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

Severely frusterated new grad - jknewmt

Posted: Sep 07, 2010

I have been a new grad since July 2010 and have been actively looking for employment since May 2010. Everytime I see a posting for a job that requires 2, 3, 6, 7 years experience, I just want to scream. If there is such a need for experienced MT's, then why don't some of these companies train a new MT??? Train a fresh brain, shape them to work for your company? I have several friends who were considering a career as a MT but have already advised them to never do it. I am starting to wonder what I went to college for? I have called soooo many places, apply (on average) for over 40 jobs a day, sent out 100+ resumes, and I get nothing but rejection. I have even offered to volunteer my time but get turned down. I am at a complete loss. What else can a new grad do???

Clinic work - VetMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been an MT 41 years. I have seen countless new grads believing they were professionals prepared to take acute care by the tail, only to find they couldn't do it. MTSOs are fully aware of this. To be a good acute care MT *who can actually make a living at it* requires an apprenticeship of sorts, either in a clinic or doctors' offices or in an MTSO that hires new grads for clinic work. A family practitioner covers a wide range of services and would be a great apprenticeship. Some new grads from the 70s are so happy with their original specialty office jobs, they are still there and making more money than I am in QA at this stage of my career. They might be better off, given the pay reductions and layoffs and various other dirty tricks MTSOs have done to worthy MTs in the name of the almighty buck.

I agree with above poster. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been MTing for 35 years. I do not believe one can "graduate" and be ready for acute care and not be closely mentored. IMO, in-hospital is the best. Even if you think you may not get to use your knowledge in a given speciality, take the job if you can get it in a local doctor's office, clinic or hospital. Talk to family and friends, ask them to put in a word for you at their physician's office. The doors will open for you then down the road. However, these on-line companies do not have time or personnel to mentor properly. The QA people (who fill in blanks, check format etc) generally work on production. They don't have time to mess with new people. And I might add, as you come along in this MT world, verify, verify, no matter who tells you. Well-meaning people can be wrong. Look it up. Take the time, lay the good foundation, and the speed will come later. Again, I do not believe you can be productive enough and making money enough to survive, as a new person in an on-line job. And if you were to land one, chances are you'd be so frustrated you'd be inclined to quit and/or would be making many errors that would go uncorrected and become bad habits. Hoping the best for you.

I blame these so called MT schools that profess to promise you jobs - lindawordlady

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been an MT since the late 1970s. I actually went to school to become a medical assistant but never pursued that. I was always curious about all things medicaly, probably because I was married to a wonderful man who had lots of medical problems and lost his life at a young age. So, I was quick to learn and very driven, because I knew it was something I was looking for. I am sure you have heard it here before if you have read any of the posts from others, that those days are gone. I was fortunate enough to work at a hospital and the night supervisor took me under her wing and gave me tons of help and encouragement. Even so, it still took me a few years until I was very comfortable doing the work of an MT. In the beginning (even with knowing medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and the like), I was continually looking up words that I had never heard of before. Now, it is second nature to me. Many times I almost threw in the towel and was so frustrated because even though I knew I had a brain upstairs, I felt really stupid for a long time with continually asking questions. Luckily, I had a couple of pretty good supervisors and some NOT so nice. Today after 35 years I feel so comfortable with this and all ESLs. The sad part is that will all this knowledge, the pay is absolutely terrible. I am now making what I made in 1994.... yes, 16 years ago.

I blame these schools that continue to promise such a great career when it is truly a dying career. But, if this is something you really want and are willing to work hard for it, with perservance, I am hoping that you can find something somewhere. I have seen some companies asking for MTs with little or no experience on another web site, which I hesitate to name here because of conflict of interest. But, do not give up if you truly want to do this. Also, cut yourself some slack... you know the economy is bad for all jobs, not just for MTs. Feel free to e-mail me if I can lift you up in any way. Good luck kiddo!!

Schools - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Can you give us the names of the "so called MT schools that profess to promise you jobs" so that people know which schools to avoid?

Schools - doppelganger

[ In Reply To ..]
I still maintain that any school that does not use the SUM program really shortchanges its students. As to these programs that advertise in the women's magazines, well......a step up above the matchbooks. It really IS necessary to investigate schools thoroughly BEFORE signing up. Beware of any school that "promises" you a job. They cannot do that. Call a company you would like to work for and ask their HR department what they think of the school you are considering. You would be surprised what HR really thinks about some of the matchbooks. It breaks my heart that so many young people and young single mothers are getting taken in.

Schools - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
Beware of anybody who tells you they have jobs available upon graduation. As you can see, there's barely enough to keep the experienced MT's going much less new MT's. Might be good to have a fall back as this industry is going downhill fast!

new grad - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Try SoftScript.

Frustration - Be patient

[ In Reply To ..]
First, congrats on graduation.

Second, in this economy, it is not unusual for it to take 6 months or longer for new graduates (in any profession) to find a job.

Third, as already stated, you need to crawl sometimes before you can walk. The likelihood is when you do get hired, you will be alone in your home with no extra "ear" and still feeling frustrated.

I'd recommend you make up a flyer and stop in (bring cookies!) to every doctor office, clinic, surgery center, etc in your area. (Don't forget physical therapy offices too!)

If you can get an in-house position, you'd have a better chance of also being given the benefit of additional training help.

Keep trying!

What school did you graduate from? - Summertime01

[ In Reply To ..]
What school did you graduate from? I am looking into enrolling.

Not ready for acute care - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I have to agree that very few new MTs are ready for acute care jobs fresh out of school, regardless of the school. I was hired as soon as I finished my program (community college, by the way) and was lucky to land a hospital job as my first job. Back then, my co-workers were willing to help me, but I did things over and over until I got it right. No one has that kind of time any more, but there was no substitute for that experience and it allowed me to work in a lot of different MT jobs. I can say firsthand that there is nothing wrong with a community college education. Anyone who thinks the schools are supposed to "care" when they are dealing with hundreds of students needs to wake up and smell the coffee. This is not grammar school, this is the world of work. Your employer probably will not "care" either, except that you show up when you are supposed to and do your job. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.

Your message made me very sad. I hope not everyone has the attitude that nobody cares - I disagree with you

[ In Reply To ..]
My experience shows the opposite. I wish for you better experiences, with people who do care. They still do exist.

I would like to politely disagree - Former MTSO

[ In Reply To ..]
I must politely disagree with the statement that "few new MTs are ready for acute care jobs fresh out of school, regardless of school." I have never met an Andrews grad who was not ready to hit the ground running. And no, I am not now, nor have I ever been, associated with Andrews in any way except to admire its grads.

Same problem - Tara

[ In Reply To ..]
I am not giving up and you should not either. There is one person in particular who graduated with me (a community college) and she is giving up already on finding a MT job. I am not giving up so easily. I must have been applying to so many companies already. Yes, I do want to throw in the towel, but I know I will find something eventually.

I did my internship at DIT Transcription and was thrilled when they offered to hire me on as an independent contractor. I took the job at first, but never got started after hearing all of the horror stories about their company not paying employees. Thank goodness my professor said something.

There is a company that someone I talk to on Twitter told me to try. She is an MT. She has done it for 10 years I think she said. The company she told me to try is RI Transcription. I looked at the BBB and they have an A+ rating.

I took the transcription test awhile ago and passed. I am waiting to hear about the editing part of the test, but have not heard back if I passed or not. It is extremely frustrating waiting. Seems like I have forever. Just keep plugging. I am.

That's typical for most community colleges, unfortunately - Good luck with your job search!

[ In Reply To ..]
Community colleges usually put all of their attention, money, and resources on a certain few courses that are their bread and butter. If you aren't interested in whatever is their course-of-the-decade, you just feel like they don't care, because they don't.

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