Whee! Have you started testing yet? Congrats! nm

• I graduated M-Tec Today - Lori G
  • CONGRATULATIONS!!! DING ! DING! DING! - JanSetzmt
  • KathyZ in New York sm - Jennifer
    • Here I am. See if clicking my email here - works. Thx! nm KZinNY
  • WTG - Me
    • Nope I have not tested yet - Lori G
  • Whee! Have you started testing yet? Congrats! nm - Old MT

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

So, tell me more.  I guess I am excited for you because I remember those days...but not quite the same senario.  I was considering voluteering when I landed my first job.  I did not care...volunteering would bring about experience so I was willing but instead landed a job.  The day that I was to start part-time, a full time position came up in medical records (my supervisor was willing to let me transcribe when I was caught up on my work).  She was the greatest.  She taught me quite a few things.  She initially started me out on an ESL doctor and told me that if I could do him then I could do anyone else in the hospital.  I really benefitted from that.  I can go on and on...

But you tell me about your excitement. 

I really enjoyed EvCC.  They expand on Career Step's program SO much and are really helpful.  I still talk to a lot of my classmates via a Yahoo! Group and consider them friends.  We always welcome new EvCC students if you're interested . 

Hey anyone have any clues to how you pass the test's. I have messed up 2 now.
They are fine all except one file, then you can't fingure hardly anything he says.Any help would be great!

Hello,

I just found this board today and have been sorting though the posts. What is the testing like when you apply for a job? So far I haven't gotten to that in my studies. I am studying from home and am curious what to expect. Thanks for your help.

AD

');>

A friend wanted me to try to get her a job where I start next week.  I'll be doing MT for an hourly wage.  I have an educational background and training in everything related to it except actual transcription, but I am being given a training period to get my ears up and running, and I hope that I can get fast enough.  I am working through a medical transcription text at home (bought it a year ago used to get more information about MT) to brush up and get some more information before I start. I am also gathering some reference materials to shore up what I already have at home from my previous studies. 

Anyway, she said something like "maybe you can get me a job there too". She thought that I could get her "up to speed" with MT skills and recommend she be hired.  I told her the reason I was hired w/o transcription education was because of my medical studies background.  I had to take a terminology test as part of the assessment.  She said that she would definitely fail that.  I told her then, first of all, she should take a med terms course, to which she said pretty vehemently that she did not have the money to do so.  I kind of stuttered at that point and kind of repeated what I had already said about my background helping me land the job.  I think she got annoyed with me . But this is a job where you cannot wing it at all, and you need to invest in your training. Why is it so hard to explain that to people without upsetting them? 

Recently when she knew I was looking for a job, she let me know that the tax prep firm she works for offers their tax preparer cost at a deep discount in January, and that once I pass it, I could apply to do part time or prn tax prep for them at the office where she works.  While that was kind of "insider" info that I did appreciate, I feel like maybe now I upset her by not agreeing to try to get her a job where I work. 

What do you do when people want you to get them into MT like this?  If she asks again I am considering finding a practice dictation to listen to.  I just know I can't put a word in for her if she doesn't even want to take a med terms course.

about 7 months ago.  It isn't all about typing, really.  I type about 98 wpm now, but with research, entering identifiers, finding doctors or city names, etc...the typing isn't as important, even though it still matters.  Plus, after typing all of the reports Career Step has, you'll be typing faster in the end.  When I started school I was typing about 74 wpm roughly, just to give you an idea.

Plus, there's always Typer Shark .  I bought it while in school to get some typing practice.  It's helpful and fun.

Hi Andrea:

I've been doing transcription for 25 years and I love it.  I've been working at home for about 6 years and for Medquist for 3 years.  One thing I would tell you right off the bat is a lot of graduates have problems getting that first job because everyone wants experience.  I would talk to the schools about what they offer in terms of finding employment once you graduate.  I know Medquist used to have a school called Career Step and would hire you directly upon completion, but I haven't checked into it lately.  I think the website is careerstep.com. 

Other than than, it is never too early to start building a medical library.  I would start with Dorland's Medical Dictionary or Dorland's Medical Speller.  They aren't cheap, but you will get your money's worth over the years.  I love my noise-cancelling headphones that I found on Medword.   

I hope this helps you get started.  Good luck!  

Monster.com and placing a resume there.  MTDaily is another place you can put in resumes.  Keep passing resumes out.  Look for a company and check out its reputation here and other MT service blogs or boards.  I came here first and discovered that some companies don't pay until they see their names lit up here.  I went looking for transcription companies advertising for doctors to type for, and then found the back door to their recruiting department.

I know exactly what you are going through.  Even after being an MT for almost 3 years give or take a few months, it can still be hard to get a foot in the door.  Keep checking this site for openings and call around to the hospitals and clinics to see what service the use.  Each time you test, you are getting a tad more experience in your belt...

Good Luck and keep trying!!!

Previous post said, if you test for a national and fail they make you wait 6 months before testing again.

Which national companies offer employment based on pre-employment testing results? ???

One reason I wanted to get into MT is that you get paid for exactly what and how much you DO and I hoped that my skills would speak for themselves when I tested for a position. But if every company wants to know what school you graduated from and how many years of experience you have, then I might as well have a liberal arts degree.

For those of us new, all this "3 years", "5 years" experience stuff is going to leave us dead in the water if we don't get an in somewhere.

Thanks for any reply.

Hi everyone! I'm a new MT awaiting my final exam results and was hoping someone could outline for me the testing procedures most companies put you through.  I just want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible before I start applying (once I get my certificate of course).

How long are the tests usually? Are they usually dictation only or are there separate written q&a's? Can you use research materials? Are they timed?

Any info you could share would be very appreciated.  I'm expecting my exam results any day now and I want to get rolling immediately with job hunting.

');>

I plan to start testing again and sending out resumes for an MT job.  I have a question about testing, though.  Since all companies test applicants as part of the prehire process and there are so many different types of tests between them, do they randomly change the tests between applicants and testing or do they keep the same tests?  Who has friendlier tests?  I've got one year's MT experience.  Just wondering if anyone knows or would be able to offer insight.  Thanks in advance.