While you're researching the schools, be sure to get a good resume sm

• Go back to school? - plwykes
  • school - georgia
  • While you're researching the schools, be sure to get a good resume sm - searching
  • Medical Transcription - Barb
  • Unfortunately, the schools who hold "seminars" are the ones who rip off students. sm - deb
    • same here - lg
      • PCDI - tamala

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I have been looking at futureMT.  It looks like a fairly short, but comprehensive course.  They guarantee to help you get a job.  I worked in the medical field years ago and had some training in medical coding and billing.  I would like to work from home and I just want to make sure that I know what I am getting into before I spend my money and time.  Are the prospects good out there for getting a job?  Do you have to have experience before someone will hire you?  Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

Lisa

How do you determine what is a good reputable school and which one is a waste of money & time?

Thank you!

There are only two schools approved by AAMT.  Do you want to work for a national at home?  If the answer is yes, then you need to go to a school that is acknowledged by the big services as the best.  If you want to work at your community hospital, then you  need to go into the community hospital and ask them where they would recommend you get training. Most likely they will not have heard of Andrews or M-Tec, but they may hire from your local community college and then you would be okay with going there.

Accreditation with on-like programs is not the same as with college education.  What you are asking for doesn't exist with an excellent program.  Places get accredited for their state, but this doesn't mean that they necessarily know anything about MT or even teaching MT. They have the money, and ability to fill out the forms that the teachers have credentials and they use basic materials.

Figure out who you want to employ you and back track.  Being able to investigate is a skill necessary for being an MT. Good luck with your decision.

I was hired at a national straight out of CS.  In fact I had 2 job offers within a couple weeks of finishing the program with zero medical experience prior to that.  You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good education.

likely be able to get a job upon graduation.

Andrews School - www.andrewsschool.com
MTec - www.mtecinc.com
Career Step - www.careerstep.com
SETT - www.settinc.com

Don't fall for the fly by night schools.  What are fly by night schools?  Generally, those that advertise all over creation trying to drum up business.  Those that rent out halls in hotels and have conferences promising that you'll make a ton of money the first year.  Any school that promises you big bucks straight out of school.  Those that run TV ads offering every "degree" under the sun including medical transcription.  Those that make you buy their expensive players and footpedals before you can get started.  Those that you find a zillion "testimonials" posted on every discussion forum available.

I have 17 years as a legal Transcriptionist (court reporter) and have taken down several doctors through the years who read straight from their reports.  I have a huge dictionary of medical terminology.  Now, I know you probably think "who does she think she is", but I have burnt out on ct. reporting and want to transfer my steno machine skills into MT. 

I have researched all the schools and, I agree, Andrews and the others given the "golden seal" so to speak by AAMT would probably be the best place to get educated.  But I've already had 3 quarters of medical terminology and 17 years of listening to doctors from foreign countries, OB-GYNs, and my specialty is med/mal lawsuits.  So I was wondering if taking an at-home course like Stratford has would be sufficient. 

Do employers take into consideration my transcription background and medical classes?  Are they still going to only  take me serious if I go to one of the best schools?  What is Stratford's reputation among the MT community?

Thanks, guys, for any info you can give me regarding my situation.

I handle resumes and applications (via email) for a national company.  I would like to give some resume and application tips as I am amazed every single day at what gets sent to me with the expectation that the applicant be considered for a professional, paying position. 

Please consider the following:

-- Please do yourself a huge professional favor:  Make sure your email address is professional.  It is far better to have an email address "janedoe334@hotmxxxx" than to have "funkydoglover6@xxxx" or "thejoneses@xxx".  Your first and last name (even if it has to be followed by numerics) would be best and if you need numerics why not add your zip code?  Please.  You will sound responsible, mature, and serious about your professional identity.

-- Please make sure your resume is an attachment.  It is best not to embed a resume unless the application or employer specifically asks you to.  Most embedded resumes sent in emails come with all the code and I simply will not wade through it all to see if there is something there to consider. 

-- When you write your resume, make sure your contact information is at the top, including an address, your phone number(s) and email address.  (I suggest you print off your resume and have someone else proof it for errors, inconsistencies, formatting issues, etc.)

-- Name your resume appropriately.  Please don't attach it simply called Resume.  It would be best to name it with your first and last name and the word Resume in caes it gets separated from your email or, better yet, if it is saved to a file without the email!!  (Example:  JaneDoeResume)

-- Please, oh please, state in the subject line what position you are applying for.  Who is interested in an applicant who cannot even take the time to state what position they are applying for?  Not me!  I doubt many are. 

-- Please send one email with resume for each position you apply for.  If you apply for three positions, I can only electronically file your email/resume in one position folder and you may be overlooked when collecting folders. 

-- Please make some type of statement in the email and don't just send a blank email with the resume attached.  Just a simple, "Please consider my attached resume in application for XXXX position" is just fine.  A summary or synopsis of your qualifications or your life's history really is not necessary in the email because we are going to study your resume for that information.  A brief cover letter-type email is fine but it should read within the single window pane without scrolling. 

-- Last, but not least, please read over your email for errors (should go without saying, I know) and remember to attach your resume!  It is so much more difficult to keep up with multiple emails because the resume was left off, then you want to add another piece of information, etc.  Do not be in such a hurry that your application email shows it.  As well, if you are applying for several positions and you are doing a copy/paste of the email content, make sure you change any job position titles within the email appropriately. 

I really hope you will find this information useful -- I know for all the individuals who handle this information on the incoming will certainly make note of an outstanding resume/email application and sometimes that extra, "Hey, this applicant has done a great job in presenting herself thus far" can go a long way!

Corporate Anonymous

do not post openings for whatever reason, but they will hire from the resumes posted.  It isn't a guarantee, but gives you more exposure and the chance to perhaps get a job.  I agree with the other poster to try for an in-house position.  When I first started out 20 years ago I never heard of an at-home MT, we pretty much all worked in an office or in a facility.   Many times medical offices hire someone to work in medical records and there may be several facets to their job, one of which is transcribing and might be something you want to consider. 

If any company offers you a position but want you to buy equipment/software up front be very cautious.   Come here to see if anyone has heard of the company, as there are companies preying on newbie MTs.  If a company offers you a position at a radiculously low rate also proceed with caution and come here and ask about them. 

job boards.  There are companies that will hire from the resumes and don't post openings.  Unless you went to one of the better schools you probably don't stand much of a chance of getting an at home position.  Even if you did go to one of the better schools it may be difficult to find an at home position.   There are companies that will hire newbies and pay them almost nothing, there are companies that offer mentoring programs that may or may not pay you anything and some may even cost you.  There are companies that may offer you a position and then say you have to buy equipment/software from them first.  These are probably not legitimate companies and you need to stay away from them.  

Most companies want 2 years of experience, though there are exceptions.  Your best bet would be to look through your local classifieds and see if you can find a position in a physician's office or a hospital.  

don't advertise, but they will hire from resumes.  You have to be careful though as there are some companies who will try to take advantage of newbies.

Your MIL will have a much harder time finding a position than someone who took a course through a company that is known to have a good program.   Programs like the one she took are pretty much a waste of money and many end up paying more $$ to get into a better program or going through a mentoring program. 

Not sure what to put for my line pay in the resume section.  Anyone got any suggestions?

LOL, gotcha!