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

looking for career change - ladonna

Posted: Dec 16, 2012

I have been doing transcription for 30 years. I am fed up with it. I started working in a hospital and was making $17 an hr when they decided to lay us off. Then we went contract with the company the hospital was using at .10 cpl. Then, in October, we found out that Nuance had taken over. Now I am making .8 cpl. I want to make a career change. I have been sending out applications since August, probably close to 30 or more, with no interviews at all, no calls, nothing. I think all they see is all the medical transcription and they don't look any further. I have even applied at my former hospital where I worked and have not gotten any interviews. How can I change my resume to make it more appealing to employers to show them I can do the job that I applied for?

we're all in that boat now - downtime

[ In Reply To ..]
Even if I find a job I think I'm qualified for, I seldom get an interview, and when I get an interview, I never hear another word. For starters, you need to update your office skills. Everyone wants Excel experience now so if you aren't familiar with Excel, you need to start learning that. PowerPoint and Outlook are other programs you need to be proficient in. Once you have mastered those, be sure they have a prominent place on your resume. Another poster recently said she started her resume off with her objective, which would be something along the lines of "My goal is to build on the skills I have to move into a new and more relevant position." Also, what I do is check all the new jobs for my area every day on Indeed.com. There may be 400 new jobs but I look at every one and decide if it is something I can do. A clerk position even, just a place to get my foot in the door. Good luck!

MT is very specialized... - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
In order to apply for and be willing to perform duties related to another job, you will more than likely need further training/education. As another poster pointed out, a good place to start is Excel, Powerpoint, etc. It would be very beneficial for you to take some medical coding courses if you are applying for medical office work. Further education is crucial.

Also, a general message.... - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Ladies, even if you are still doing MT and feel that you have a few more years left before you need to find a different job, start educating yourself now. Don't wait until the last minute. When I was at my best point in MT, making the highest wages I had ever made, I was also doing coding courses because I knew this wouldn't last. Even though I have not gone into coding, I still list the education on my resume and make a point of the fact that I have studied both MT and coding. It shows that I went above what was necessary and applied myself. I know many aren't interested in certification, but outside of MT, certification is seen as a bonus, a person who went the extra mile. If your current company offers certification reimbursement, go for it. It may help you outside of MT.

That is what I did as well - Anon Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't code now but like you I took a coding course while I was still working as an MT and list it on my resume. I did find another non-MT job where I am able to use many of my skills. I just wanted to comment on Excel. You can teach yourself with books and on line tutorials. Do your household budget using an Excel spreadsheet for practice. It looks good on a resume but it is not a big deal. Sometimes only portions of those applications are used OTJ as Excel is huge, you'll never learn it all. Know the basics and you'll be fine. Also, saying that you want to work at home is the kiss of death. Downplay that you did that and express your eagerness to be in a workplace setting. Most HIM and clerical jobs expect you to be there and working a schedule. On your resume, also list everything you have done outside of MT.

If all they see is MT, you need to - market yourself better

[ In Reply To ..]
Think about this ... if you were an employer and saw a resume that showed nothing but one job for 30 years, what would you think? If you did not know what that job was or thought it was "just typing," would you think the applicant could do the job you need to fill? Where does that resume show the employer what YOU did to meet the employer's needs.

You can be a great worker, but if you cannot tell the employer how you can meet his needs, he won't want you. Why? Because he can't see that you understand the job.

If you have not gotten any education in 30 years, or ever, that employer cannot see any effort on your part to keep up, improve, learn his job, or anything else. How is he supposed to know you can do his job and that you will be willing to learn?

Resumes used to list former jobs. Employers looked at that to assess what you could do. It is a little bit different today. Today, you have to understand the job you are applying for and show the employer your understanding of it. You also need to demonstrate how or when you actually performed the functions of that job or got training in it. That is the only way they can tell that you can do the job. Do not expect them to train you more than minimally--they want to see that you made an effort to train yourself. (As your competition did!)

It is hard to say exactly what you need to do without knowing the job you are applying for, but I did give you the general approach.

You should expect to apply to around 200 jobs before getting results, I think. You should avoid exressing dissatisfaction as a reason for leaving . . . desire for advancement or a career change is ok. You will also need to do something to avoid the stigma of the at-home worker. Remotely located employees are becoming acceptable, but not mommies-in-jammies home workers. That raises all sorts of negative speculation with employers.

We have posted a lot over the last year on this topic. I wonder if you saw any of it. You might want to look for some of it as a way to start doing research into the job market today and current thinking about resumes and job hunting.

You also might want to look up performance based interviews and resumes to get some ideas.

Need for BSC - LifeAfterMT

[ In Reply To ..]
If you enjoy working with special needs kids, BSC may be an option. There is a growing need for candidates to do this work. It would get you out of the house and making a difference in others' lives. Having MT on your resume could not hurt.

So, BSC is credential? - What does it stand for?

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

I plan to take a CNA course soon - sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
as they are always looking for them in my area. Figure steady income and with any luck benefits too. Same thing as you happenend to me, making about 1/3 less than I was but working more in order to make what I was making. Not fun. Glad to have income though but need to get off the merry-go-round and get my life back. So with any luck in a year I will be doing CNA work, if I like it enough will think about LPN then maybe RN, will see how it goes.

I know I don't want patient contact - or any contact for that matter

[ In Reply To ..]
LOL it's good to know that about myself! I want a job where I can just be left alone! not a people person. I think that's one of the most important things in deciding your direction, people person, or not. Good luck to you!

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