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

My Story - NJA

Posted: Mar 03, 2013

When I was 50 years old, I got fed up with making a low salary, so I decided to go back to school. I started University of Phoenix and majored in IT. This past December, at 54 years old, I graduated.

Before I graduated, I started getting scared that at my age I would not find an entry level job in a young male dominated industry. I had a few really bad interviews.

A week ago, I was hired as an IT Project Manager, and this year I will make close to $100,000.

My last several paychecks with M*Modal were just over $200 for 80 hours' work because of NJA.

I started my new job this past Monday. I was given a beautiful office in the executive suite with a view of the city that is to die for. The people are wonderful and appreciative. I was told many times this week that I was doing a great job.

I thought since there were NJA for weeks and weeks now that someone would be happy to get my work, so I didn't give notice. I just quit. My boss was upset. She said she wished I had given 2-3 weeks notice so she could replace me before I left.

Seriously??? I've had almost zero work this year, and here she is going to replace me instead of letting someone else have my work.

The point to my message here is that you can start college at 50, graduate at 54, and get a really, really great job.

If you are happy doing MT work then I'm happy for you, but if you are miserable and broke like I was there really is hope. I'm living proof that you can get a better job, and college does help.

I wish you all wonderful futures with much happiness. My computer is boxed up and returned, and my foot pedal has been thrown away. I'm done.

Congrats to you!! - anon22

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow what an accomplishment! How do you go from being an MT to an IT project manager? Doesn't that require some management skills? I admire you for making that kind of a leap, that takes real courage. Not sure I am cut out for management, but it's never too late to learn something new. Good for you!

I Was Surprised To Get The Job - NJA

[ In Reply To ..]
I had been an MT for 31 years. I'm not managing people...I'm managing projects. I learned skills in school that qualified me for this position. I thought I would have to start out at the help desk for about $17.00 an hour and then move to an analyst position. Frankly, I never thought I'd make it to project manager because of my age and how many years I figured it would take.

I would have been happy with the $17.00 an hour. This was a very pleasant surprise.

We MTs have excellent skills that other companies are willing to pay good money for.

I am so friggin jealous - NJA Life

[ In Reply To ..]
I would do just about anything to get out of MT, but I am unable to pay for schooling yet.

Congrats on your hard work and awesome break! I am thrilled for you!

paying for school... - KD

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't think I could afford it either, but I filled out the FAFSA (for financial aid) online (fafsa.gov), and it turns out I qualify for at least one grant, and may qualify for more. I'm a single mom and am at my wit's end with trying to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck. You could fill out the application anyway and just see what you might qualify for.

If you - are

[ In Reply To ..]
out of work constantly, you need to pursue the TAA. MModal is certified. I think this is a shame that people are not looking into this more. Go on the TAA website and contact somebody in your state regarding this. There is a name of a person who is the contact in each state. Please look into this. Why should we be suffering due to this company shipping our work offshore. If they ask you your layoff date, tell them this company does not lay you off, they just leave you with no work until you quit. Petition 81128 is the petition number for MModal, it is good until March 29, 2014.

This does no good... was denied because there - is no layoff date!

[ In Reply To ..]
This petition was for the tech staff that were laid off, not for us. We get no help whatsoever.

True. - I have been trying for years

[ In Reply To ..]
since we first heard about this program. No layoff date, no TAA. MModal has found a way around it.

I need a new - career

[ In Reply To ..]
for an introverted, socially awkward, non-management-type person with good research skills. Surely there is something out there for those of us in this category...although Google has taken a lot of the legwork out of research. Lol

I - think

[ In Reply To ..]
you should look into it again. The petition includes "all workers at MModal throughout the United States."

yup, that is what it says, but you - have to have a LAY OFF date

[ In Reply To ..]
I read it all day long too, and I called everybody and filled out the application, and was denied because you have to be LAID OFF before you can enroll in school.

Proof that you just never know - until you try. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Congratulations, NJA, both for completing college and finding a fantastic-sounding job. At 50, I am in the process of figuring out what I want to do (best skills, interests, etc). It terrifies me to think about change, but I have done it before (moved from one side of the country to the other by myself) and know I can do it again--or at least try. : )

I Was Really Scared - sm - NJA

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks to all. I was really scared to try to do something different since I've been an MT most of my life. I went to school completely on student loans, so I'll have to pay it all back and it won't be easy; however, the monthly payment for the Bachelors degree is about $400 a month, and I have 10 years to pay it back. It is really worth it. That's less than most car payments. That is very affordable when you get a good job.

I would love to see each and every MT who hates being paid less than they deserve get a great job somewhere else. I wish great and wonderful things for each one of you. If I ever have the opportunity to help any MT who is unhappy to leave the industry and get something better I will.

You are such an inspiration... - KD

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm in my 40s, divorced with 2 kids and so tired of living paycheck to paycheck, barely scraping by. I just filled out the FAFSA online to see what I might qualify for as far as financial aid to go back to school, in what I'm not sure. I was thinking about coding, but I'm not so sure about the coding industry from reading some of the posts on this board. I know I need to do something though since I can't keep living like I am, that's for sure. Congratulations to you, you are such an inspiration to me.

Thanks for sharing your excellent story! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I am in my early 50s and considering going back to school. May I ask: did you return to finish a bacherlor's degree, or did you obtain a post-graduate degree? In addition, can you tell me anything about the financial implications? Thanks.

At 50, I Started From Scratch - sm - NJA

[ In Reply To ..]
I just called up the University of Phoenix, and they did all the work for me. Everyone qualifies for a student loan unless you have a prior drug conviction. That's the only thing that can keep you from qualifying. I was able to get some grants that don't have to be paid back as well because of my low income with M*Modal. There were 2 ladies in my classes who were 68 and starting new careers.

If it were me, I wouldn't go for coding because really what's the difference in that and MT work. My advice would be to get something solid like business, IT, accounting, communications, education, nursing, something where you can get a good job afterwards.

Getting an education is do-able for everyone, and you won't ever regret it.

I agree with you about coding. I can't get away - from ALL healthcare-related - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
employment fast enough. Healthcare is a real sketchy employment choice these days, with all the upheavals and top-heavy management styles most hospitals use. I know that people talk about healthcare as being a "growth" industry in the foreseeable future, but I think the only growth will be in indigent, uninsured patients (unless our economy truly turns around, and not just according to the talking heads on the TV news). And the other growth will be in incomes for the suits at the top. Everyone else will be making less and less. The fact that companies like M*Modal are now getting into coding doesn't bode well for that industry. What'll they take over next? Physician's assistants?

thanks for the info! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I absolutely agree with you about coding, too. Congratulations on your new career.

congrats!!! - corgi

[ In Reply To ..]
wishing you all the best; it goes to prove you can teach an old dog a new trick! I admire you for pursuing your career at the age of 50; I'm a few years older, but it gives me things to think about indeed!

again, best of luck!!!!!!!

Very encouraging news! I'm back in school - at age 63 -- (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
not college, but adult school, to learn (and in some cases re-learn) the tools I need to get a better job. Once I'm done with computer classes, I might also take some bookkeeping, management, or other business classes. Medical transcription has pigeonholed all of us into a very narrow skill set, and it leaves us less able to get the jobs we apply for. It took me a long time to realize that. I kept thinking prospective employers, not only in the medical field, but also out of the medical field, would recognize and find a use for our skills, and see us as good potential employees, but the surprise was on me, and the rest of us. If even MTSOs have no appreciation whatsoever for what we do, why would anybody else? So, as soon as I can get out of here, all I can say is, India and China can HAVE medical transcription! I want more that that. I want a REAL job.

Thank all of you for sharing your experiences. sm - MT56

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm 56 and would love to start a new career. I am so sick of MT. Good luck to you all.

Awesome, congratulations - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

A miracle - old and burned out

[ In Reply To ..]
To be hired at your age with no experience in your field is pretty much a miracle. While I think everyone should try to get out of transcription, I think getting a situation like yours would be false hope. Still, you never know unless you try.

So proud of you and happy for you! Thanks for the inspiration. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Sorry, this was in response to NJA.

I didn't want to rain on anyone's parade..but I found this - a bit hard to believe myself.

[ In Reply To ..]
and I sincerely hope it is just because i am a pessimestic know it all..really I do..but to graduate with an IT degree in 4 years from an on-line university and score an entry level position at 100,000 a year?? I would offer that medical infomatics is a field we all should be looking at, it would take our extensive medical knowledge and make something of it.

I tend to agree - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
not many people make that kind of money period. Right out of school gets to be a manager?

She wrote she is managing projects, not people - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it's great she's started a new career!

and I will tell you project managers with a 4 year online degree - do not normally make 100,000 with no experience

[ In Reply To ..]
sounds a little urban myth to me. wonderful if it is true..and even more wonderful if it inspires those of us 50+ who need new careers..but the reality of job market is quite different. Even Six Sigma black belts do not make 100,000/year for project management. But who knows..would be happy to learn i am wrong.

I was a project manager before I became an MT... - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
Was making 56K when I left, after 8 years of experience. That was 12 years ago, and I was on the business/end-user side of things...the project managers on the IT side made quite a bit more; they had to make more than the programmers, who started at 40K back then. I did not have a degree...didn't really need one back then but everyone wants one now. So, "close to" 100K over a decade later is not that hard to believe. Those jobs can be very stressful and require a lot of travel, leadership skills, organizational skills, etc. I am sure NJA will do fine, and congratulate her on her initiative.

that is wonderful! - but what do you do

[ In Reply To ..]
What do you do if you've only got like limited intelligence? I feel like I'm really stuck because I just don't have a lot of brain capacity. I couldn't do IT to save my life. I barely passed algebra.

Congratulations! I am also at U of P so this is really - encouraging. Good luck! nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

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