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graduated almost a year ago from a "Big 3" and nada

Posted By: mkj on 2009-03-03
In Reply to: Looking and trying to stay hopeful?? - Amanda

I graduated almost a year ago from a "Big 3" school and have had no luck. I am thinking I have to go for my CMT to get a second look. Ridiculous!
Until every American MT is working who wants to, and is qualified, for a living wage and affordable, quality health care benefits, NO MT work should be going outside the US. Get on it, Obama!


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Notice that nobody promoted any "Big 2" or "Big 3" schools in that message
In fact, I don't see that much promotion on the boards of any specific school. I just see people fighting an invisible war against those awful "Big 3" schools. Count the messages.
The "big 3" are ...
Career Step, M-Tec, and Andrews.

I myself am a graduate of Career Step. If you would like more information, feel free to email me. :)
"big 3"
They say that Career Step students are considered without any experience. I know it is teaching me a lot

When you hear "big 3" in that post sm
it has to be Career Step - Andrews and M-Tec students identify their schools.  As I have said forever, CS students have a harder time.
I graduated from USCI and had a job before I graduated, but....
I already had a BS and MA in education and five years of teaching experience, not to mention my own tutoring business before I went to MT. That's what got me my job, I know that for a fact. (All three of my employers have commented on my "great resume".)

If you can't afford to start over with another school like Andrews or M-Tec (I forget the other Big Three school), I suggest you go to ebay and buy some extra tapes to use for practice and include those in your resume. For example, I realized about 3/4 of the way into my studies that I had not done enough research on my school. I bought HPI/SUM tapes from Ebay, AAMT tapes from Ebay, and I forget what else. I did a TON of extra work. My resume looked great, and I did get a job with no problem.

It's not impossible. USCI or AHP does not mean a death sentence, it just means that you have to work harder to impress.

If you want a copy of my resume, just email me. I did have all three employers comment on it, and I have been in my current position for almost a year now.

Good luck!
YES. Career Step is considered one of the "big three"

M-Tec and Andrews are also in there.  Any school that advertises on matchbook covers or has mostly other nonmedical related courses is NOT good.


The VLC is most definitely NOT one of the best schools out there.  Some people are just promoting it to suit their own purposes.  Read the archives of the board.  Nothing good about them.  Has anyone actually met one of their grads who has gotten a job at home right out of school?  Don't forget about their digital photography and basket weaving courses.  I guess those are fallback careers for their MT grads?


$600/year!! I would LOVE to pay 600/year -
I end up paying in $2000+/year EVEN WITH MY DEDUCTIONS, and I deduct anything and everything!! My accountant keeps telling me to buy a house or have a baby and then I wouldn't pay in so much.
Just graduated.........

I am now looking for work. Most employers want


you to have actual experience, which I do, but


the training does not count. So now I have to find


someone who will hire me. Are there any companies


that recent grads?


I just graduated
J--I just graduated, so now I am on the hunt!
I had a job 3 mos before I graduated from AHP, but...
I would still recommend one of the Big Three if I had it to do over again. I had no problems getting a job as an AHP grad, however.
I graduated from CS...sm
and I had 3 job offers within one week, all for work-at-home positions. I had the same concerns at first, since CS was so much cheaper, but I read about how many of their grads were getting work-at-home jobs right away, so I went with it. I felt totally prepared to work, and my employer has been very happy with my work.
Soon to be Graduated !!!

Well I am waiting for my final exam to come back and I will be graduated and looking for a job !!!! Woohoo....


I went through a long grooling course with M-Tech but I loved it !!!


Wish me luck


I graduated AHP and...
I have 2 jobs I love, one for a local doctor and a long-distance account for a hospital. I have received no complaints so far about my work.
If you graduated from one of the MT schools
that are recognized by employers as turning out job-ready MTs, you will have no difficulty at all finding a job. If you graduated from one of the schools advertised by the likes of has-been TV personalities, you will likely have difficulty finding work. That is because employers have had bad experiences with graduates of those schools (even the ones with As). If employers are not familiar with the school that trained you, they will likely not be willing to take a chance either, so you will need to look locally. Try small clinics, one-doctor offices, places that may not have such stringent requirements for training. That way, you can get that all-important experience in a lower-stress environment. Good luck to you.
Almost graduated and have questions
Hi everyone! I am new on this board and will soon receive my certification. I have one more semester to go with an internship and everything. I have a few questions though.

1. Is it wise to start posting your resume before you graduate , and if so, how much time before you graduate do you recommend starting this?

2. For a new MT, what is a reasonable rate of pay either per line or per hour?

3. Do the grades you make in school really make a difference? I have a 4.0, but some people tell me that they don't even look at how well you did in your classes.

4. How do you know a real online transcription company from a scam? I'm sorry, but I didn't even know that transcription scams existed before seeing some threads about it here.

5. (last one I promise) I am doing an internship for someone local this last semester, does this really count as experience or do you always have to do internships with the company you get a job with before actually becoming an employee?

Thanks to anyone who responds in advance!
Graduated from M-TEC in 2001 -
Been working at home doing acute care as an IC ever since! 
I graduated M-Tec Today

Woo Hoo !!!!!


I graduated in July...(sm)
...and had a job within a week of graduating. I completed the M-Tec program and didn't have any problem whatsoever. If you're an M-Tec or Andrews grad, make sure you put that in the subject line of your email!
Yes, I graduated from Allied
I graduated on Aug. 3, 2006, and it only took me a week to find a job. I just found a list of MT companies, applied, and tested at every one that would allow me to. You know, a year later, I don't work from home anymore, but I work at an Air Force base hospital making a lot of money. Just stick in there and apply everywhere you can.
I also graduated from Allied... sm
I found a full-time per diem position fairly quickly at my local hospital. However, they downsized a few weeks later and the four of us in per diem positions were let go. So I can TOTALLY relate to your frustration, as I am now also again looking. Hang in there, the jobs are out there.

Honestly, if you just graduated, you
would be doing your self a great disservice by working so little. There is still a lot to learn once you start working, and it will be very difficult to get up to speed working just a few hours a day or 1 day a week.

Also, a lot of companies will not hire a new grad at less than full time, and what you are asking to do amounts to less than 10 hours of work per week even at newbie speed.
After I graduated, I took about a month off.
When I started applying I was hired, the day after I began sending out my resume.
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.


It is a year old. n/m
n/m
If you graduated from CareerStep, M-TEC, or Andrews,
But there are other good schools too. Those are just the well-known online ones. Just keep applying and applying--and ACE those tests. Make sure your resume is EXCELLENT. You'll find something. Good luck!
I have been working from home since the day I graduated!
I had numerous companies wanting me to test with them. The ladies I know who graduated at the same time I did echo similar experiences. I have also made excellent money. With the right training, the ability to be a good MT, and the drive, it can be done!
Can someone that graduated from Allied please respond...
Can someone that graduated from Allied please respond... I really want to here from current or graduated students.

Thank you.
I graduated from Penn Foster sm
I recently started my first MT job after graduating in December 2008. Because of this course, I felt right at home with transcribing hospital reports, which seemed to surprise my new employer. Penn Foster taught me the basics, and I've been able to apply what I've learned to looking up unfamiliar words, etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
I graduated the beginning of Nov. Email me if you like. nm
xx
I graduated from CAI years ago, always had work since
nm
It was quite awhile ago...maybe about a year or so.
nm
How to ask for a raise? 7 cpl for one year now...
Are raises given?
To make 40K per year,
You have to make roughly $20./hr for a 40-hour week (if my math skills are any good!). To do that, you need to either make a higher line rate, or produce more lines per hour. That means doubling either your lines per day or your cents per line.

I would venture a guess that most folks making 40K a year do NOT work for nationals, but have their own accounts which tend to pay more per line, which ups the $ per hour. Of course, with that comes a whole new set of headaches and probably more incidental hours (billing, delivering, bookkeeping...time spent maintaining an account in addition to transcribing hours.)

Unfortunately, by the time we see ads everywhere for big money opportunities (transcription, selling on ebay, raising alpacas, etc.) the prime time to get involved has probably already passed, and then folks who respond are stuck with disillusionment and bills for starting costs/prep.

Just my humble (and maybe a bit pessimistic) opinion.
You don't even have to buy the upgrades every year, just
add to it.  I only update every other year. 
transcriptionist with 1 year's exp
I think Spheris has a program to do that.
Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope everyone has a very excellent 2009, with all good things!
I agree with the variable factor...I graduated
5 years ago from a community college program and was hired immediately at a national company. Started out making maybe 26,000; after 5 years with same company and many, many macros I finally made 36.5 for the year and that is with health benefits for entire family taken out plus extra taxes so we won't ever owe money.

Just make a whole lot of expansions, and if you get QA feedback be sure to note your blanks as they do pop up again.

Hope this helps.
I made 7.75 with MedQuist my first year.
I started out with Medquist making 7.75 based on my all-around experience and test scores I was told. That was PTE.

I went on to make 8 as an employee, and I work a second IC job making 16, 13 to start, 16 after 90 days.
putting 3-year-old in daycare
I have finally relented and put my baby in daycare. I can't do it anymore. I am so stressed out about splitting my time between her and work that both are suffering from it. Not to mention my house. The husband is worried becuase this is now an added expense to our already tight budget, but as I explained to him, now I can focus on my line count and I won't be getting up every two minutes to tend to her. Any of you been in the same situation? I'd like to hear about it, good or bad.
first year as IC, you don't have to make payments...sm
you could pay all of 2006 taxes by April 15, 2007. But in 2007, the IRS will send you forms that you use to pay quarterly. You pay 100% of last year's taxes in 4 equal payments and then make up the difference when you do your taxes. For example, you started as an IC in 2006. Your taxes were $2000. You pay $2000 by April 15 2007 and you also pay your first quarterly payment of $500 (1/4 of $2000) by April 15.  I also would suggest you make all your payments in the current year - don't pay the last quarter by January 15 when it is due because it screws up your bookkeeping and state and feds handle it different. Pay your last quarter tax by December 31.
after a year mine went up to 7cpl.
I am at 2 yrs now and making 7.5 at one plaace and 8.5 at my other
In the first 6 months of this year. I'm not new to this, though, so I moved on. nm
s
Just waiting till the end of the year (sm)
Like I said, I'm not certain if I am going to be sent a quarterly tax invoice or not, but I figure better safe than sorry!
This is also a bad time of year to be job hunting.
This is the slow season for MTs and companies don't tend to hire much from December to February. Don't give in yet if this is really what you want. But I agree with other poster, you might have better luck with a local MTSO that is familar with your community college's program. Good luck if you decide to pursue this further! It would be a shame to give up so quickly after completing the course.
First of all, a lot of companies will waive the 2 year
-You graduated from a program they know provides a quality education.

-You test well enough during the application process.

-You have a well-written resume and cover letter and follow the application instructions to the letter.

Many companies hire new grads on regular intervals, but they do not advertise this because they will be inundated by applications, many of them from people with absolutely no training at all. It takes time and resources to train a brand new MT so they may only hire new grads a few times a year.

Speak with your school's post-graduate assistance program and get some leads for MTSOs that hire their grads. Check out your school's student forum and see where other graduates are getting hired. Find companies that will let you test as part of the application process (instead of applying and waiting for an invitation to test). There is a thread below with a list of companies that have been mentioned in the past as hiring newbies. Also, check locally and be on the lookout for smaller services to apply with.

Good luck.
I've been working for over a year now,
and I don't even know what my typing speed is anymore. It would be hard for me to take a typing test because I am so used to using my expander. I am really surprised you are finding most companies want a certain speed. I did not encounter that when I was applying.
Anyone signing a 2-year contract on either
end would be crazy.  You can't guarantee work for 2 years and there is no way I would tie myself to a situation for 2 years. 
6 or 7 cents? :::snorting::: I made 7.5 at the job I landed even BEFORE I graduated from (lm)

The School That Dare Not Speak Its Name.  I then left that job for another one making 8 cents.  I am now making 8 cents a line from home, and my one-year anniversary of graduating from MT training is not until May. 


Six or seven cents?  Not in THIS life.  And I have had NO trouble finding jobs.  I still get people calling me based on the resumes I sent out back when I first started looking, and I have to tell them I am no longer looking for work. 


Nice try, MTSO.  But trying to convince people to work for 6 or 7 cents a line shouldn't play as long as some of us are here to bring a little reality into the situation. 


I have finally graduated and accepted a position! I'm so excited!
For all of you still in school, don't give up!  Get stubborn, work hard, and it will happen!  Good Luck to all!! 
I agree! I had 5 job offers before I even graduated! Just make sure you test well... nm
  nm
Ignore the two-year clause and apply anyhow!
If you let that hold you back, you will never find work. There are plenty of new grads working and getting hired everyday. If you wimp out, you'll get nothing.