Question for new graduates; Seasoned MTs welcome to respond also - Michelle

From reading post after post on the New MTs Board, it seems like one of the main reasons a lot of people chose the Medical Transcription field is because they were lured in by the “work at home, when you want” dream.  But when reading through the job opening ads, any type of flexibility is usually reserved for Independent Contractor positions, and IC positions usually want lots of experience so the MT can work with little or no supervision.

On top of that, at least in my opinion, it appears that in this cut-throat world of bidding wars, TAT has become a major issue.  It seems that the option of 24-hour TAT is dwindling as each day passes. 

So, these questions are mainly for recent graduates.  I would like to know from anyone who just gotten their first job within the past couple of years: 

1.  Was your very first job as an Employee or as an Independent Contractor?

2.  Did your very first job have a set schedule or were you able to “work when you wanted?” 

3.  If you have had more and 1 job since graduating and now work a truly flexible schedule, how many months/years or how many jobs did it take you before you got your truly flexible schedule? 

4.  Is your flexible schedule as an Employee or as an Independent Contractor?  

Don’t want to leave out any seasoned MTs who have an opinion.  So, if you can remember back to your first job (not implying your memory is anything but sharp as a tack), please also answer the above questions, just kindly indicate how many years it took you to get to your “flexible” status and how many total years you have been in the profession.

I am hoping the answers to the above questions will be instrumental in opening the eyes of some of the “pajama mamas” who think we are all a bunch of bitter old naysayers and the only reason we tell prospective students to look into other careers is because we are jealous of them or something equally absurd.