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

Trouble testing!! I need help! - Liz

Posted: Jun 22, 2010

I have 12 years experience working as an IC medical transcriptionist. I just got laid-off and now I find myself testing w/ different companies and I can't pass the typing portion of the test for some reason!!! It's driving me crazy. I have been using my AAMT Book of Style for formatting and I have been studying the basic rules of transcription. Can anybody help me w/ this?? What are these companies looking for and what possibly could I be doing wrong? All I can think of is that I'm formatting the document incorrectly. If anyone has samples they could send me, I would appreciate it. I have been going over the documents making sure there is no punctuation errors, spelling, etc., and the only thing I can think of that I'm doing incorrectly is formatting. Any advice would be so much appreciated!! Thank you in advance. Liz

Trouble testing - onewhoknows

[ In Reply To ..]
believe it or not, it probably isn't that your test is bad. It is probably very good. I am sorry to say it is your 12 years of experience. They don't want to pay anyone with a lot of experience. Once on an interview, a recruiter even said if they see too much experience they think the person might be an MT Diva. I can't believe it, but it is true. So, don't worry. It probably isn't you it is them. And if for some reason they did hire you and you were treated poorly you wouldn't want to be with them anyway. These companies want new MTs they can train to jump through hoops and get paid minimum wage. Please don't think it is you. And once you get formatting samples and know your work is perfect, how will yo ufeel when you don't pass then? Trust your instinct and keep looking. Someone will value your years and those are the people who you will want to work for and the place for you. Good luck. Keep chin up!

You might be right - RLee

[ In Reply To ..]
But on some of the tests that I have done they have specifically stated do not worry about formatting; however, other testing stated format as best as you can. Either way maybe the experienced transcriptionist is being targeted. I would like to think that experience with some companies is a plus, as if the accounts they are wanting to fill falls within your area of expertise or speciality there would be less training involved excluding the platform and that would benefit both employee and employer. Maybe anyone with over 3 years experience should not let that be known when applying??

Shouldn't assume this - LK

[ In Reply To ..]
I wouldn't assume this is the problem. I think the OP needs to be taking a close look at what she might be doing wrong on the test. There are plenty of experienced MTs out there getting jobs. The companies can hire whomever they want whether or not the MT passes the test, what would be the point of telling someone they failed the test if they didn't? Even if the MT passed the test, the MTSO can chose not to hire them. I think the OP needs to assume that something is going wrong on the testing and figure out what that is.

I agree. I'm not buying that ban on experienced MT theory - See message

[ In Reply To ..]
The wise thing to do would be to see if you can find out if there are some areas you need to work on. From my own personal experience I know it's possible to work for one company for years and then go to another one and find out that what was perfectly acceptable to that first company was not acceptable to others. It may feel good for people to assume that the 'fault' lies with someone else, it doesn't help you. I would do it.

This reply is just ridiculous - ImaMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have 30+ years of experience. A few months ago, I started putting out resumes and testing because the company I was with was reducing their line rate.
I've had several offers with line rates from 8.5 cpl to 11 cpl as an employee.

So the theory that EVERYONE is shunning people with longevity is just not true. Sure maybe one or two companies or the one everyone complains about, etc but my experience just doesn't reflect that.

To the OP-- When testing don't over-think it. If a heading is dictated, put it in. If it's not, don't sweat it. If you're failing the typing portion, you have to ask yourself if you are leaving blanks, are you catching things like tenses, noun/verb agreement, etc. These are things that are often not glaring things, but a good MT will catch them and change them. I think this makes the difference between what everyone puts in the test and those that get calls.

Also, write a nice email to the recruiter asking letting him/her know that you would like to know for future reference what may have needed improvement. You may or may not get any feedback but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Keep trying!

thanks! - Liz

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the advice. I'm studying now for another test tomorrow. I think I need to get back to basics.

Oh, well geeeze, we should all claim 5 - 7 yrs experience and drop a few off the resume - WTFtryit

[ In Reply To ..]
.

That's silly, but if I were hiring I would look for signs of an attitude in experienced MTs - Some have one and I do not want to be around them

[ In Reply To ..]
Most experienced MTs know their stuff and also have developed professional coping skills, good work ethics, and people skills. Then there are those who missed those classes apparently.

If I were hiring, and I am not and have never hired an MT to transcribe for me or for any company, I would be looking for signs of which side the MT candidate is on, the one with the professional skills and work ethics or the ones with the 'years' they've put in and the attitude being the main thing showing from it.

Those of you who have been around as long as I have know what I'm talking about. As an MT with many long years of experience, I have seen both kinds. There are few people more miserable to work around as the MT who knows "as much as the nurses and doctors" and I've "always done it this way" and "by the way, I don't do ESL and I sure don't do no stinkin' VR and I don't care about why you want me to...(finish sentence) " and as far as the way I do my work, it "was good enough for my employer these last 15 years, so you're just going to have to deal with it."

IF I were hiring, I wouldn't deal with it. I would keep looking. It's bad enough to have to be forced to work with them as co-workers when the MTSO was unfortunate enough to hire them. I wouldn't make that mistake. The very first sign of that attitude and that MT would be sent on his or her way. I would rather have someone with a teachable attitude and good, solid skills who doesn't think they know everything. But that's just me.

It IS true. Every time I apply, I find myself shaving - more and more years off my experience

[ In Reply To ..]
in my resume. Now if there were only a way to not give my SS# until I'm hired, so they don't know my age!

I've got 35 years' experience, but I've started going by what the ad says. If it says 10-15 years, I'll give 'em the last 10 years. If they say 3-5 years, I'll omit my former two jobs off my resume. And if they say no experience, then heck - I'll tell em I'm a newbie.

Whatever it takes.

RE: Trouble testing - Liz

[ In Reply To ..]
Can you tell me what are the best books I should have to take tests and for my own reference? I have the AAMT Book of Style. What is being used now mostly by MT's?? The last company I worked for I was there for 7 years. It was a medium-sized company and they provided all templates and how they wanted the reports formatted so it was a pretty easy job.I would appreciate any suggestions!! Liz

If I were doing it I would go back to what you learned in school years ago - Across The Board

[ In Reply To ..]
You may have picked up some bad habits in your last job. If you still have the materials you studied in MT school, go back and review those. It isn't easy to unlearn bad habits, but you can do it. Attitude and motivation are 90% of it. The rest isn't that hard.

RE: Trouble testing - Liz

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for all the comments and advice. I think after reading everything it's probably just general transcription rules that I've lost and need to brush up on again so I will be studying my basic rules before the next test!! I noted most tests are not timed and I pass the multiple choices, it's just the typing portion I'm not so I'm thinking it's basic rules that I'm not getting correct. I will just keep plugging away until I get another job!

Testing--which BOS are you using? BOS2? sm - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
It really makes a difference. When I test I ask, BOS or no BOS. If they don't say or are vague with response, etc, then I transcribe verbatim. If they say BOS and don't specify which BOS, I use current one because youâ��re expected to have current references anyway.

I believe there is a BOS3 now to 1 and 2 are obsolete - nm -

[ In Reply To ..]
x

My company ONLY uses BOS2 and stated specifically..sm - Not exactly

[ In Reply To ..]
that we are NOT to use BOS3. I think it depends on the clients and the company for whom you work.

Why don't you ask the MTSO what exactly you are doing wrong? sm - Mqmt

[ In Reply To ..]
They should be able to tell you where you are making mistakes. If they don't then I really don't think they are up for hiring you! When I used to test quite a few years ago I was told the format didn't count, they just wanted to see if I could transcribe correctly and punctuate, etc. They checked spelling I think as well. I would ask these companies what is wrong. You won't know until you do ask.

Is it possible that the test is timed? - Just a thought

[ In Reply To ..]
and you are taking more time that they allot for the typing/transcription portion of the test?

I agree, not every company "announces" that their test is timed - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

KEEP PLUGGING ON. It might just be a formatted rejection letter - .

[ In Reply To ..]
Have you seen the number of VIEWS on the job ads. This can also mean they are able to pick the top 1% or better. So that does not mean you did not pass PER SE. It might not have even been looked at. I recall years ago, I was rejected after the test, within seconds, a window came up saying you do not have enough exp. and suggested and gave name of school (probably theirs) so you seeeee. Fortunately, I mentioned this to the hiring company. It was one of the paid for testing companies.

Just keep plugging on. I always rewind and relisten prior to SENDING and keep a copy too.

On formatting, that would be unfair TOTALLY, there are lots of ways to format reports for heaven sakes

Keep right on going. Try and put out of your mind or it will freak you out on the next test. Plug on.

I understand completely - gintex

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been doing acute care for over 25 years and am usually offered the same as a "newbie", what an insult!

Not everyone is having that problem - It is not a huge conspiracy against the experience

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

RE: Trouble testing!! I need help! - Liz

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks to all your advice I passed my test today!!!! Thank you all so much for your help. I went back to the basics and that is exactly what it took to get me a new job! Have a great night!!

Congratulations! - Nice work.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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