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

Weird question... - SassyPants

Posted: Sep 29, 2010

Hi all,

I have kind of a weird question. Does anyone else have trouble finding a new job other than MT? I am looking at clerical type work again as I cannot stand being an MT anymore, working from home, NJA, not enough money to support myself, etc.

Anyway, I have been applying to any and all jobs FT or PT that are not gas stations or bartending. I've applied everywhere practically within 40 miles from my home in any type of job out there and yet either hear nothing at all, which really irritates me or I do luckily get an interview, sometimes a 2nd interview, and then.....NOT HIRED!

I've tried walk-ins, call-ins, getting applications from friends' jobs, online, newspaper, and several temp agencies (one of which keeps telling me to call back every 30 days...no thanks).

I get asked all the time what an MT does and all that, which is fine, but I am curious if they see MT on my resume and think that I am lazy or uneducated or only know how to do one thing or what. I have 9 years + experience in clerical, office, insurance, customer service and the like, plus I dabbled a little in sales and "factory."

Anyway, am I just paranoid that I will never get out of MT-dom or do employers think I am not capable of doing anything else? I was so close to a great job, M-F, 9-5, no weekends, OT pay, bennies, $11/hour, etc. I'm sick of getting my hopes up and then getting s*** on. I'm not trying to whine or complain or even vent, I'm just honestly wondering if MT on my (or anyone else's) resume is the kiss of death?

Thanks all for listening and I appreciate any feedback :-)

Could your age be a factor? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I know that it would be for me, unfortunately, so figure I'm stuck in this dying profession until I can't anymore, I guess.

I'm 35 (gulp) next month - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

35? Pffftt! You're just a young 'un! ;D - IfWishesWereHorses

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Wierd question - Here is what I think

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it is a combination of age and the economy. If you took a poll of American's out of work I think you would find that everyone is having the same problem. For every job available they have a ton of applicants to choose from. It's not like it used to be before everything tanked and they would get maybe 5 people applying for a job, now they can pick and choose who they want from many applicants. My son is having the same problem and so am I. Mine I could blame on age maybe, but not my son. He has a college degree and has always aced every job interview he has been on and come home with the job. Not now...it is really depressing. JMHO based on my experience.

Thanks for that, It made me feel better :-) - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

It's the economy! - oaf

[ In Reply To ..]
I too have had no luck finding something other than MT!! Consider yourself lucky to have had interviews - I don't even get called. Hang in there - you are a lot younger than I am so I think you have a better chance. I'm in the graying 50s...

See message... - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the support. I hope you are able to change careers too, I hope everyone on here who is trying to get out can find something better where they can retire. I am also curious if potential employers look at me and think oh well she is 35, she has a lot of jobs in the past 10 years, she will probably leave when something better comes along, and she does not have kids (long sad story) and she will probably leave us when she gets pregnant...

I've racked my brain as to why I'm not getting hired and now I know I'm not the only one in this sinking ship. I don't wish this on anybody. If someone were to ask me if they should be an MT, I would say no way! I will keep on trying and be thankful (although it is very hard to be lately) that I at least have an income however small it is and I have a husband who has a job (which isn't much better but still better than nothing) and I don't have kids to support on this income.

I just wish I could quit today and start my new job tomorrow. But I gotta take it day by day b/c that's all any of us can do at this point.

Thanks for the feedback :-)

Weird question - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
It is definitely the economy. My husband is a printer by trade. A friend went to interview at a local printing company and the person there told him "this is good for me, but bad for you." In other words, many people applying for the few jobs so they can pick and choose and of course, take a person with less experience or education because they can get them cheaper.

At this point, I'll take anything that pays more than I'm making now! - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
Anything more than minimum wage is fine with me. I'm not even making that doing MT. It sucks!

Resume - RLee

[ In Reply To ..]
You stated you have 9 plus years experience in other fields. Maybe your resume needs adjusting to specifically make those other skills stand out - like bolding them - adjust your resume to target the specific job you are seeking. I do not know how long you have been an MT, but maybe you have been out of the other fields for too long and need to put emphasis on your other SPECIAL skills - market those skills in other words. I am in the process of readjusting my resume, but it is turning almost impossible to put emphasis on my other skills, as I have been an MT for 22 plus years and I am 52. Good luck to you - you are still young enough to get out of this profession.

See message... - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
I have actually changed or tweaked or whatever you wanna call it my cover letter and resume to match the job description. I only apply to jobs that I fit the profile. I word my cover letter, resume, application to match what they are looking for as far as skills, experience, requirements, etc.

I am running out of ideas along with hope. I'm 35 (next month) with a good work ethic (I believe) and I'm just stuck. I've only been an MT for 2 years plus 2 years of schooling for it, so I know I'm a newbie or a baby compared to the experienced MTs, and I do not want to sound like a spoiled brat or complain or have the "elders" hate on me b/c that is not my intention.

I just came on here looking for advice and feedback and suggestions, which so far have all been positive.

Thanks again :-)

To Sassypants - RLee

[ In Reply To ..]
You may be a "newbie," but at least you are SMART enough to want to get out of this profession after only being in it for 2 years. The economy is just sooo bad as a few other posters have stated - like I stated before you are still young and have other skills to fall back on. Just feel lucky you have not been in this profession for many many years and deciding to switch because things would be worse for you - something will come your way no doubt - be patient.

High unemployment - Keep trying

[ In Reply To ..]
With unemployment as high as it is, you have so many people applying for jobs, you *could* be over-qualified for many of them.

A local manufacturing plant posted a job 2 weeks ago-- they had 10 positions to fill. They received 10,000 applications. People willing to relocate, drive hours, etc. Totally unreal.

I have several friends and family currently looking for jobs and some for a couple of years now, and they are feeling as frustrated as you sound.

Keep trying, until then, guess the MT-world will have to keep drivin' you crazy!!

Wierd question - Here is what I think

[ In Reply To ..]
Again just hang in there. I have about 5 different resumes I send out and I still get one response out of 100. I have experience in other HIM jobs and it hasn't helped me a bit.

Five years ago I had a doctor I went to ask me why I didn't just become a nurse when he heard all the experience I had in the health care field. Today, I can't even get a response to my resume. It is the economy not you!

I'm in the exact same situation - tiredhands

[ In Reply To ..]
and it's so frustrating! I have a Bachelor's that I finished this past May and thought it was my ticket out of MT'ing but no luck. I've been looking for another job since my separation from my ex-husband a year and a half ago and nothing! Some possible prospects but then I just don't get the job for whatever reason. I get an average of 3-5 e-mail rejections every week or so.

I'm starting to think age (I'm 40) and the "mystery" of MT'ing are really killing any chances I have to find something new. I'm depressed every single day over this. I'll just keep kicking out that resume and pray something comes along, but I'm losing hope. I think I'm going to work on my resume this weekend and tweek it yet again.

Good luck to you (and me :) )!

Good luck to you... - SassyPants

[ In Reply To ..]
I actually have more than 1 type of resume on my computer. I change my cover letter or resume or application answers to match the job description. It is not lying, it is just pointing out what I can do for that company by what they are looking for. Whatever they want in a candidate, I have it in that general category. I read the job description and pick out the "big" words b/c it seems that more and more companies are very picky in their ads now, like "must know Excel", "must have prior experience in ...."

It also helps save me time and wasted effort applying there if I don't meet one of those things, like a Bachelor's Degree Required, b/c I don't have one. But you do, try those specific jobs if you have not already.

I am thinking too that age is a factor, MT is a BIG factor, but I am trying to stay positive that if I can handle all the crap from being an MT, that I can handle anything, then the joke will be on MT.

Good luck....happy job hunting vibes :-)

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