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

At the end of my MT career. Have a bit of a quandry - sm

Posted: May 23, 2012

though. I have a chance at a job being an administrative assistant in a town an hour away. I am absolutely terrified!! The drive is 46 minutes each way. I am not sure I can do that 5 days a week. But then I think of the PTO and major bennies, not to mention being paid triple what I was paid at my last MTSO (who treated me rudely). I know I should go for it, just not sure I can make that leap:(

Yes you can! - mt2

[ In Reply To ..]
It'll be hard at first but you will adjust. I'm in the same boat - looking for a different job than being a MT. It's very scarey but we can do it !!

I'm thinking of how it used to be......wearing nice clothes, makeup, jewelry, getting my hair done often - shopping for new clothes !! TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL DAY !!!! I'm excited to get back out there.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger - Trite, but maybe appropriate

[ In Reply To ..]
It's definitely scary, especially if you've been an at-home MT for any length of time. A 45 minute drive is nothing to sneeze at, certainly. See if there's room in your budget for satellite radio in the car or go rent audio books from the library to help pass the time. I work with a man who has that length of drive and he goes through about an audio book a week and loves it.

Make sure you factor wear and tear on your car as well as gas expenses in your new budget planning along with appropriate office attire. Those can all be hidden expenses which can add up.

Go for it, though. The worst that can happen is you don't like it or they don't like you and you go back to being an at-home MT. Don't let your fear of the unknown keep you from what could be an amazing opportunity.

Get a nice efficient car and a housekeeper - Listen to tunes

[ In Reply To ..]
Maybe some day you can evolve the job into working some hours at home. Many of my co-workers kept their sanity and loved having a housekeeper a couple of hours a week.

Books on Tape and a Prius - signalfire

[ In Reply To ..]
Yup, go for it. You can always use it to springboard into something else closer if need be. Get Books on Tape from the library or just listen to NPR both ways, there's always something good on. Get a Prius or other hybrid if you can afford it later to make the gas a bit cheaper. I'm in the same boat, 30+ years in MT, replaced by VR, can't stand the thought of doing it anymore and need to change fields. I'm a real introvert and it's difficult and living in a very rural area. You Go Girl!

I live in a very rural area, too. I thank you:) - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
n

Thank you all!! I am going to go for it:) Thank you again - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
n

Congrats. I suspect you'll really value the pluses you - have not been able to appreciate yet. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

you can do it! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Give it a whirl. You can always leave if you hate it - in the meanwhile, you'll make some money and accrue experience!

Thank you too:) - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
n

YEAH! So very glad you made that decision. - IAMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I hope your new position will give you a realization of what it is to have a job without wondering if you can pay your bills because you will not constantly run out of work, you will actually get paid on payday, will get a paid vacation, sick days, holiday pay (perhaps even an uninterrupted holiday with your family), perhaps even a raise now and again, and can work for a company that actually understands and abides by a 40-hour week. After years of working for MTSO's, that is hard to wrap your head around, but think you will be amazed at this concept.

We have all allowed ourselves to get so beaten down, other options are hard to fathom. Not sure where and when working for MTSO's went so wrong, but unfortunately it is nearly impossible to make it as an home-based MT any longer (unless your spouse has a great job with benefits). Sad but true. Not sure if being an MT will every come back to where it previously was 20 years ago, not sure what it will take, but hope it does. As long as MTSO's get by with bending the rules and nobody intercedes on our behalf, we are pretty much out of luck.

I do support the lawsuits as they might be a beginning. Too bad it took so many years of so much repression, unethical behavior and unfair practices by MTSOs to get to this point.

Blessings! - Ultra

[ In Reply To ..]
Cheering you on from my side of the country!

Good for you - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I would do that without hesitation but I know change is scary. After you start, you might find someone willing to share the commute and the car expenses so you don't have to drive every day. Public transportation is another option if that's available to you, goood luck!

My brother once gave me very good advice.... - dc

[ In Reply To ..]
He said when trying to make a big decision look 5,10,even 15 years down the road and ask yourself would you regret that you passed this opportunity up, to even give it a try? If so, then go for it and you will live with no regrets. I have always remembered that and it has helped in my big decision making ever since. Good Luck!

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