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• Thanks to All! - ProudNewbie
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    • Thank you MT - ProudNewbie
      • Sorry it took me some time to reply (sm) - MT
  • Way to go! Good luck and God Bless. - MT
  • congratulations - Peggy

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Marie for understanding what I was talking about.  I am not saying that the school I have decided to go with is the greatest or anything, but I just can't believe that it is the worst. If I turn out to be wrong, then I will just have to get into a program that is a good one. You know what I mean.  Well, again thank you for your support on this issue.  Hope everyone out there that has gotten into a program of this sort has good luck with it all.

Thanks very much for your response.  You really lifted my spirits.  I think working all alone at home causes me to loose perspective and to forget the bigger picture.  In some ways, I miss being in an office each day where I can talk to my coworkers and feel connected through the work that we do.  Being an MT at home can get pretty lonely.

I immediately related to all that you shared.  Yes, I do look up a lot of stuff, and I probably spend more time than I should.  I'm afraid of typing something senseless into the report, so I look up the stuff I have never heard of just to make sure it fits with the context of the sentence.  I ask myself, "Did he really say femoral hernia?  Yes, I think he did say that because I looked it up and it fits with the dictation."  Over time, I suppose I will stop doing that so often.  It will really speed me up when I can confidently type what I am hearing.

I still have trouble with drug names, but I am little better than I was when I started 6 months ago.  I am slowly learning the more common drugs.  Yesterday, I had a doctor rattle off about 20 drugs for his patient, and I was able to spell and type them without looking them up.  For me, that was a milestone, and it made me feel good to accomplish it.

Thanks also for your thoughts about speech recogntition editing.  My employer has not offered to train me, and I have not volunteered.  I feel like I have enough to learn without adding even more.  Maybe I can start editing someday in the future, but for now, I hope they just forget about me and let me learn to transcribe the old way.  I will remember what you said about Clinic work.  I had not thought about the very short dictations consuming just as much time with ADT and lookups.  I see that really would be slower, now that you mentioned it.

In school, all of the talk about jobs and income was rosey, and they had me believing that I could be earning a decent wage in a few short months.  Brother, was that overly optimistic!  Hearing that you struggled so long to get some speed and worked very long hours each day makes me feel a little less alone.

I really like what I am doing, and I really don't want to quit my job.  I was just depressed last night.  I am going to keep plugging along at minimum wage, and hope that things look better a year from now.

You've added some sanity to my thinking.  Your response was just what I needed.

DMK -

I am interested in working with you. I have a wave player and am willing to obtain Word Perfect. Please contact me.

Thank you,

wrc

Which schools are considered the "better schools"?  I've been researching but keep getting conflicting info.

1.  When a job post indicates that a resume is to be pasted directly in the body of the message, why would you attach it? Do you have a specific reason for doing that?

I, personally, wouldn't attach if requested not to do so (as has happened in other responses from me to non-MT companies).  However, I can see the OCCASIONAL error of doing so, but not as a 'norm.'

2.  If the job post states that you must have your own equipment specific to the job (i.e. foot pedal for *wav files, C-phone) or provide your own high-speed ISP), why would you apply for the position if you cannot afford to buy the equipment?

The only possible explanation for this is ...... frankly, I can't think of an explanation.  Personally speaking, I wouldn't apply for an IC position if I didn't have the correct equipment (or I might ask if I'm considered can I have 'x' time to acquire that equipment, if not, its the MTSO's prerogative to say no).

3.  Is there a reason you submit an application with spelling errors, poor punctuation, etc.?

Hmmmm, I check mine, unless we have a conversation going (i.e., exchanging letters, IM's, etc) and I'm not horribly serious about the job (at least in the beginning of the conversation, that might change dependant on the information I've received).

And, now, a statement/question from me ...

4.  ... Do you feel that I have the right to ask you, the newbie, to re-listen to the original dictation and read the “new report” with all the blanks filled in, but not pay you for this time? Would you be willing to do that?

I think this is a perfectly reasonable request, and any newbie (like me) who wouldn't choose this option is short-changing her/himself in learning and expanding their knowledge base and allowing him/herself to grow and become more valuable to the current MTSO (or a future one).

Maybe they don't read all the posts b/c some of them can get pretty long.  They are just trying to help, thats all.  They don't mean any harm as far as I can tell.  I don't think its anything to get anxious about though.

How much info goes on second page depends on the document itself. It is highly unprofessional to have only two lines only or two lines and then a signature. If that's the case, change your margins and put it on one page or push more of it over to the second page. Only two lines in a paragraph or on a page is considered orphan or widow lines; there is not enough information to know for sure that the information on the other page really does go with those two lines--it leaves room for the possibility of confusion or switching of documents--which is way bad.

Left justify should be on your toolbar across the top of Word and looks like several lines which are even at the left side and uneven along the right side. The center key will be the next one and the left justify will be next, then--if it is on your toolbar with be left and right justify. This key looks like several lines, which are perfectly even along the right and left sides (like the newspaper).

Hope this helps.

Peggy

Thanks for the push.

I was sitting in the auto shop today, contemplating how I can afford to put the money down when I have all of these expenses this week:  $100 tune up and oil change today, plus $600 for new tires for hubby, guestimate (my own) of $400-800 for 150,000 MI maintenance and fixing of a leaky tranny on my 93 volvo tomorrow, when I realized I CANNOT afford to wait. 

My kids' school is not going to waive my tuition because I haven't gotten off of my butt to go to school and get a job.  My car is not going to miraculously run forever on routine oil changes and tire rotations.  Life is going to get more expensive and I am going to have to work at some point.  Why not do it in a field I love (medicine) in a job that will give me the flexibility I need to work 5am-630, then 830-230, or something like that?  Its either that or work 8-5 as an admin med assistant/receptionist for $8.50/hr and deal with all of the fun stuff that goes along with that.  OR, even worse, work at Starbucks or Walmart because they are the only places that I can work "mommy" hours (ugh hate the term). 

Plus, it seems there are a lot of MTs who have 4 year degrees so I don't think I will feel like my education was wasted because there are plenty of other MTs out there who have the same level or more and love their work as an MT.  But I digress.

This time next year, I can be starting a job as an MT for a national company, but only if I start.

Time to go finish the paperwork and clean the house.

I think I must have posted on the wrong board earlier...I got 55 views, but no responses to the following message..if anyone can help with info, I'd really appreciate it.  I'm sure I had too many questions, but any answers will do just fine. Thx

*************************************************************************************************

Hello,

I am really hoping to get some detailed information about anyone's RECENT experience with TASK as a transcriptionist.  Are you working steadily?  How long does it take to get on board with them -- I returned the contract to them recently with no results yet.  Just a little concerned.  Also, I only found posts here on them from 2003 and 2004 which didn't sound great...how are they handling the growth spurt now? Have the checks been submitted in a more timely manner?  Sorry about all of the questions, but I really want to start working on a full-time basis and want to know who/what companies to contact that will get me started and paid as soon as possible.  Thanks for any help everyone!

Hi all!

Does anyone know anything about Allstate Transcription and the mentoring program through AIM? They are telling me that I would have to take this mentor program and that it would be $99. I am newbie and wanted to see if this is legit or just someone trying to scam me outta $$$$$.....are you hired on there after the mentor program? Someone please.....give me an A!!!

Thanks, Sher

Thanks, Keri, for sharing your experience.  The unsettling thing is that I *do* find myself missing the occasional word--not all the time, but enough to make me feel that I need to be re-listening to the file.  I am always surprised when I've missed a word because I am listening so carefully.  Sometimes I feel like a dog with its head tilted, waiting for the crunch of the family car's wheels in the driveway!  Any advice on how to be a better listener??

I work 8 hours per day, 4 days per week, at my job outside my home.  I'm doing transcription on Fridays and what I can fit in on Saturdays and Sundays.  I'm an IC.  I love doing the work, but you really have to discipline yourself to sit there in that chair and do it.  It's very easy to get up and wonder off or take off somewhere and say "oh I'll finish this later.  Before you know it the weekend is gone and you have to hustle to get it done.  Luckily the company I'm working for has a QA person that is the greatest and she knows my schedule and time limit and sends me work accordingly. 

The company I worked for before would send me work all during the week, and I was busting it trying to do that and work during the day too.  It was tough.  Best of luck to you.

My friend made $50,000 last year and has only been doing MT work for 4 years now.  It can be done.  You just have to find the right companies and work hard to get what you want.  She has never worked for any nationals.  She does do IC work for 3 companies right now.  I just graduated and am looking forward to getting my first job. 

Good luck! 

I think most do, but I have heard some do not.  You just get to where you can proof as you go.  I know it seems like you are not very fast right now and that 1200 to 1600 lines a day is completely unreachable, but it is possible.  There is an MT with the company I work for who commits to 2300 lines a day.  I could not do that.  It just takes time to build up your speed and make as many shortcut keys as you can. 

Hello everyone,

I am interested in becoming a part-time MT and thought I would ask anyone willing to respond a few questions.  Though it may make no difference whatsoever, I am about to graduate with a master's degree in education. I am interested in supplementing my current income. I have been researching MT for several months and would really appreciate any feedback. Here are a few questions:

How difficult is it to receive job offers without any formal training like Career Step in MT?

Does anyone know of a place that offers internship or other opportunities where I can obtain practical experience in lieu of formal MT training?

Is it realistic to make the amount of money publicized on many of the training websites without working 12 hours a day?

Thank you for your responses!

a newbie trying to get a job.  We have a number of services not hiring at all right now and one that even just laid people off.  You have a lot of experienced people out there looking and they will always have a leg up on someone with no experience.  As long as the economy is bad and the MTSOs are tightening their belts, it's going to be tough for you to find a job.

I graduated from a local college/vocational school that is not accredited, but they have tried for a few years to get accredited by AHDI. This was not an online course-I went to class several times a week for 12 hours. I graduated at the end of last September. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, so I was not motivated to do any serious day-to-day hunting until after Thanksgiving. I applied to over 100 national companies and finally got one that had a new account and was ready to hire new MTs at the end of February.

My advice would be to just keep up the hunt. Two of my other classmates also succeeded in finding jobs at home like me with different companies. I actually tried contacting their companies and was told they don't hire newbies.  Baloney!! Just apply to as many places as you can. If you need suggestions for job hunting let me know. There is no real secret besides persistance.