A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry


Hope FLOATS! - nomoreMT


Posted: Sep 13, 2012

Like so many of you, I have sent out countless resumes over the past 3 years, mostly with no response.  The ones who did respond were not worth even giving up my low paying transcription work.  Then something magical happened.  I got laid off in mid June.  I filed for food stamps and unemployment and was assigned to a person in the UE office called a Career Coach.  I met with him weekly for several weeks and he helped me with my resume, coached me thru the interview process, and I attended several workshops at the UE office to learn all I could.  I re-worked my resume in a way that prospective employers didn't just see "transcription for 20+ years."  And IT WORKED!  It's been a struggle with only the UE money and food stamps for 3 months, but could have been a lot worse, and Monday the 17th, I start a great new job with fabulous benefits and very good pay rate :)  So color ME happy!  I had about decided that the only thing I would be able to get would be an $8, $9, or maybe $10 an hour job and I would just have to deal with it.  But I learned something being on UE.  The unemployment office is not there JUST TO HAND OUT CHECKS!  They have workshops and very helpful programs, and the way I found this job was in a newsletter they send out every Friday.  I got on the mailing list when it went to that resume workshop, and if I had not done that, I might not be where I am. 

Here's my point.  I got laid off from my job so I was eligible for UE.  In most states, you are also eligible if your workload has been cut.  You just file for UE and select "lack of work," and chances are good you will receive at least partial benefits.  If and when you do, go to the UE office in person and FIND OUT what programs are available for you.  The more you GET INVOLVED and the more motivated they see you are to get a new job, the more they WANT to help you.  I am going into about a 30K job (about half what I made 10 years ago), and I am thrilled to have it.  I can't think about what I made 10 years ago because we are not in the same economic picture, but I CAN make my life work and pay my own bills on that salary.  And at this company, I will be eligible for quarterly bonuses and can work OT when I want it.  It is a 7-day a week business so there will be some holidays, but I got a straight M-F daytime schedule and I HAVE NOT had that in years. 

So like I said, sending out resumes for 3 years didn't get me anywhere.  Matter of fact, when I went to the UE office for the Resume Writing Workshop, I don't think they really cared if I was unemployed or not.  No one asked.  In my state, it is called the Career Center, but it is in the same location as the UE office and I believe these classes are available to ANYONE who is trying to better themselves.  Maybe like me, I was working a low-paying transcription job and was trying to find something better, and I wish I had known about this place sooner!! 

So even if you are working, check into your UE office and see what free programs and workshops they offer.  It could be your ticket out of here.  We do not have to give our years of knowledge and experience to an industry that won't pay for what we have to offer.  We CAN go somewhere else.  I hope this helps someone :)

Congratulations! - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
So happy for you. And what a helpful, informative post. Thanks for taking the time. Great suggestions, and good luck in your new career!

No thanks necessary! - nomoreMT

[ In Reply To ..]
happy to share this information in hopes it will someone else as it did me. thought my life was over and found out reality is it's only beginning. don't want any haters on here, just sharing my experience so some people might learn about a resource they did not know was available. I sure didn't know!!!

Great new job! - L&RINNM

[ In Reply To ..]
Congratulations! I'm really happy for you and hope you enjoy your new job. Can I ask what type of work you'll be doing? I had briefly thought about checking out my local UE office because I knew they offered things like what you mentioned, but then I'd get depressed and overwhelmed and never pursued it. Now, I think I will!

Thanks for taking the time to post something positive and helpful!
to L&RINNM - nomoreMT
[ In Reply To ..]
I am going to work for a call center to take calls from participants in the Medicare Part D program. Part D is the prescription drug part, and they may have a problem with getting a prescription they need and we are their lifeline. My parents are elderly and I have lots of compassion, plus drug knowledge, so I think it's a good fit for me.

If anyone lives in the Nashville area and you are looking for a change and a great company, I'll be happy to e-mail you because they are still hiring.

Jeremiah 29:11

Great information! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

there are always haters on this board - nomoreMT

[ In Reply To ..]
First, to FedUp, who makes so much money, MUCH MORE than 30K, who do I think pays for all those FREE services? I PAID FOR THEM. I am almost 50 years old and I have worked since I was 16. I HAVE PAID AND PAID AND PAID, and now it was my turn to utilize something to help myself. I could have just sat here and done nothing but I CHOSE to see what help I could get and use it to get a new job. I am one of "those who work hard for a living." I just got tired of seeing my paycheck go down instead of up. I don't know of a single career in existence where you would be told on the way in the door that "you'll be making 30K and you'll still be making that 20 years from now. That will be okay with you, won't it?"

Don't question my work ethic or my transcription skills. You don't know me. The purpose of my post was to enlighten people simply what is available out there to help them after they have given up on the industry that they gave most of their life to. It was not so that you could come on here and tell everyone how you are still making great money and that I must be a bad transcriptionist. You go ahead and pat yourself on the back for "still making it," try not to break your arm doing it, and try to insult people because they are not making it. AND don't tell me "the pay is there if you are a good transcriptionist." WHERE IS THE PAY EXACTLY. WHERE? I believe you said it all when you said "still love working from home." That was the beginning of the end of this industry. When I started, there was no working from home. That is what separates me from you. I took this job because I had a passion for this industry; you took it so you could "work from home."

Next, to Tired of Whiners, I wasn't whining. I was sharing information that was helpful to me in hopes of helping someone else. I LOVED TRANSCRIPTION. I would have done it forever, but I have to have a paycheck. Everyone who leaves this industry is not leaving because they don't like it. We don't like what has happened to our money! I am NOT the minority and I am NOT bitter. I am simply moving on because the Titanic is sinking and when it does, you'll be on it and I will be safely on shore.

I hate to sound angry because it is not my nature, but I had to respond to these people. Yes, there are 1 in 100 people still making a good living in this industry, but the other 99 are sinking.

I still hope my original post helps someone because that was the intent, not to start some thread about "I make good money, you must suck at your job if you don't." Get real.

To nomoreMT... - MTstill

[ In Reply To ..]
I couldn't have said that better myself!!

AMEN to what you said!!! Love your subject line HOPE FLOATS - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Those of us struggling since VR and EMR are in the MAJORITY; those criticizing you won't have those cushy jobs for long, it is a rising tide against us. I was an RN for 12 years, then did MT and made almost the same money and was able to stay home with my children. I always had top reviews, when my supervisor pulled me off an account to cover more difficult ones, the old account would scream and want me back. So yes, I am a top transcriptionist and I used to be paid well. Three different companies I have worked for have been bought out by either Nuance or M*Modal. At 56 I am spending $12,000 on an intensive nurse refresher course so I can get back to that profession. It isn't easy, but I will make it. I absolutely LOVED your post and your title, as well as the information you provided for others struggling.

Good for you - On the edge

[ In Reply To ..]
Glad to know there is some hope out there. :) I've been doing this for over 25 years, always been a very loyal and hard worker, and really have had it with the disgusting and degrading women who run the MTSOs. Best wishes.


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