This is a good start for you (sm)
Posted By: Redpen on 2005-10-22
In Reply to: Newbie pay... - Help needed please.
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.
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- Newbie pay... - Help needed please.
- This is a good start for you (sm) - Redpen
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Is this a good start
I've heard Sten-Tel is a good starting company, is that true? I need to gain experience. I recently finished up an internship, but need 1-2 yr experience to be able to work in clinics or hospitals in my area. So I thought if I could work online at home PT or FT(I need to make around $400/mo to pay all my bills) for a year, then I could start applying again at the hospitals... anyone have any good leads?
I would start with PT. Good way to
get your speed up, familiarize yourself with macros. Easy work - no drugs or labs, usually no ESL, lots of repetition. Start with PT and then go from there.
5.5 as an employee is good to start! sm
I started my first job at 5cpl as an IC, no benefits. If you are offered 5.5 cpl plus benefits to start take it. You will get more later on but you need the experience. I've been working 7 months now and just took a new job at 7cpl. You have to start somewhere and cannot expect to come into the industry making what experienced people are being paid/offered. Yes, many companies post ads and say they offer 7-9cpl, but you'll also notice most of them are also asking for the MT to have 3-5 years experience. Taking a lower wage when you are new is not belittling, it is reality. You can always work your way up. Also you can continue to job hunt while working and if you find better, great then switch companies. You have to start at the bottom, but you would be surprised how quickly you can move up if you are good at what you do. Good luck!
the lower you start, the longer it will take you to make good money!
those are just the facts!
it will start low
I started with $200 or less every 2 weeks when I started. Currently, I make around $500+ every two weeks. That's good for me considering I am just doing this part time while taking care of my baby. Hopefully, I can bring that figure up.
Start looking now
It won't hurt to start looking now. I'd go ahead and start sending out resumes and test with any company that will allow you to test with them. One of the most important things companies need to know is that you have skills and a good base background. Actual experience in the market will come after you land that first MT job. Good luck to you.
Where did you start?
Where do newbies get their start? I have been applying everywhere, but everyone wants 2 years experience.
HELP!
Possible start...
I took the classes, graduated high in my group, etc. And I was facing the same problem; nobody wants a newbie that they have to babysit. I actually got my foot in the door through a temporary staffing agency, working in the medical clinic at the county jail. After that, I was on a role -- 1 more in-house position and now I'm an independent contractor. There are companies out there that will take a chance with a newbie (the lady that picked me up on contractor status, for example) and be very patient with them until they learn the ropes.
Don't ever give up (I've been fighting for this for 12 years now, and am finally able to say that I have 2 years under my belt)!
Where/how to start?
 Hello,
I am currently looking to find a part-time at home transcription job. I have been endlessly looking at all different websites and just am not sure how to apply myself and what is real or a scam. I've been working as a full-time Certified Ophthalmic Assistant for the past 10 years as well as transcribing consult letters and in office surgical procedure reports. Though my work experience is all Ophthalmology, I do hold an Associates Degree in Office Technology with courses that included machine transcription, medical/legal terminology, business english, etc... I also took a refresher course last year in Medical Transcription. It was a 59 hour course which included medical terminology, typing with daily timed testing and actual transcription from taped dictations. I would really like to expand my experience and skills but am leary on who would consider me with my lack of experience in anything other than Ophthalmology. My speed was estimated to be 65-70 wpm but I have been trying to keep up on it with timed testing and practice. My accuracy was about 95%. Most places seem to want higher speed. I know I can learn and get my typing up to speed and accuracy. I am willing to do what it takes as I could really use the extra income. Any help to go in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I just don't know where to begin.
Thank you.
start up costs
to start up, you need a medical spellchecker loaded in your PC, electronic version of Quick Look Drug Book, high speed internet and Google. You will probably need to get some version of a .wav player in order to test. And for goodness sake, you don't go buying reference books full price at Barnes & Noble's. You get them used through the classified ads on MT sites and you only buy the ones that relate to your specialty. At this rate, you'll never be out of debt.
So it's better to start out in the clinic
area rather than the hospital setting? How do you find clinics who are hiring? I look in the paper and I don't see any.
I start Jan 8.....more inside
I start with the tech call on the 8th, training on the 9th, and begin work on the 10th. Any insight no how to start off great? Any recommended reference books? Are you employed with them?
Jill
Start in-house!
Meryl, I can't believe no one answered your post! If you are new, I highly recommend that you start in-house, as a lot of us did. You can get the help you need starting out. Benefits are usually good working in a hospital or doctor's office.
If you don't see any jobs in the newspaper locally, put out some feelers. I got my best job, one I have been doing for 13 years, at my daughter's oral surgeon's office. I mentioned I do transcription and asked who did theirs. Turned out the bookkeeper did it when she had time.
It is difficult to work at home just starting out due to the lack of the support you need.
Good luck, Meryl. We all wish you the best.
Start applying.
x
start stop
i do
how does a new MT start testing?
How does a new MT take tests to prove to employers she can do the work?
Start testing and see what happens ...
Good luck!!!
Want to start MT course this month
Hi -
I'm new and looking for information. I would like to start a MT course as soon as possible. I need a way to make some kind of income for my family. Right now I'm looking at Academy of Medical Transcription & Professions out of Maine and CareerStep. Would there be any recent graduates from either school that would be willing to tell me the pros / cons they found of their school? It's hard to compare and would like some input. There's some difference in money, but I really would like to take a course that is going to prepare me to start working right away after graduation. Any thoughts or advice?
Thank you for your help!
Becca (in MI)
great start...
I agree---the program gave me a great start. I have posted many times on Focus. If you search the forum you will see many posts.
Good Luck---Sue
bright start
I've been racking my brain trying to find a good MT program. I looked at Bright Start and it sounds good. They have the BBB logo on their page but I've yet to find them listed with them. That makes me a little leary. I did see though that you can take for an extra fee 2 levels of advanced specialty training.
Just graduated.....where should I start?
Tomorrow night is my last class. The school does not help with finding jobs. Any suggestions as to where I should start looking?
I saw a posting for PT entry-level MT position with Rider & Associates, Inc. Does anyone know who they are and are they reliable?
I was told by a former graduate form my school to look out some companies are not cracked up to be what they seem.
Where to Start MT part Time
 Any ideas on where I start if i want to get into MT part time at home? Do I join one of these places that you pay for them to train you? Take training on my own? HELP.. Or am I totally nuts and really dont want to get into this? I have had Carpal tunnel in the past and work full time also...
Even if you so happened to start out with no ESLs,
That can change overnight. The fact is that more likely than not in this business you are going to have to get used to them. :-(
You could start applying first to see if anyone will let you test now and
s
P.S. - I also know that sentences always start with capital
letters. Please check your posts if you are going to scrutinize and criticize and point out typos in posts that other people place on this board. I don't have to proofread when I am posting on this board. I do, however, when I'm working. Do you?
I had to start out in the office of a local hospital sm
for a year, then went home. I didn't want to go home to be honest, too many distractions and my twins were babies at the time, but they were sending everyone home. I really don't know what to tell anyone when I see these posts. There are lots of companies out there needing help and you'd think that if they are willing to send their work overseas to people that don't even speak English as a first language, then they would be willing to hire a new graduate. I would be a little more pushy, offer to do 30 days at a lower cent per line then have a review, something like that. Keep pushing, someone will see potential and take a chance on you. Honestly, these companies that don't hire new graduates I just don't get it. I work for a small local company that is always behind on their work and I always suggest they hire some new graduates from the two local schools, but they never do it, they just sit and wait for people to apply. Good luck! 
Well, until you start the perfect MT organization, they are the only one around ..joke or not.
Wow! This is a sign to beware of her start up costs.
what your MTs will get. By not giving an answer you are causing us to jump to conclusions...
Most jobs only want 2 yrs of experience. Start testing again and
s
Can you start an IV, put in a catheter, change a colostomy
bag, do venipunctures, check a PKU on a newborn? If so, by all means apply for a nursing position. The point is, you don't HAVE to have formal training (i.e. school) to go from nursing to MT. You do need hands-on training, though.
The best advice is to start with the job leads your school gives you.
They will know who is willing to hire and train their graduates.
Can we start an EvaEv banishment petition?
Signature Number One: XanaX
why can't we all just get along?
Check out the Job Seekers board and start applying everywhere.
/
Does anyone even use the start-stop universal transcription system?
if u do i need your help!!!!!!!!!
i totally agree with Patty. In a docs ofc. is where it can all start.
.
Could be poor MT material to start with - my absolute best MT came from community college and
I've had some Andrews, M-Tecs that couldn't even pass the first grammar screening.
maybe take a medical term course and start with physical therapy office
nm
Wait until you start dealing with their Indian techs, in India!, and run out of work. nm
s
Best way to start working immediately after grad is Andrews School or M-TEC online. nm
x
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.
Average start pay anywhere is in the 7-8 cpl range. Do a search of the Company board, make contact
s
Awful place for a newbie to start! Indian techs, uneven work load, very little help along the way.
s
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.
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