hours a week), all work conducted through the internet, the ability to use my own equipment and software, steady accounts, and decent pay. I will probably go with this company!
I have told the two employers offering steady IC work that I would like a week or so to think about it, and they agreed. I just want to make sure that I think everything through. This way, when I accept a job, I'll know for sure that it's the company I really want to go with, and I will be the best MT I can with no regrets.
I have worked very hard for this. I took many grueling tests, which I passed with very high marks. I have written scores of letters and made dozens and dozens of phone calls. I have plugged away at it religiously, and my dedication has really paid off.
To anyone out there looking for a job: Be professional, keep your chin up, and try your best everyday--and you will succeed!
The Community College I went to offers
a CMT exam after completing the program. It costs $150.00. I'm not sure of all the details though. I'm considering taking it, but haven't made up my mind yet.
Does anyone know how much actual dictation Gatlin offers? (sm)
It appears to be only a very small amount.
Anyone know for sure?
You create and submit a resume and see who offers
s
I started at 7cpl 2 years ago and had other offers for
7 cpl also from other companies. One company, Spheris, only offered me 5.5 cpl and I turned them down. Again, I graduated 2 years ago when I was seeing more people offered at least 7 cpl. Now, everyone from CS seems happy to work for 5 cpl. Go figure.
Thank you. That makes sense. nm
//
Makes sense
That makes sense too. One of my places to go to relax is the library. I love walking around larger libraries and just thumbing through books that look interesting. I used to like reading all of the back issues of nursing magazines in my college's medical library.
I really appreciate your response. This is looking good for me!
Thanks, that makes sense to me
nm
If this makes you feel any better......
On my first day, regardless of college course I had passed, it all sounded Greek to me. Learning in class and actually sitting there real time is a lot different. It helped to know that the medical records director, who was a RRT as well, hated transcription and ran as far from it as she could. Made me feel better to know that at least I was hanging in there doing it.
Employers = Verifiable companies with job offers, often well-known nationals
What we're looking for is a source for helpful information that results in good decisions. Ask the employers means, ask employers who give their names, the names of their companies, and are job providers. That information has to be verifiable in order to be useful. No offense personally. Information is just not helpful unless it comes from an identifiable source and can be verified as being authentic and reputable.
I agree! I had 5 job offers before I even graduated! Just make sure you test well... nm
 nm
I happened upon a company that offers paid internships
The company is in California. If you go to their website and click on the tab entitled "Join our Team," you'll find more info.
I'm not affiliated with the company and know nothing about them, just happened upon it while job searching for myself and though new MTs or graduates might be interested.
WHAT??? to say that if a newbie graduates from a top three, it makes
her as qualified as someone with two years experience. Puhleeze. That is simply wrong.
Of course it makes matters worse...for YOU (sm)
But it's enlightening everyone else. Of course you want to "let it rest" because now it has caught up with you. Shame on you for ripping people off. I hope you do discontinue your "business."
That makes sense. When you have hundreds of applicants though
Sometimes I've been known to look at the resumes and choose some based on the training I knew they had gone through. I've also been hesitant to even test some when they told me they had gone through a course that took three months and they had actually transcribed at least 10 reports!!! I tend to put those on the bottom of the stack. I've never had to reach that far down in the stack.
Seriously, don't you use any kind of screening or use anything you see on their resumes to decide which ones you want to test, because if you have hundreds you can't possibly test all of them!
I think jealousy makes the unsuccessful schools say bad things about the others
If I had a really bad school that nobody liked and it had a really bad reputation, what would I do? I would claim that education doesn't matter. I would tell people that you don't need all those books and materials because you learn it all on the job anyway. I would tell people that all schools are horrible. In other words, I would try to bring everyone else down to my level. Sometimes I wonder if that isn't why we see so much negativity about schools when the graduates tell a different story. Graduates of schools that do a good job say it was worth it. Graduates of stinky schools say they wish they had done it differently. Then someone yells that all schools are bad. I think they protesteth too much.
sticking flyers on windshields and under doors is just assanine and makes -
you look EXTREMELY unprofessional. And I will bet you $1000 cash that not one person would respond to it.
Also, when you do a professional letter, make sure you get the name of the office manager. NEVER EVER EVER address the letter Dear Doctor or Dear Office Manager. I hate being referred to as my job title. I have a name, and if someone is interested in seeking business from me, I expect them to do their homework and find out my name if I am the office manager. I have thrown out every single letter that comes to me addressed Dear Owner or To Whom It May Concern ... I am a Transcriptionist ...
nope, in the garbage. If you managed to find my address, then you can manage to find out my name. Simple as that.
It makes me livid to hear the line of BS these schools are handing out-
such a disservice. Why are they misrepresenting what remains of the MT field? Cha-ching!
Good. The lab book was a good choice.
Be sure you look through each book when you get it. Put tabs on sections you will want to refer to quickly. I know my lab book (not Stedman's) has all kinds of extra sections. I think my next purchase would be the cardiac book. Then neuro or OB-GYN after that, depending on which you are getting more of in your work.
that's good to know
At least there's a little hope for me
Good for you!! - nm
.
Good for you!
.
I know a good MT when I see one - regardless of
credentials, school or references. One run through the grammar screening knocks most of 'em right out of the ballpark...
good for you, 10/cpl is good
/
That is good
That is great to hear that someone else was exactly where I am now. Where did you land your first job, not the MTSO, the other one?
I do not think I am TOO GOOD.
companies that pay these low wages are taking advantage of new MTs that don't know their value yet. The MTs that received this offer had all spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time learning to become an MT. I just don't know why anyone would sell themselves short for 5 cpl ($10 an hour is generous by the way as most new MTs won't get to 200 lph). As I said, there are companies out there that pay better. If you are trying to help, steer the newbies to these companies, not the companies that have a reputation for not respecting their MTs. If you take the time, do your research, and graduate from a good school, you should have no problem finding a good job. I had 4 offers before I even got my final score. My first company paid 7 cpl and after 6 months, I took on my own client making just about double that.
good to know!! Thank you!
good to know!! Thank you!
Good For You!
My late Mother did the same thing. We didn't do homeschooling, but she did it all and did it exceptionally well. She was brilliant but never acted like it. She was a taxi to more than the 6 kids in our family. She taught piano, voice, directed the church choir, wrote plays (we were in them), was busy in RNC fund-raising, and on and on.
We just called her "Mother."
So good luck to you. It really warms my heart to hear stories like yours. As for the MT thing, it sounds like you could teach yourself. That's what I did.
Good luck!
Appy anywhere and everywhere. There are a lot of companies who say they require at least 2 years experience, but you would be surprised at how many will give someone who has just graduated a chance. If you pass their test they will hire you, 2 years or not. I know from experience. I graduated last year and I applied to every ad that had a 2 year minimum, before I graduated. I got hired 1 week before I graduated, and I have been working ever since. Good Luck!
Nothing is good for a newbie.
Ya, I think I won't take the job because it may be a little difficult. That's real smart.
I have not heard anything good about it.
If you are looking for a quality MT education, the gold standard training comes from Andrews and M-Tec. Some graduates of Career Step have had good luck in finding and keeping employment also. The top schools turn out job-ready MTs. Employers are eager to hire them. The cheaper schools do not turn out graduates that employers are eager to hire.
What do you consider a good living?
I'm thinking of work from my house instead of the office, changing careers.
a good living
Sounds like you are quite successful. Please share with me what is involved in actually earning this level of income. Have you been at it for a long time? How many hours/week do you work? Thanks. I'm strongly considering MT but I hear such variables on the pay.
good point
Knowing that pay=production can be a great motivator, especially if you are working for a company that provides consistent work flow and good HR relations.
Thanks for your input.
Good point!
Peggy, what excellent advice! I had not heard it put that way, and after thinking about it, I know you're right! thanks for opening my eyes to think "bigger".... better to be excellent, and more "employable", than to be somewhat limiting. I do plan to study in such a way as to be excellent! That's just the way I'm "built"! :) thanks again for your post.... -Anne (amh) :)
This is a good start for you (sm)
In light of the fact that you are new, this is an excellent rate of pay with a reasonable (generous, really) production requirement, even though you may not be able to meet it at first.
Add 20-25% to it for the benefits and you'll be making more on the lines of $13.08. As an on-site employee you will not have to pay self-employment tax or overhead.
When people scoff at this rate of pay, remember that everyone starting out in a new career field starts at the bottom. You have to work your way up. As an MT, your value lies in your ability to produce quantity work while maintaining high quality. Newbies aren't able to produce much while maintaining quality.
The incentive pay makes this better, and if it has good benefits, then you're doing well.
The most important thing about this job is that it will give you experience. You NEED that experience. If you can get it while being paid hourly, so much the better.
Unless someone scoffing at this can produce a job for you which pays better, do not listen to them.
If you do not have a job and you need a job, you are in no position to be turning one down because it doesn't pay top dollar. Take this job and do your best with it.
Yes, this is still a good field!
Hey Porr - Welcome! First of all, you have come one of the most negative MT sites on the internet. If you are easily discouraged or depressed, I would advise you NOT to come to this site. I have been an MT for over 30 years and every time I come to this board, I leave so dejected, I wonder if I have wasted my life doing MT. I have finally realized that this board drags me down, so I don't come here very often. The people who do come on here legitimately, come to relieve their frustrations, get advice, vent about work situations, etc.... we are not all this stressed out all the time  But there are a lot of really good people on here, too, and you can get a lot of valuable knowledge, you just have to learn who the "trolls" are and ignore them (easier said than done at times!) The MT world is undergoing a lot of changes these days. A lot of work is being sent offshore and now they have the voice recognition platform that they are working on. The nationals make you feel very unappreciated, but I have worked for doctors, hospitals, clinics and had my own service for a while, and there are a lot of people out there who will appreciate your skills, just not the large nationals. Stay away from them until you are more seasoned, then, if you feel like tackling one of them, I say go for it. They have their negatives, but you will gain valuable knowledge and you will be able to get a job just about anywhere with one of the nationals on your resume.
This is a great field, just keep your nose to the grindstone and stay away from negative websites (). Do not let the comments you read here sway you one way or the other. I find this to be a personally rewarding field to work in. I hope that you do, too! Hang in there and don't give up!
Good luck!
You can't give up hope if this is the field you want to work in. I had been doing my job for 17 years and needed something new. I did a lot of research and liked the opportunites that being an MT provided. I'm sure it would not be for everybody, but I love what I do and have great docs to transcribe for. Plus, perhaps more important, it is an ongoing learning process. I like to stay challenged and this job certainly does that. Good luck to you!!
Good point..lol
nm
another good response!!!
nm
Good schools??
How do you determine what is a good reputable school and which one is a waste of money & time?
Thank you!
The Good Schools
Andrews and M-Tec. Career Step is also considered to be a good school. Andrews and M-Tec are the gold standard, the Harvard and Yale, of MT training. Their graduates have no difficulty finding work because employers know those schools turn out job-ready MTs.
It has good advice.
Good luck!
Is this a good field to go into?
Does this line of work have a future? Is it a good field to go into? I welcome your opinions.
Good News
Finally, some good news for a change!!
That is pretty good.
That is a lot better than what I am making. I am making only 3.0 cents per line independent contractor status, which is ridiculous. This should be a crime to pay an MT this low of a rate. I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
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