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

Re: Companies discriminating against older MTs... - wanna know

Posted: Oct 18, 2010

I don't know any young people who are even slightly interested in MTing. Don't you think the companies have very little to choose from except old people to do MT anymore?

Go to the New MT Board, there are lots just - getting out of MT school. NM

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Hmm "old" people - OLD MT

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I found your post in extremely poor taste. We "old people" have some grasp of the "proper English language." I have seen posts on here that no wonder a recruiter does not take a second look at a resume -- a cover letter may say it all and I worked in the private sector in personnel doing screening, etc. I am seeing resumes that are basically set up for text messaging "RU hiring?" "I wanna be part of the team." These are examples that are "red flags" to recruiters and no wonder this profession has gone down the tubes.

I have seen peopple complain about MTTest - there have only been a few of those that I did not pass. I research, look things up and if I pass to go onto transcribing voice files, I do "save target as", get their foot pedal and transcribe in MS Word, where I have my spellchecker, relisten for any blanks, cut, copy and paste -- they are also looking for "computer knowledge" if no one realized it. With the transcription porions of the MTTEST site, to transcribe a document into their format, there is no spelling or punctuation. Therefore, do it as a separate document each time and cut and paste, save report complete report and onto the next one.

I am old too - See message - Anonymous

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Old MT, I agree with what you are saying. I'm not finding age/experience to be the issue when applying for MT jobs. I have also taken several transcription tests, passed them and have had some offers to begin work. I've been doing this for 35 years and am 56 years old. I actually read in this forum that people thought one of the schools had rigged the test so that people would not pass and enroll with them for more training, I still find that difficult to believe. I'm not yet ready to make the move from on site to home but I'm pretty sure something will come my way when the time is right. Thanks for sharing your experience.

reply to your post - OLD MT

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What I find odd, is either I "pass or fail" Sometimes I have "failed" but never once, have I received a referral to "take a course." Kind of tells me a few things with the caliber of the "new workforce."

PS - OLD MT

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I recently stated a job after being laid off doing clinic notes for 6 cpl -- from May, I went from making 10 cpl doing acute care to now doing 46 reports for a total of of 894 lines at 6 cents a line. I am soo tired of 1. The "sniping on this board" -- young MTS VERSUS OLDER MTS -- The younger MTs do not seem to understand with their "generation of entitlement" that you are NOT entitled to anything. "The generation of entitlement" is what has turned this profession into the sweatshop that it is today - you piss and moan about "weekend work" -- your sense of "entitlement" with a work ethic makes me ill. If you are doing this as "hobby work" -- then find another profession. I,and a lot of the "old crones" (sorry) on this board and others would agreel that we came into this job as a PROFESSION -- A CAREER and "not as a chance to be at home and taking care of babies.

I learned MT on the job. I worked in house and left MT to go back to being an administrator -- commuting was a killer but I did it and my kids were 4 and 7 at the time. When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and could no longer watch my children, I took a local job -- at that time, casette tapes for 5 cpl -- amazing how my wages have stagnated since 1991; however, it again is due to "the flooding of this field" and MTs who want to sit on unemployment and waiting for that "golden ticket " to happen. I am stressed with my own personal issues, but one of the things my parents instilled in me was a "work ethic" -- Am I happy with my wage? -- No - -am I frigtened with being evicted -- yes -- I have a "WHOPPING" $50 to last me 2 weeks -- I live in Miami - guess what? everybody and their brother wants assistance -- their is NO assistance here because everyone is strapped -- the news tonight, Salvation Army and people were lining up for Xmas toys -- some kids may get - others may not.

Right now, even how little it pays, be grateful for the things you have as well as family and friends -- things can change in a heartbeat

I agree with you on most of your post - Backwards Typist

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I always worked 2-3 jobs when I was younger and raising the kids. When I chose MT, I worked FT in house and PT at home with my own clients. When my mom broke her hip the first time,she moved in with us. I could no longer work outside and my hospital was kind enough to set me up at home. Even though mom is gone now, I still work FT and still have my own clients at home.

I DON'T agree with taking a job for the amount of wages they want to pay today just for the sake of working. I may get blasted for this...but those wages are for the new MTs to gain the experience necessary to do a quality job, not for the experienced MTs. We should be paid decently for our knowlege. We 'paid our dues', now we should be able to collect our 'reward' for our knowledge. Instead, with the market being flooded, we are penalized with insulting wages. I have nothing against new MTs; we were all there at one time, but why should experienced MTs be paid the same? I would never take a job for 5 cpl. Never have, never will. My bottom line is 12 cpl and I have never had a problem getting it. I also give myself a raise every few years if I think the doc can afford it, which most can after they build their practice. If you're good, they'll pay. :-)

Old MT, maybe you should get a kitten. :) - Another Oldie but Goodie

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In the meantime, it really sounds like you need a bunch of deep breaths, maybe have some tomato soup with saltines smashed in for lunch (or your major version of comfort food), and maybe later a nice stiff drink. Please don't overdo the deep breaths while drinking, though.

Dont you read Gab Board? NO CATS. They walk in poopy - litterbox then get on tables and countertops. nm

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45

So do small children - they play with feces like monkeys. - nm

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nm

But children are easily washable. Ever try to bathe a cat? - nm

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Kids dont routinely walk on tables & countertops & IF a kid - plays in poop, who is not gonna SM

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immediately clean that kid up. And that does happen rarely in my experience. But how many times a day does a cat walk through poopy litter and then climb on tables and countertops.

Cats can be trained - See message - Anonymous

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Not to jump on tables and countertops, it took a while but my Siamese learned. If they have climbing trees and other diversions it helps. Providing clean litter boxes (2 per cat is recommended) solves the other problem, cats are usually quite fastidious and like to keep themselves clean. Bathing? Forget about it unless it's their idea, lol!

But can people be trained to train cats??? - meow nm

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hk

Meow! - Anonymous

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Good question, LOL!

Another "oldie" chiming in - Nother Oldie

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I have greater than 30 years experience and have had no problem whatsoever getting job offers. When I apply, 90% of the time I get some sort of acknowledgement.

The issue, IMHO, is not that older MTs are not getting hired, but more that there are many older MTs who think they are all that and a bag of chips and the reality is, they are not.

I'm actually enjoying an environment where MTs with less than stellar skills are being weeded out. Might finally result in those who can walk the talk being appreciated.

That's EXACTLY how I do those MTTest files - tester

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I've only had to do them on a couple of occasions because I always end up getting a job on the couple of times that I have looked. I always do it in MS Word and then cut and paste.

Testing Failures - Shocked

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I interviewed recently for a job, the precursor to which was testing on the MTTest site for the company.

While I found the test relatively basic and simple, and containing only two audio files to transcribe as well as the usual spelling, grammar and terminology portions, the recruiter informed me that OVER 80% OF APPLICANTS FAIL THE TEST.

Yes, over 80%...I repeated it back to her to make sure I had heard her correctly. She said when someone passes the test with high scores as I did, they try to immediately snap those applicants up.

I was astounded, literally open-mouthed, when she informed me that over 80% fail what I had considered to be a relatively simple test.

SHOCKING...

Was gonna post something but I forget what it was. - Even older MT.

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56

HaHaHa. Quite old myself! - Long Long Time MT

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My advice to all MTs, young and old, would be to find a company and accounts that fit your needs. Do what you do best. If you can not find it at one place, maybe you can find it at another. I make very good money at this at the moment, but there have been months when I did not because my accounts were taken away, VR, offshored, etc. When I ended up on an account I felt I could not do well on or I just could not live with, I start looking to make a move. These things can happen suddenly and unexpectedly so I have learned to have a few bucks socked away to weather that storm so I can pick and choose (and test all friggin day). Make hay while the sun shines, but ya gotta know eventually it is going to rain!!

LOL. You made my day. I can relate. - nm

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:) !, EvenOlderMT. LongLongTimeMT, SO true! (READ HER HA,HA,HA) - Skilled MT (Another Oldie But Goodie)

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Even a simple change of primary account would drop my income for weeks until I developed the same speed with a new one. I just climbed out of the hole a major platform upgrade dumped me in. Lay off or need to move on for my own good? Sheez.

As said, though, all inevitable at some point and been there before. Expander and duct tape in the backpack, cash in one pocket, energy bars in another... :)

Skilled MT - Expander and duct tape.... - Hilarious. No message

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old MTs - luvbabycats

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The older MTs are the only ones who can do MTing with the experience they've gained. Too tuff for the baby MTs.

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