a lot of newbies seem to have an entitlement attitude...sm

I paid the money, I went to school, therefore you HAVE to give me a job. You wouldn't believe it.

• Job question - Angela
  • it's interesting to me that newbies want to make the same as experienced...sm - JoV
    • I got 6 cents right out school. - gmg
      • you wouldn't consider it an insult if...sm - JoV
    • Reply - Angela
    • I can understand your viewpoint .... - Sara
  • Hunt locally, make cold calls to local MTSOs, you can get a job that way- - I know, as I did - sm
  • I can understand your frustration..... - 15+ years
  • To Angela - Trombone
    • 6 sounds sleazy to me! - Don't listen to that bologna!
      • when every newbie gets a job right out of school at 6 cents per line, I will say they are worth 6 nm - JoV
      • IC or employee? There's no way you're working for a national - six
        • I made 7.75 with MedQuist my first year. - Not second. sm
      • just curious........how can you, a newbie, say that is a rip. - MT 15 Years and then some
      • You go girl - Newbies Rock
        • a lot of newbies seem to have an entitlement attitude...sm - JoV

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Go work at McDonalds.

I just wanted to say something on a positive note.

There has been a lot of talk about being a MT newbie, following directions and resumes, etc... I am a newbie myself.   I am still in school; however, I sent out some resumes and I received several job offers.  I am employed now and I can tell you that one of the reasons that my MTSO was interested in me was because I followed their directions.  My resume was short, but I tested well and I got the job.  My advice to all newbies is to take your time while submitting your resumes and follow their requests.  You could get a call too. 

So, to all the newbies (including myself), keep your heads up and keep on plugging away.   There are companies out there that are good.

Keep Smiling!

Hi,

 I replied to you via email, subject "pay for newbies". 

Cindi

I too had a job before my MT course   was completed.

I scored well on the preliminary testing with a couple of job prospects.  I had to work hard on the account specifics part of the transcription but the effort has been well worth it.

I started working part time, with the lowest pay I had seen since my yournger days and felt I asked way too many questions.  A year has gone by and now my hard work is rewarding me.  It can be done.

is going to take a program like this she will have a tougher time to find a job with a reputable company.   There are 3 good schools M-TEC, Andrews, and Career-Step and there are companies willing to hire newbies provided they have graduated in good standing from one of these schools.  Another option would be a local community college who might help with job placement.  I worked for a company that used to let the MT student some into the office and do a short rotation to get real hands-on experience.  

Some people are just determined they are going to do something and you can't do much about that, but I feel she is throwing away money if she goes this route.  I don't have any personal experience with any of the above schools, but they all come highly recommended. 

I have been a medical Transcriptionist for 22 years, but I wanted to share with you what I hope will be helpful advice.

When I lived in Pennsylvania, I was the manager of a large transcription department.  Because I had been there myself, I hired newbies.  I would have them come in and take a typing test with a simple chart note from an easy dictator.  I did not time them.  I wanted to check their English/grammar skills and their ability to use the medical dictionary.  I trained 5 new transcriptionists in cardiology myself.  Even though I no longer work there (having moved to Colorado), those 5 still do.

I obtained an Associate Degree in Medical/Legal Secretarial Science in the 1980s.  Having no transcription experience, I signed on with several local "temp agencies".  They still have those, don't they?  Physician offices who are desperate will try to get help from these agencies.  They sent me to a local ophthalmologist's practice.  I tried really hard, used my medical dictionary a lot, and trained myself.  After a few months, I was offered a job there, and they asked me how much money I wanted to start!  That's how I got my foot in the door.

True, the field is not the same as it was back then.  But I am trying to be positive for you newbies.  I was willing to hire newbies and train them, and I am sure there are others like me.

Don't give up - keep trying - and good luck to all of you!

Regarding the recent posts from those looking for a job - I cannot stress enough that you should really consider looking in your local newspaper for an in-office job to start with.  Sometimes you can find a job as a "medical secretary" that combines transcription work with filing, answering phones, etc.  If you have gone through a program such as At Home Professionals, a lot of the national transcription companies will not even consider you.  It is simply not realistic for you to think you can obtain employment working at home with no experience during these times.  The jobs that are available are being offered to those experienced MTs from companies such as Medquist or OSI.  The important thing right now is for you to get your foot in the door.  I am telling you what worked for me when I first started out.  If there are no jobs listed in your local paper, start calling some local physician offices and hospitals just to check things out.

That being said, I wish you all the best.  Be persistent and willing to take a job that might not be your dream job at first, since you so badly need some experience.  Good luck to all new graduates!

had a better chance at getting a job.  If you only want to hear the good stuff you aren't going to learn anything.  I feel for you, I really do, but if you had investigated before taking your course you would have been better informed.  I don't care how much anatomy and terminology you had and I don't care if you made 100% on every test, you still have not experienced real transcription.  There was one newbie MT that had a cerficiate stating she had a completed a course and she insisted she was a certified MT, which she was not.

I'm self-taught, got into the business quite by accident, but I have also seen at it for 20+ years and things were much different then.

I know you're frustrated but we're trying to educate you and you aren't open to hearing anything that isn't positive. 

Hi All!

I am a newbie. I haven't even officially graduated yet. I attend a school that has been called a 'matchstick school'. I have figured out why there was so much negativity about my school. The students are only required to do 20 (GASP!) transcription assignments throughout the course. However, the CD we are given to work off of has over 100 dictations. I would not be defeated by this school! I not only did the required assignments, I worked my way thru the other 100 in my own time.

Well, this weekend I found a website that lists 137 transcription companies located in the USA. I wrote my resume, omitting the name of the school I attended. I also listed all the transcriptions and specialties I worked on. I listed the amount of time I spent working on these as experience. Then I wrote up a cover letter expressing my desire and drive to work for a great, solid company. I sat at my computer over the weekend and went down the list of the companies. I emailed EVERY company on there with my cover letter and resume. By Sunday night I had a request to test with a company. I tested with them Monday afternoon and by Monday evening I had a job offer. They have asked me to start tomorrow. I also have 4 other requests to test with different companies sitting in my inbox. This amazes me because I have not even officially graduated yet!

Please do not mistake this for bragging. I have worked very hard and have been extremely discouraged over the past several months. I have sent out over 100 resumes and have had my fair share returned stating I do not have enough experience. During my downtime I worked thru all the dictations my school offered. I also found a website that helps improve typing speed. So for all you newbies, do not give up. When you are not job searching, practice your transcribing, even if it is one you did a hundred times before.

I hope this gives some fellow newbies some hope.

Hey ya'll!

I just want to give a little hope to fellow newbies out there! I have finally found my first job!

I started searching at the beginning of the semester, and now, a week before graduation, I have finally gotten my first position!

It takes a lot of hard work, determination, begging, crying, giving up, starting again, crying some more, and networking, but it pays off in the end!

So please, don't give up! Test, network, practice, make phone calls, apply for positions, knock on doors, pretend your sick so you can get some one on one time with your doctor, and most importantly, pray! You will get there!

Good luck everyone! I hope this gives ya'll a little boost! I know how frustrating it was, but you'll forget all about that when you finally get a "yes" from someone!

I'll be praying for all of you!

Basically the AAMT representative stated in the article that "younger workers are not lining up to enter the profession." And that the median age for a transcriptionist is 48-50 years of age. I find this to be quite untrue, and I hope to be able to get information to back that up.

I would like to know what school program/course you attended, where you attended, and your age, and anything else you may want to add to help me with a "rebuttle" on the perks of offshoring. I have left my email address.
Thank you

Why is it so hard for newbies to get employed? You go to school and pay all this money and don't know one want to hire a newby. If someone knows please let me know why.

Until you come off of 100% QA and meet your line requirement, 7 cpl. You have 60 days to reach your 10,000 lines per pay period. By 90 days, we expect you to be off 100% QA and meeting your 97% QA. Once you have accomplished this, you get a raise from 8-9 cpl based on your skills, and you become eligible for evening, weekend, and QA bonuses.

so this starts experienced MTs at 7 and then when they have basically no questions or mistakes, and can crank out 10,000 lines a pay period, they can go to 8-9 in 90 days. Seems to me 3 cpl for no experience, no QA docking, no missed production - is right on the money in terms of fair pay.

I have a friend who has 1 year experience in PT but hasn't worked for a few years...does anyone know of places that are hiring for someone with not so much experience? 

 

Thanks...