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

Nobody wants a typist! - Maggie May

Posted: Mar 11, 2014

I have worked from home as an MT for about 10-1/2 years. Before that, I did word processing at a large law firm for 20 years.

I've been trying to find a job recently, and having a VERY difficult time. Everybody wants experience I don't have. I tried at a couple factories, and even though they will hire housewives who have never held a job before, they won't hire an ex-typist to work in a factory. Also, I can't stand for 8 hours so they won't consider me for most assembly-line type work.

Places won't even hire me to answer the danged phone because I don't have "customer service" or "call center" experience. Now that computers are everywhere, almost everyone knows how to type, so it's no longer a marketable skill. You have to have experience at something else to go along with it.

I got lucky last week and got hired by a small family business at $9/hour. I will be trained to answer the phone and make appointments for a pest-control business. It is seasonal so hopefully I can get unemployment in the winter.

I couldn't believe how difficult it was to find a job. Good luck to anyone trying to escape MT. Everyone says we should get off the sinking ship, but it sure wasn't easy. (And I haven't even started the new job yet, so not sure how well it's going to go!)

good luck - me

[ In Reply To ..]
Just to let you know, I sent you a private e-mail with info. on what I am doing at home in addition to my MT work. Hope you like your new job.

now - listen

[ In Reply To ..]
even though that job is seasonal, you work hard at it. You give it your best. You learn anything they can teach you. Make yourself indispensible to them. Add anything new to your resume.

My sister had a Masters in social work - Sm

[ In Reply To ..]
And she was told she was not qualified to be a sitter for patients who need 1:1. So I hear you. It's crazy.

not qualified? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I worked with a not-too-bright woman in Medical Records (then called) who did 1:1 sitting for patients -- so I think what they were telling your sister was really: we can hire a person off the street cheaper...

s/m - MT20

[ In Reply To ..]
It most definitely is NOT easy to get a job transitioning out of MT. I did find a temp job doing some medical data entry work, which was thankless and depressing, but now I'm employed as an MT again. You either get lucky and find another job in the medical field or at least within your realm of experience or you have to return to school and take up a new trade to get out of MT. Congrats also from me on your new gig.

how about accentuating the positives - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
if you are applying for a factory job, don't refer to yourself as a typist but as a transcriptionist, which required speed, agility and coordination. If applying to customer service, refer to the fact that you are a language expert, etc. There are data entry jobs that I think pay more, and there again, transcriptionists are noted for accuracy of input. Kinda like the days when we were to refer to garbage men as "friendly garbologists." Give yourself credit!!

I didn't refer to myself as a typist - - Maggie May

[ In Reply To ..]
that is just how people are seeing me because the "typing" part of office work is all I have experience with for the last 30 years.

Suggestion - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If all people are seeing is a typist, stop presenting yourself as one. It is as simple as that.

Someone posted a description of MT skills -- what they really are -- below a short while ago. Perhaps you should find it and make use of it.

didn't refer to self as typist - jane

[ In Reply To ..]
lots more to it, large vocabulary from listening to and typing the difficult words. that takes a lot more than just nimble fingers. we have to have at least a close idea of that the word means or else can really mess up, this requires a certain amount of intelligence. after 20 years of transcription, i was replaced by a "system" that was bought by my employer, he apparently was not aware that the system would do me in as far as a job. have not been able to find anything else to do. as i am 73 years old, maybe should just retire.

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