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Testing and Leaving Blanks - ZippyFingers

Posted: Nov 05, 2014

I recently tested for a company. The test consisted of two typing reports, one 5+ minutes, the other 7+ minutes. Neither dictator was difficult, but rather sloppy. One yawned continuously throughout the physical exam and the other mumbled in the laboratory section. Naturally, I placed blanks in places where I was in doubt or just flat out clueless. In both reports combined, I only had a total of 9 blanks. So, I returned the test(s) feeling pretty confident in my work.

Fast forward to this evening - I receive an email from the company stating that "unfortunately" my test(s) held too many blanks to (get a load of this) not only be considered a candidate for the position, but also to even be reviewed. LOL ...I could've been bought for a rusty penny because I was DONE after reading that email. I have NEVER known a company, even the worst of the worst, to penalize an MT for justified blanks in testing, especially when you consider the fact that we are working with no reference material for that particular doctor and the doctor is messy and constantly yawning throughout the dictation. This woman's response was asinine.!

I sure hope whatever hospitals this company contracts with is triple checking their reports because it sounds like this company is lazy and isn't big on accuracy or quality. I have always been encouraged to blank uncertainties instead of guessing - maybe I've been misled.

Fyi, this company recently placed an ad for psychiatric transcription. Don't waste your time transcribing their ridiculously lengthy "test" files if you have more than 2 blanks by the 30th paragraph (insert sarcasm).

Wow, what nerve that company has.... - and I think I know which one

[ In Reply To ..]
you are talking about. I would have emailed right on back with "Unfortunately THAT dictation was horrible so if it's any indication of the type of dictation that you allow, I cannot consider working HERE."

Agree! sm - ZippyFingers

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LOL I love your response. I was so frazzled by her gall, I couldn't think of anything snazzy to say. I did let her know that being how I pride myself in my work, I will continue to adhere to my "when in doubt, blank policy and wished her the best.

I am still rattled by her nerve!

You think that the blanks are - MTPerson

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justified, but did you ever stop to consider that she has had many other MTs take the same test who do not leave 9 blanks, or maybe even any blanks?

Personally, I would NEVER turn in a test with 9 blanks in it! - SaltyMT

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I have been in this business for over 20 years. In my opinion, a test with 9 blanks would signify to me that the person has very little experience in dealing with difficult dictators. I would also conclude that this applicant does not want to "think." They do not want to take the time to really listen and try to figure out what is being said.

You say the company is lazy because they won't accept blanks on a test and the company isn't big on quality or accuracy. I would say you were lazy in leaving 9 blanks because you didn't want to take the time to think and try to figure out what was being said. I would say that a report with with more than two blanks in it is not a quality report.

Finally, to use an excuse the fact that you were not provided samples as a reference for a dictator in order to take a test is exactly what is wrong with this industry and why experienced MTs cannot earn an honest wage anymore. You need your hands held and someone to lead you through a report when myself and others like me can sit down and type any given dictator with near perfect accuracy only because WE have taken pride in our jobs! You have no pride at all!

9 BLANKS IN A TEST! Geez!

who are you - ZippyFingers

[ In Reply To ..]
to tell me what I take pride in? You are a nasty human being and your alias is completely befitting of you. You are probably the nut job I referenced. I find it disheartening that your company encourages and accepts crappy dictators for your MTs to transcribe. No wonder your company has changed names so many times - you screw up under one name and resurface under another. I'm not fooled one bit by your personal attack T. Good luck hanging onto those accounts that you hold in such "high regard" lool.

My company?!?! Okay, first off I am in no way, shape or form associated - SaltyMT

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with the company you tested with and failed. Having said that, no company, hospital, doctor's office, etc. "encourages crappy dictators." The fact that you would even think that shows how inexperienced you truly are. Crappy dictators are part of the job, like it or not. So, yes you made one true statement in your post -- we do have to accept them. You need to get a grip and accept that fact that you failed this test, not by anyone's fault by your own.

furthermore - ZippyFingers

[ In Reply To ..]
clearly you didn't read everything I posted because I said nothing about samples being provided for a test - DUH! WOULDN'T THAT DEFEAT THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF IT BEING A TEST? Evidently, you didn't "think" that part of your delusional rant out.

The reason people like you cannot earn a "decent wage" is because you probably spend all day moaning and bitching on forums like Mtstars and blaming everyone else for your inability to progress with medical transcriptions new innovations and changing technology. Cry me a river!

In your original post you stated... - SaltyMT

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"I have NEVER known a company, even the worst of the worst, to penalize an MT for justified blanks in testing, especially when you consider the fact that we are working with no reference material for that particular doctor and the doctor is messy and constantly yawning throughout the dictation."

YOU were using the fact that you had no reference material for the doctor as an excuse for failing the test. I simply reiterated the obvious -- it was a test and no one should hold your hand.

It is attitudes like yours that cause all the guessing. SHAME ON YOU! - nm

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n

And it's attitudes like yours that make us all look incompetent. - SaltyMT

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Grow up, quit whining and do your job!

Who was whining? I told you the truth about yourself and you got - sm

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mad? YOU need to grow up and stop whining!!!

Actually, I told YOU the truth about yourself - leaving too many - SaltyMT

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blanks and then being arrogant enough to blame it on the company, the test, and the dictator and YOU got mad and tried to insult me.

I have never been angry during this whole conversation. I've simply stated facts as I see them and gave my opinion.

Agree with SaltyMT - the whole way through. nm

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nm

Blanks - Mary

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I would not have transmitted a test that had any blanks in it at all. After 30+ years of transcription, I have never taken a test and had to file it with blanks in it. I'm sorry, but that job may not have been the right fit for you.

You're absolutely - ZippyFingers

[ In Reply To ..]
correct. I believe in devine intervention and the job probably just wasn't for me. I have never turned in any test with 9 blanks either, but hey, there's a first time for everything and I gave it my best shot. I appreciate you stating your position without jumping on your high horse.

Blanks are part of the test. - Gigi

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Most companies purposely put a part in the dictation that is mumbled or doesnt make any sense to see if you will guess or if you will leave it blank. So if you never leave blanks, you are guessing. I have never seen anyone that never had blanks...stop lying

Or maybe they put the mumbled or nonsensical dictation - SaltyMT

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in to see if you can use deductive reasoning or how good your ear is. And when a person leaves 9 blanks, it becomes clear that they have very little idea what they are doing and no confidence in their own knowledge and skill.

The person who hired me for a job once told me they purposely leave a blank - Gigi

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to see if you guess or not, and I left a blank, where there should have been one, which is what they wanted. The point that I was making was I dont believe the lady that said she never left a blank..

Which is your problem... - Mary

[ In Reply To ..]
On my mother's grave, I have never had to leave a blank in an MT test. I also have 35 years of experience, an associates degree in what was then called Medical Secretarial Science, and several years of experience as a QA. I happened to be the go-to person to fill in blanks for 62 other MTs for several years. Just telling you like it is, the truth. If you cannot handle the truth, that is your problem. And, you are rude.

Narrow minded - ZippyFingers

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You are incredibly narrow minded and extremely bitter about a strangers personal experience. Frankly, your speculative stance regarding my work is immaterial to me, but I can guarantee that I have NEVER been let go for low QA scores, poor work quality or critical errors.....can you say the same Miss Haughty No Blanks? I doubt it. Nine blanks in 2 lengthy reports with two different dictators who yawned and mumbled throughout portions of their dictation? Pretty darn good if you ask me. Being the world class MT expert that you are, you should know that most doctors have very unique physical examination sections and that there is no exact template or dictating language for the PE part of a report; so if the dictator is MUMBLING throughout their tailored physical exam, then you are darn skippy, I am leaving blanks because I do not understand what they are saying, I am not positive of what they are saying and I am not going to guess no matter how trained my ears are. Sorry that offends the perfection that is your perfect world.

You are not being tested on templates or format, but on content only. - SaltyMT

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I never once said that I never leave blanks. I can also agree that on some tests they maybe expect the MT to leave a blank instead of guessing, but absolutely not NINE times.

You can call me whatever names you want, but it doesn't change the fact that you FAILED that test. So at least one company out there agrees with my assessment of your skill level and I'm willing to bet this isn't the first nor will it be the last test you fail.

Good Luck!

I couldn't have said it better sm - ZippyFingers

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myself GiGi. People like her are the reason why patients are prescribed medication that they are allergic to and cause patients to have the wrong limb operated on. I take people's health seriously and REFUSE to ever guess over putting a blank.

Thank you for your rational response. I wouldn't waste anymore time with the blankless MT with 100 years experience lol....leave her be in her deluded, blank free world lol.

Well, we do not know what we do not know. - Someone else might understand it

[ In Reply To ..]
We don't know what we don't know. Most people are not aware that there *is* anything to know beyond what they know. So, when you can't understand something, you feel that it is the doctor's fault because he "mumbled" it. When you hear that other MTs could understand it, you assume that they just guessed because you can't imagine that anyone could know what you don't know.

In all of this, you seem to feel no sense of inadequacy and seem to feel absolutely no need to improve. You even sent the MTSO a snippy email to confirm it.

That is why the company doesn't want to hire you. They have seen it before and know that employees like that are bad news because that kind of attitude doesn't stop with blanks. No matter where the inadequacy lies, the employee won't see it, will feel attacked, and will lash out with inappropriate behavior.

You are an incredibly nasty person. - Mary

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And that is the truth.

Oh PLEASE - Not a martyr

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All you nonblankers, nonwhiners -- adjust your crowns and move along. Nothing to see here. Wow! The venom. Someone notes that she left blanks in a report and the charges of incompetence ring out. Why don't you save your anger and direct it at the sloppy dictators. It may be "our job" to wallow thru the crap and try to transcribe it, but your level of misdirected rage --- what's up with that? I had blanks in a test, got hired, and over time, with samples, got an ear for some dictators. It takes time. If I were the recruiter, I would've made a judgment call on what the poster did do; in fact, I wonder if the recruiter ever heard the dictation.

The problem is not that you left blanks, but that - you could not figure it out ...

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The first problem isn't that you left 9 blanks, but that you couldn't understand what was in those blanks ... when others can.

Those tests are not designed to see if you can barely do minimal-difficulty work. They are intended to assess exactly where your abilities lie.

The second problem is that you do not see that the problem lies in your skills, or lack of them, and that you rationalize this by blaming the doctors, whom you apparently fail to recognize as customers.

The third problem is that you think it is perfectly fine to expect an MTSO to hire someone to re-do your work to fill in all the blanks you leave. You don't grasp what's wrong with that picture. If they have to hire someone to do your work over, they don't need YOU in the first place.

FINALLY! Someone who gets it! - SaltyMT

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Thank you for so concisely summing up what I have been trying to say.

I'm down with what you say, but there are a couple - of problems with it.

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The first problem, of course, is that MTSO's DO hire people to re-do work - but it's the work that comes in from overseas, a lot of which is pure crap. (I've seen four errors in the space of three words.)

So, that argument really doesn't wash very well.

Second, although you're right about the extra cost of blanks (you don't mention the delay as well), it's mighty strange, then, that few if any MTSO's offer any kind of monetary recognition to the people who have very little work going on hold for blanks.

If that work is being done at a lower cost, and being delivered to the client faster, why is the only "recognition" of a low "pend rate" a matter of whether or not you get to keep your job?

That's like saying to an employee, "You did such a good job on that presentation you made that you get to come to work tomorrow."

As I said, I agree with what you'e said, but the behavior of MTSO's rather flies in the face of your (and my) logic.

Well, doing well on presentations IS EXACTLY - how I keep my job.

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I was an MT in the past, but have a non-MT job now.

Believe it or not, most jobs work exactly like that ... do well today or find yourself out of a job tomorrow.

It is not enough anymore to just do the minimum.

I have minimum standards for my position, as well as higher and very high standards to qualify as exceeding them. I don't ever want to sink to the level of meeting only minimum standards, much less dropping below them.

When I was an MT, I did not turn in work that required rework. I don't now, either. Ever.

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