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

I really don't understand why - indoubt

Posted: May 30, 2012

so many people on here have been looking for a position for months. It's not THAT difficult to find a job on here. I applied to a lot of places and heard back from just about all of them. What are you doing wrong that you can't find one when I found at least 10 of them? Perhaps you should all revamp your resumes?

They don't want to hire - Old Timers

[ In Reply To ..]
because they don't want to pay decent wages, so they don't even bother to consider us. I have over 30 years of acute care experience and when I sent them my resume, they e-mailed me back that I needed acute care experience, go figure!

Old TImers - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
It's not true that they won't hire old timers. I am an old timer also, have been to several places due to lack of work in the last couple of years and never been w/o work for more than 1 week. I left KS after 2 months because of the runaround about work, was hired immediately by another company w/o testing and started immediately. So age has nothing to do with it. Pay was what I wanted and it wasn't peanuts. I don't work for 4, 5, 6, or 7 cents a line either.

Old timers - Job seeker

[ In Reply To ..]
Anon, I can only speak for myself, but hopping from job to job as you have been doing is not acceptable to me. When I find a new job after 15+ years with the same employer (still there) it is going to be something permanent, Sure, I've had lots of offers, but I'm picky and not willing to settle for the first thing that comes my way.

Jobseeker - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
First, I didn't job hop just because I thought it was fun or wasn't satisfied, I left because work dried up. Maybe you can afford to stay and wait for work, I couldn't. I'd still be at my former job where I was for over 20 years if the hospital had not closed, so before you start accusing someone of "job hopping," find out the reasons first.

You'd Continue a Job with about Zero Pay??? - Angie

[ In Reply To ..]
.

To Anon - CuriousMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Who are you working for now? You didn't like KS? I applied with them and now curious about hiring on with them.

Keystrokes can be great - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
if you're in the right area. I did Ortho clinic work for them and absolutely loved it. I did have the same problem with work that the poster above did though. I know many people have complained about the acute care accounts/platforms, but I was working in a word-based platform that was easy to use and made over $25 an hour. Also, the clinic work was very flexible. I was assigned dictation in the morning and did not have to return it until the next day. Hope that helps : )

I agree, I recently applied - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
to several companies and received offers from all of them in less than a week. I have over 15 years of experience in acute care and clinic work. Perhaps you aren't testing well? Or it could be that there is a typo or something on your resume that's keeping you from getting called back. I've received offers ranging from 7.5-9.5 cpl for straight typing and 3.5-4.5 cpl for VR. While these rates are pretty low to those of us who remember the days when newbies started at 8 cpl, they certainly aren't the lowest rates around these days either.

hogwash - oldtimer2

[ In Reply To ..]
I have 35+ years and 90% of jobs I apply to, I hear back from and test for. If you arent getting looked at, it doesnt have anything to do with how long you've been an MT, IMO.

age - me

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh yes it does...I have a dear friend who is a hiring coordinator and she was absolutely told to stick with people under 35. Why? Lots of reasons, they can pay less, and the big one is anybody who needs insurance. They supposed people under 35 have perfect health. Younger people aren't in the "know" either about all the laws and such.

If that's true then - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
it's age discrimination, which is totally illegal!!! I am under 35 with 15+ years of experience and am well aware of labor laws. Anyone in this profession, regardless of age, needs to understand their rights as an employee/IC. If what you say is true, then your friend should report her company to the Department of Labor in her state.

Old Timers - beentheredonethat

[ In Reply To ..]
That is false my friend. The only way a company can come close to knowing age is by years of experience. DON'T mention age or date of graduations on resume. I've never gone more than 2-3 months without landing a new gig. All that matters is experience, knowledge, flexibility, and attitude....period.

So when they want to know how many years of experience are you saying to lie? - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
"All that matters is experience and knowing someone's age by experience"? Contradicting yourself aren't you?

Years of experience - beentheredonethat

[ In Reply To ..]
Didn't say don't state years of experience but don't need to give age or date of graduation. Naturally if 38 years experience is indicated on my resume that indicates *ballpark* age. Focus resume on skills and what we are really good at rather than date of birth and/or what year we graduated high school and college. That info is irrelevant.

Well, what are your credentials? Experience? - CPL requirements? SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Hours available to work? Love to figure out why you have no trouble yet other very experiened MTs have no luck.

Sm - doubtful

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been an MT for more than 17 years, I won't settle for just peanuts for pay and ask to set my own schedule.

I mainly work the second shift, as there is always more work and people tend to choose first shift and include at least 1 weekend day without complaint. Those who work only the day shift and no weekends complain when they run out of work, but in all of my years of being an MT, I've only run out of work during the holiday slowdowns.

I am not certified, never went to school for this, but don't say that I can't/won't do anything because I'm not familiar with it, which means that I've had to learn new things (oncology, ENT, etc.) and to do editing (as much as I dislike it). I personally only find terminology to be different for basic 4 versus all of the other worktypes and if I look at it that way, then I'm not so adverse to learning something new such as oncology, etc.

I think the problem is that a lot of people limit themselves to the perfect 9-5, Monday through Friday schedule, won't take less than 9 cpl and insist that they "can't" do a particular type of report such as basic 4, ENT, editing, etc. because they don't like change and are afraid. There's nothing to be afraid of. If you've been an MT for awhile, you know what you're doing.

As I stated before, for those of you that are having difficulty, try revamping and updating your resume. You'd be surprised how many of them could use a going-over. It's also helpful to have a fresh set of eyes take a look at it.

Getting off my soapbox now....

Agree with soapbox - beentheredonethat

[ In Reply To ..]
A personal friend and high management with M*Modal has told me the same thing; MTs want more and more, including more complaining about what's wrong with the industry now. To be a successful MT we have to be flexible, open-minded, and most of all passionate. Also agree with not accepting low pay.

Also agree with soapbox - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I may have moved around the last couple of years, but hopefully, I have found my final home because if this doesn't work, I will retire and make the best of it. At each new place I have learned more and more and that has helped me to get each new position. I don't like VR, but it is the wave of the future and I'll learn it when and if I need to, for now, I'll do what is asked and that's straight transcription on a brand new account. It amazes me how different areas of the country use different terms for the same things, so learning only helps in the long run.

Totally agree with soapbox - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Embrace VR, you can actually make a TON of money on the right platform once you retrain your brain. It's a very different process and one that requires you to split your attention 3 or 4 ways; however, once you get good with the hot keys/shortcuts/highlighter and are able to start speeding up dictation you will make more money than with straight typing unless you are insanely (150 wpm or more) fast.

This is what works for me just - for anybody who is interested

[ In Reply To ..]

and has worked from day 1 to get my toe in the door for testing as a newbie and have almost always had a response of some sort ever since from ads here. I think your resume really needs to somehow stand out from all the other 100s being received. My inquiry regarding a prospective position includes a little email ditty about my interest in the position available and that I am providing a synopsis of my experience with the attached or enclosed brief resume (note if they accept attachments or not) and that would be happy to provide any further details if interested.

My resume is 1 page, clipped sentences using bullets and bolding for emphasis in some areas. Name, address, phone number, email centered at top.

Bold headings, cap headings. Note your reliability, flexibility, self-motivated(don't forget hyphens where appropriate). I have several other headings, some with bullets underneath, keeps it clean. Include your education, where, when started/finished, and any other relevant education; research skills, reference library, etc. I don't include company names here, just basic time frame and all job types I have transcribed; if they want that information, can be given later. I keep it to 1 page only.

This usually gets a response for me. I don't include such things as I need to work at home because I have 2 dogs I can't afford to board, lol, so I need to work from home. Just keep it all professional, trimmed down to as little verbiage as necessary because I think is hard to read long paragraphs of stuff when quickly trying to make a decision. Hope this helps someone out there. Pickins are getting slim nowadays...

Work nights!!! - moki

[ In Reply To ..]
Seems like most people don't like to work nights, but that is where there is a need for experienced, dependable transcriptionists. Usually companies are somewhat flexible. I work from 7 p.m. to 2:30. Gives me 7 hours plus 1/2-hour lunch, as just need 35 hours for full time and will work 8 hours if necessary. Only run out of work maybe 1 or 2 nights a year around holidays. If you are willing to work nights, you will have no problem finding a job.

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