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

Career Step happy graduates? - Birdy

Posted: Aug 07, 2014

Anyone out there a graduate of Career Step happy with their job?

Career Step Graduate - sefrpst

[ In Reply To ..]
I studied online at Everett Comm. College who used the Career Step curriculum, and was hired by Nuance right out of school. That didn't work out for me, but I would say that was my failing and not Career Step's or Nuance's. I have a solid academic foundation and now it is up to me to make it work. It was easy to find another job, and I am honing my skills as diligently as I can.

Wondering how you can know that you - have a solid foundation?

[ In Reply To ..]
Objective self-assessment is always difficult, but I would say that if your job did not work out, it is more likely that you were not prepared for it than it was your failing.

CS students often seem to feel that it is their fault, rather than a problem with the training, and that success is a matter of trying harder. The school has always seemed to put the burden of success on the student. I can't tell you how many students over the last 15 to 20 years have posted that they "know" the program was great, but their failure at jobs was due to lack of trying hard enough.

Did you read the part where she said she left Nuance and found another job quickly? - She seems to be doing well.

[ In Reply To ..]
Have you really met with enough Career Step students over the years to make such bold statements about their "attitude"?

I think part of the problem is their name. They should have changed it a long time ago.

Solid foundation - Do some research

[ In Reply To ..]
Everett Community College has an excellent reputation and uses Career Step's modules for their transcription and coding programs, you need to visit their web site and research the curriculum before making judgment calls. In the past, they offered classroom training as well as on line. I would think that going to work for Nuance directly out of school would be a bit like being thrown to the wolves. Being hired again right away is a sign that it probably was not the fault of the school. CS is not Andrews but it has an excellent reputation and many students who graduate from there programs go on to be gainfully employed.

Career Step graduates - Birdy

[ In Reply To ..]
Thx for letting me know, sefrpst. Glad you are gainfully employed.

Birdy, this is a very negative board, full of very bitter people. - me

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It's good you're researching on your own, but you have to keep that in mind.

There are a myriad of good reasons for the - bitterness, which she needs to know about.

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Yeah, you folks used to make about $70,000 a year ... - Sorry

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...ten years ago. But I'm just gonna say it, I think you were overpaid for what you did.

I enrolled in Career Step a few years ago, I found a job very easily, and I average about $15 an hour. My job is interesting and I like the editing. I find it easier on my hands than typing.

Some people are actually good at editing and enjoy it. We don't remember the good old days so we don't spend our days in self-pity.

And, yeah, I don't expect this job to be around forever. But I think it will be around a lot longer than most people think.

Never made 70K - Do some research

[ In Reply To ..]
I was an MT for over 30 years (different employers) until my department was closed. I was paid well but never made 70K and don't know anyone who did. However, you might be surprised to know that I agree with you. I worked in ambulatory care and all of the MTs were being paid more than those directly involved in patient care, MAs and some of the nurses and I never thought that was very realistic. Those inflated salaries are one of the reasons that MT is what it is currently, no one can afford us anymore. It sounds as if you are doing well and making decent money; there are other jobs where MTs can use their skills other than working at home doing straight production for pennies on the dollar if you ever want to try something else, best wishes.

I think you risk seeing this through - rose-colored glasses.

[ In Reply To ..]
Birdy, someone who has experience with this is trying to help you. You might want to ponder what they say.

You need to read that post again, being sure to take off any "please support the decision I want to make" rose-colored glasses.

A person who got fired from their first job and who is now struggling to "hone their skills" to keep a second job is not "gainfully employed." That kind of situation is actually described as "hanging by a thread."

Students who pay thousands for a training program should have a decent chance of completing it successfully and of getting and keeping a first job. They should have skills that are adequate to the requirements of a first job.

Some schools have a very low completion rate. So low it would shock you -- sometimes only 10% pass the final to graduate. Nine of every 10 fail.

Even when schools have an agreement with an employer to hire all their graduates, the employer is not required to KEEP them. So, when those 10% who manage to graduate get jobs, it may be that only 10% of them can keep the job 3 months. That means that of every 10 graduates, only one succeeds. The rest might get another job and the wake-up call might serve to get them to learn what the school failed to teach.

In other words, at those schools, out of every 100 enrollees, only 1 succeeds on the first job.

School officials might even admit that in public. They don't have a problem with it if they feel that it is just the way things should be.

Other schools might not agree with that. Their completion rate might be much higher and their graduates might all get jobs just because they have the skill already. They might all keep the job, too, simply because they have the skills. They don't flounder or struggle to "hone" them. They graduate ready to work.

The fact that a community college uses a particular canned program is not necessarily a recommendation for that program. It is often just an indication of the college's interest in making money from online, low-overhead canned courses.

My advice to you is not to consider MT at all. It is a dying field. It now pays poorly, working conditions are horrible, and front-end technology is replacing both live MTs and "editors." If you still want to do it, though, there are better schools. Find one whose graduates get jobs and keep them with no more than the normal learning curve.

My advice is not coming from bitterness at all ... it comes from my experience and an interest in helping you avoid disaster. If you are looking for a job, you do not need to waste your money on useless training in a dead field.

Focus your efforts on something more worthwhile and stop attacking the people who are trying to help you.

Wow, poor Birdy. You've got your replies and posts all mixed up. - A bunch of people posted here.

[ In Reply To ..]
I doubt she'll ever be back here again.

Oh,and someone proud that they're "honing their skills" is being an MT.

So much time spent on such a negative post.

Honing One's Skills - Do some research

[ In Reply To ..]
I can actually relate to that statement and if you are an MT you probably can as well. Many years ago I graduated from an accredited program and my first job was on site in acute care. At that job and at subsequent jobs, I did continue to "hone my skills." It takes a while to get up to speed and it is a job where people never stop learning, just think back to when you were new; I'm sure you didn't know it all and probably still don't. This is not an easy job and actually I admire anyone wanting to take it on. For those who think that Everet CC is a diploma mill, again I am going to say, look at the curriculum. They do use Career Step's modules but it is also combined with classroom learning. As usual, this thread has gotten off topic. The question was directed to Career Step grads and how they were doing and then the usual comments were made about MT being the kiss of death. Not every MT hates their job and not every MT lives in the streets. If you ever venture d away from the naysayers on this board or got out of the house and talked to people you might find that some people are actually doing well and still enjoy MT $15 an hour for a first job is nothing to sneeze at. Also, she stated that she knew it would not last forever, that sounds like a pretty level headed person to me.

I have decided to stop reading at 2nd post - post any questions

[ In Reply To ..]
about words or stuff and I will be happy to help to the best of my ability. It is what you have chosen to do (so far) and I hope it works out. MT isn't terrible, it isn't great...some of it depends on your history with the job and the attitude you bring with you. Some are pretty jaundiced because their jobs have changed quite a bit. I have worked by the hour, the line, the minute, IC, Statutory, full time employee, with benefits, without benefits and COBRA'd benefits (where I had a baby!) All in all, it has worked out pretty well. I would say that if you have a choice to further education, take your MT knowledge and step into coding some if you can.

Yes - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
i've IC'd w/ quite a few companies since finishing.

one turned out to be a real mess, but that wasn't CS's fault. the rest have been great. unfortunately one went to SR as a prelude to being swallowed by one of the nationals.

they have a forum where you can communicate with & get feebdack from other grads. good input there (and leads/info on companies).

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