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

Ask about benefits, etc. before I apply or after offered a job? sm - dee

Posted: Feb 02, 2011

I have about 15 questions to ask about benefits, scheduling, training, pay per line, etc. I was wondering if I should call all of the companies now before I put in the time and effort for testing and application or if I should wait until a job is offered to me? Thanks for your help!

ASKING ABOUT BENEFITS, SCHEDULE, ETC - TIRED MT/GOING BEHIND

[ In Reply To ..]
I just received an e-mail stating one company had received my application and copy of my resume and "I would hear from them soon." I guess I feel pretty confident this morning because I e-mailed back a list of my expectations for a position, stating I had recently been tested and interviewed, and had to decline positions for some of the same expectations cited.

I am not sure how that will go over, but I am really sick of thinking that after 30 years experience I have to start at the bottom and that in my present position people are coming on and being paid the same amount as I. I guess I am quite frustrated, and probably did not answer your question, but again it felt good.

I hear a lot about new hires getting paid less. Maybe that - knowledge will make you feel better, too. nm

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Halleluhah to you! I think that is wonderful - sm - Sam

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I am so tired of jumping through hoops for companies only to have them tell me AFTER that they only pay XXX (crap money). Ridiculous. Why should I get the same pay as anyone who has so much less experience than me? They are basically getting my knowledge and vast experience for nothing. No way. Good for you for standing up for yourself!

I always try to gather whatever info I can BEFORE testing because if you are paying me a measly line count, I am not interested in wasting my time testing.

Disagree that 30 years gets you more money in this field - 30 years MT 2

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The client pays for a final document. They don't really care if you have 3 years or 30 years experience. You'd think with 30 years experience, you'd actually make more based on tricks of the trade that you've honed over the years.

There are MTs with 3 years experience who are just as capable of producing 100% accurate documents in a reasonable amt of time as someone with 30.

This field has never really been about how many years experience you have, but about the final product.

I hope you get a response from your lead and that you aren't shooting yourself in the foot.

30 Years MT 2 - Your post is what many do not understand. - Ancient MT

[ In Reply To ..]
The number of years experience an MT has does not matter much to anyone, although my company does not hire anyone with less than 10 years experience. They will not waste time on someone learning any particular specialty or BOS. You should know it all. The only thing they want to offer assistance with initially is their platform and the account specifics.

That being said, the pay is the same for everyone. Companies are doing that across the board for transcription and editing. You can take it or leave it. If I only have 10 years experience and the OP has 30, they do not care. What you said is so true. By now, she should have learned tricks of the trade to turning 7 cpl into at least $35,000, 8 cpl to $40,000, 9 cpl to $45,000 or more, and so on. Same thing applies to VR. Most of the time the number of years experience you have is how you personally increase your income because you are actually more experienced and faster than a younger MT. In the end, all that matters is the finished product.

The days of 15-20-30 year MTs expecting to make more are gone. The line rate is the same for everyone and it is up to you what you do with it.

Agree with you both: Valuable, anti-silly perspective - perspective on years in field. NM Pragmatist.

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True! When I realized MTSO was not going to change - business practices b/c I was unhappy SM

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I knew I had to learn to work the system. What I make or where I work is really irrelevant. Bottom line is what my check is, what did I make $ per hour? I dont care how business is done as long as I meet my personal goals as to the size of my paycheck. And I look at skills as part of the paycheck puzzle. Tweaking to increase what you make per hour while also decreasing how hard you have to work

3 sensible useful responses in a row now. Wow! :) - Pragmatist NM

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Dee, why would a busy personnel clerk - Pragmatist

[ In Reply To ..]
spend valuable time answering your questions before they had any reason to think they wanted you? (A company without applicants and desperate to hire might be glad to, but who's that and why?) Second question, what clues might they think they were getting about you from your questions? This would be their first impression, after all, and if negative it may well be matched to a following application even if you don't give your name.

BTW, I once worked temp for two weeks as a front-desk personnel clerk at a busy university and was very surprised to find my job was not just to answer phones, but to make the first cut. People came in to apply in those days, and if the person and application made a good impression on me I told them they'd be called back for an interview (with a "real" personnel person too busy for all this). All my amateur discards were...discards. So make those first contacts count.

Health insurance is a real potential third rail, by the way--never suggest that you're anything but outrageously healthy or that your interest is more than just keeping costs down, and NEVER ask about it right off the bat, just add that question in later on, casually, just another on your list. Average age for this field is in the 50s, with older people greatly outnumbering young ones, and providing affordable coverage to way too many sickies is a real problem for employers.

If you have a hard requirement or 2 (can only work weekends and 3rd shift, will only do heavy ESL) by all means call and sift first--if they can answer your brisk questions in about 10 seconds or less.

Good luck.

Health insurance - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I disagree with you on the issue of health insurance, it's actually been a deal breaker for me on several MTSO jobs. I'm in my 50s but healthy and only routinely go to the doctor. However, I only have one income and having to pay a large portion of the premium out of pocket with deductibles of $1000 or more is an issue and something that I do need to know before accepting a job and learning the hard way. We are the ones paying for it, I think it's a legitimate question.

Benefits, yes. Pay, no. - No message

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s

Company reply - LT-MT

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Let's flip that script:

Company: I was wondering if I should bother to test this person because I have no clue if a) their resume is accurate b) they are reliable c) they are resourceful d) they won't need their hand held.

You take the test to see if you are even eligible to work there. Why would a company want to invest time and effort in you at that point in the process?

MTSO doesnt wonder if should test you. They NEED you. - They have to test MT or no work done. SM

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