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How much $ would it take for you to leave MTing? - Job interview today!

Posted: Oct 12, 2010

I love my job, I do well at it. I am $45,000 give or take a couple thousand every year. I am losing my account to VR, and I will have to switch accounts. I will not be able to make as much on the new accounts, probably a 25% pay cut.

I have a job interview this afternoon for a job in a doctor's office doing routine front desk duties. I don't know how much it pays. What if they ask me how much I am looking for? I don't know what to say. What if they offered me $30,000? I am thinking I should take it in that case. Jobs are not plentiful and I am in my 50s, so if I wanted to get out of MT, this would be my shot. Would you take it if it were $30,000 or under.

Many MTs say they want out. How much would it take?

right now, that sounds great to me - flcmt

[ In Reply To ..]
I've already made $5000 less than last year--and last year's income was horrible--that I think I'd jump at $30,000. At least that way you know what you're making, instead of production and hitting no work so you know that paycheck will be awful.

I would take that as well. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I was making $45K or more annually for years until I started with VR. Last year I made $27K. This year it's even less because since most of us at the company have gotten really good at VR, there are more NJA. I refuse to sit at my computer for 15 hours a day just to grab the jobs that come along. Everyone says that we have to be flexible, but c'mon. There's a limit to flexibility. I'm as flexible as the next person, but I'm not a fool. I won't make myself available for double-time hours just to make straight time pay. So ultimately, I make less. I'm moving on though. I would rather work as a cafeteria lady at the school for $26K a year and have holidays, breaks, and summers off. I have a feeling I will be very bored with the job, but it will be a much needed relief from the stress until I can find something else.

pay - mt

[ In Reply To ..]
That works out to about 14.50 an hour. I personally wouldn't be able to take that much of a pay cut. It would just depend on what your situation is. You also have to think about buying clothes/uniforms, lunches, gas, etc. I doubt they'll offer you that much, most front desk jobs around here are $9-11 an hour. Good luck to you whatever you choose.

Your are lucky, our cafeteria lady's only make 7.50 an hour - sm - ECMT

[ In Reply To ..]
and is it 4 hours a day...so about $6K a year, presume no benefits...I'd jump at $26K in a heartbeat.

Having worked at a front desk - in an office

[ In Reply To ..]
you are likely to be paid hourly and probably somewhere between $10 and $12 per hour.

Personally, I would take it. I want out and will take anything that does not fall below the $10.00 an hour mark.

The fact that you are in your 50s and even - MT2long

[ In Reply To ..]
got an interview is amazing to me. I have been looking for another job for months (30 years at this and enough is enough). I have had nothing but pay cuts and will not make $15,000 this year. If I could get a job paying minimum wage I would take it. But I can't even get an interview. I applied for a job last week and when asked my age (against the law I know but when you are asked what year you graduated high school, you know what they are asking), I knew that job was not going to happen. I have tried at Walmart and Target, but nothing. You have to apply online so what else are you being rejected on except for your age?

So, for you to even get a job interview, is a major victory. I wish you much success.

If this country doesn't get over its age-discrimination - habit, in just 10 short years - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
or so, America is going to be overflowing with Boomers who don't have a job, can't afford a place to live, or medical care, and don't have a penny to their name. In 10 years I'll be 70, and not only won't be able to retire, but won't have any retirement savings left, because I'm already blowing through it now, because of all the NJA I keep getting. Then, I guess it'll be up to the government as to what to do with me. (a) Welfare. (b) Incarcerate me. (c) Shoot me.

They're not exactly Golden Years we have to look forward to, are they?

I feel your pain - MT2LONG2

[ In Reply To ..]
I tried to get out of this business a couple of years back but like you no one wanted to hire a 48 year old woman with no experience besides something they did not understand. So, was forced back into my "career" of 19 years, making less than minimum wage on most days at 3 cents a line for voice and 8 cents a line for real transcription, (few and far between). I hate this business but it is all I know.

I wish I was making $30K. (no message) - MT still

[ In Reply To ..]
x

An in 5 more years you will be even older, so - Take it!

[ In Reply To ..]
if you can prove your worth and years of experience in the medical field, you will most likely be able to move up to a higher position in the office. Go for it, or you may be sorry and not have another chance.

Interview went very well. - No pay mentioned

[ In Reply To ..]
This is a doctor's office in a hospital in a specialty where I have significant experience. The doctor is new. There will only be 2 girls. We will all be trained by a sister hospital on their EMR and procedures. The lady who interviewed me is about my age so hopefully discrimination will not be an issue. We talked for over an hour and I think she liked me. This is a small town an hour from any major city so I don't think there will be someone more qualified unless they come from outside the area.

She is still interviewing for the second person. The positions start November 1 and they will let me know by Friday. She did not mention pay, so I did not bring it up either. I guess I will cross that bridge on Friday if I am offered the position, but as the above poster noted, I'm in my 50s and in 5 years I will be older and at an age where other options will not be possible. My present income was listed on my resume for the past 10 years as $40,000 plus. Do you think they would really interview me and offer me $12 an hour knowing that?

The job is only 10 minutes away so not too much gas, and there are uniforms, which is cheaper. Plus I would get to learn the EMR system and scanning documents into it. We also cross-train for other offices/specialties in case there is a staffing problem. People on here say to expect about $12 an hour. I hate that when I am making $24 right now, but it is not going to last and then where will I be? I like the M-F, days, holidays, no weekends or nights, and hopefully a secure position for the future. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Not only fingers crossed for ya, but toes too. Hope you get the job. - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
It sounds like it will be a great fit for you. Even if it's $12 an hour, think of all the pressure and stress you WON'T be under doing what you're doing now.

if you take a job that anyone off the street can do, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
without too much training, then you may well be replaced down the line with them paying even less to someone else. I say use your talents and training as long as you can. I am 57, so I have many of the same concerns. I was offered 2 post office jobs (small town, and I wasn't even looking for work) and 1 bank job here, and questioned my sanity in not taking those. I don't know how long my arms/carpal stuff is going to last either, but I enjoy my work (usually) and enjoy working at home, so I am hanging in there. Good luck in whatever you decide.

some encouragement for 50+ job seekers - Chloe

[ In Reply To ..]
2-1/2 years ago at age 59 I was offered two clerical positions with our county government after having been tested and placed on a list for that particular job designation (clerical assistant). Long story short I didn't take either and now wish I had. My point is that age doesn't always factor in. In both cases, the interview panels consisted of people in their 40s and 50s. I think another factor was the fact that I had already tested, they had the results, and they more or less knew what they would be getting. I would encourage anyone out there to check out employment with your city, county, and state governments.

OP: I've seen my MT salary slashed by 50% in the last 3 years and am now making about $19,000 year. If I were in your position, I would take that job based on the fact that MT, unfortunately, is doomed and also based on the fact that you'll be developing new skills and can use those to keep moving up. I wish you the best.

Also, you may come in contact with another physician who will ask you - Good Luck!

[ In Reply To ..]
to do some of his transcription at home. So you will be in a perfect position to pick up some extra transcribing at home.

Agree with the $10-$12 an hour assessment above - sm - ECMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I would jump at a Dr. office position, as long at it was $20K a year. You get benefits, paid vacation, taxes out and best of all regular hours. I have been trying for years to get my foot in at our local court house, and/or neighboring counties, very hard to do. I will keep on trying, I would probably keep doing MT but just very PT is all , one or two small accounts that I can do at night that don't take up a ton of time but give me $5-8K extra a year (gas and clothes money). Good luck, and don't over-price or undersell yourself.

Yeah - I gotta get out of this business before it's too late. - Not getting any younger.

[ In Reply To ..]
I spend an hour or so each week looking and just waiting for the perfect position to come along. I have applied for a few but I do believe that age is definitely a factor more than 50% of the time. I am getting too old to keep job-hopping and watching my income go down, down, down. I don't want to work nights and weekends, or holidays. I'm not getting any younger either and I need something stable and future security.

MTing has been good to me. I have made $36,000 to $40,000 for the last 10 years. It has been great working at home and having extra money for many things we have wanted and needed, but the nest is empty now. DH started getting SS at $1,500 a month, plus still working part time. I think with that, I can afford to look for something a little more secure since I will not get SS for another 9 years. When I do retire and draw SS, I think I would like to do MT part time but until then, I need $2,000 a month and BENEFITS! When I find something I will take it, even for less money, and try to come back to this later, if it is still here.

When my accounts went to ASR I went from - $45k to $28k. Better

[ In Reply To ..]
get out with whatever they offer.

None - it would take.... - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
A new president, a new congress, new senate, new everything politicians. This current group does not give me confidence that if I was to go get a job they would not take it away and send it overseas like they are doing all others.

Also not the lottery either because the current crowd would find a way to take that too. After all I need to spread my money around to everyone else.

$30K is a good amount to make as an MT. If it was me I would take it, especially if you are very uncertain where your current job is going now.

Definately I would take it - tiredoftyping

[ In Reply To ..]
That is a lot more than I am making at my current MT job. I would be so relieved to find something like that. I spend more time waiting on work, the only good thing is that since I am going back to school, it gives me time to get my homework done.

Re: How much $ would it take... - earlymusicus

[ In Reply To ..]
Regarding the question of what to say if they ask how much money you're looking for, I wondered this same thing. I asked a friend of mine and she said to say that it's negotiable. That puts the ball in the employer's court and you can then take it from there. Don't know if that will help you. I've always been uncomfortable with that question. Naturally, I'd love to say, "Oh, I think $100,000 to start with would be fine!" LOL!!

Best of luck with the interview - hope you get the job!

Jon interview - Nvrhappytypin

[ In Reply To ..]
I have worked front desk, worked as MT at the job site, worked as medical assistant and the most I evr received was $15/hr; however, depends on the location as I have been contacted by a Boston Hospital to transcribe at $26/hr, just do not want a 60 mile a day commute. Good luck.

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