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

VERY FRUSTRATED NEWBIE - Vet

Posted: Feb 17, 2011

I am new to this industry and have been looking for a job since October 2010. I am very frustrated because I have filled out over 20 applications and taken over 15 tests. I pass each and everyone with flying colors, but yet they have turned me down for having NO experience. I do not understand that if I am passing their tests and they are so "impressed" with me (as they state when they give me my results), then why are they turning me down? I may not have the experience, but I can pass their tests...does that not mean something?

Very frustrated newbie - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Please try not to personalize the situation in the MT world. Very, very few companies hire newbies because there is a plethora of experienced veteran MTs who will work for very little these days. That is the hard truth of our profession and of our economy. Do I think it is fair? Of course not. But that is the reality of the situation. On top of that, newbies who do get hired come from top schools (Andrews and M-TEC) who utilize the SUM program. If you had presented your situation 15 years ago, you likely would get hired with no problem. Today you are competing with job seekers who have 10-15 years of solid experience. I think that most companies have a "no newbies" policy. I know our company does. It is simply a financial necessity not to have to spend a lot of time training people. Where did you go to school? Did you use SUM? Have you tried getting a foot in the door at a doctor's office, a clinic, or even a hospital? Hospitals do not use MTs so much anymore, but some still do. Don't give up. Keep trying. I wish you the best of luck.

What is SUM? - Sunshine

[ In Reply To ..]
What is SUM - I know it's probably a stupid question, but I'm a newbie. My apologies!

SUM program - Rainy

[ In Reply To ..]
Not a dumb question at all, Sunshine. It is an MT at-home training program offered by Health Professions Institute.

I agree with old pro...sm - experiencedMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Try to start in-house somewhere. They are probably more willing to train versus a service. My company does not hire newbies either.

Most companies simply do not have the time to train especially with turnaround times down to a few hours versus an entire day or two back when I started years ago and stats now need to be returned in a matter of minutes.

Good luck to you...

I still enjoy my job which is the main reason I'm still at it. It's certainly not because of the money by any means.

THANK YOU TO BOTH :) - Vet

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the responses and well wishes. No, I did not take the SUM course and I did my study through Future MT. The problem with starting in-house and the main reason I chose this line of work is because I have a 5yr old that I need to be home with. My husband is a union carpenter & works mostly out of town so as you can probably gather working from my house is the best option for me. I did not choose this for the money either, we really do not need it, I just wanted something to occupy my time with. Money is not a worry for us, but thank you for that heads up. I guess I will just keep trying and I am planing on continuing my education as I go, so the SUM program is something I will be checking into. Thank you both again!

to: Vet - nyl

[ In Reply To ..]
I just want to throw this out there; it's not just MTs! I've been an MT for 20+ years, decided to go back to school and get a degree in a new field. Because of the cost of college I spent 5 years getting my bachelors degree in education. I cannot get a job.

The economy tanked, teachers got laid off, districts nationwide are on "freezes" and the government is still demanding budget cuts within the districts. Thousands of veteran teachers were "displaced" and thousands keep graduating. Of course you know who's going to get the job IF and WHEN they come open right...

It's everywhere, in every field. Hang in there and good luck to you. At least in the meantime you don't have a $400+ payment for a student loan coming in, like I do. That's one entire paycheck a month!

If it weren't for things like Angelfood ministries I don't know how I'd eat. I'm glad my kids are grown up and moved away, so they don't have to see me up 24/7 just to pay my bills! I know they'd move back home, but I want them to cut their own path. I'm alright at this point, keeping head above water. I cut out cable and phone phone years ago. Hardly drive anywhere, budget, clip coupons, run around turning lights out! It's like the kind of stories my GRANDMA told me when they lived through the Great Depression!

Again, chip up. Eventually we'll all catch a break. I firmly believe that.

You would think you could get a job teaching with your degree in education - Different world we live in today

[ In Reply To ..]
Everything is so different than it was even 5 years ago. Teachers have always been able to get jobs. These days almost nobody is too sure of getting a job, no matter what field they are in. My personal recommendation to people is, if you have a job, work hard to keep it. If you can do better, great, but don't give up the job you have until you have something sure to replace it. That's the problem. Nothing is sure today. You might get a job in another field, but there is no guarantee that they won't have layoffs.

Vet - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
IMHO, it would do you ( and all MTs) a world of good to get on board with SUM. I think it will open doors for you. (I personally never hired anyone who did not have SUM experience.) It sounds like you are on the right track.

If money and time aren't issues...sm - experiencedMT

[ In Reply To ..]
then you might want to go for your credentials as an RMT for now, become a member of AHDI if not already and join a local AHDI chapter for networking.

That's another main reason I chose this field also to be home with my 3 kids, but I usually steer friends away from the field when I get asked about it. It is just so hard to break into it nowadays without any experience.

Good luck again:)

Another view of AHDI - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
My view of AHDI is that is is a complete waste of money and time.

Agree with you again...sm - experiencedMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think for someone with absolutely no experience, it might be worthwhile as it gives them more to offer on the table. I for one am not a member or certified since my pay would not increase whatsoever, but the day my company offers a big enough raise for the CMT certification, I might consider it:)

AHDI is a rip-off. They especially prey upon newbies. - Please do NOT support AHDI.

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Not only is AHDI a complete rip-off...... - Two Shoes

[ In Reply To ..]
they SUPPORT offshoring. When you are laid off, remember that AHDI started this whole ball rolling. Just sayin.

I'm a recent newbie myself - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I applied at 120 places and it took me 3 months to find a job, a low-paying one at 6 cpl. With the exception of a few people who had connections, I know of NO ONE who went without applying to well over 30 places right after school before finding employment.

I'm actually shocked that you've gotten so many responses. Usually, companies don't even reply to anyone who has tested, sometimes even if THEY asked YOU to test!

As for passing the test, trust me, what you learned in school is just the very teeny tiny tip of the iceberg. Learning platforms, working with QA, the difficulty of dictators, the different account specifics you need to learn for each doctor who has "special snowflake syndrome," it's all MUCH more difficult than school was. So, unfortunately, just passing the test isn't enough. You'll probably have to find a place that specifically wants newbies.

Newbie that landed a job - Pharm

[ In Reply To ..]
I graduated from At-Home Professions in May 2010. I studied right afterwards for the RMT exam utilizing AHDI's BOS and their Workbook; also used the RMT Review Guide. I passed and diligently applied to multiple MTSOs and placed my resume on MTStars, MTJobs, and AHDI Career websites. I got my break in October 2010, as a newbie RMT, by being willing to apply for the job as an independent contractor as well. I think the RMT degree meant I was willing to keep studying and learn more each day for ANY job out there. I enjoy my new job from home at the age of 55! I would not want to be in my 20s or 30s making what they pay, however. For me, it works.

No experience and applying for jobs. - DiggerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I graduated from M-TEC in 2002.. I applied to one company and was offered a job immediately. Within one month of finishing school, I had a job, and I have been working continuously as an at-home MT for over 8 years. If you go to M-TEC (at least this is what they did when I went there), once you graduate, you are given access to their graduate board where they have lists of companies willing to test/hire new graduates of M-TEC. It was well worth my while to go to M-TEC.

DiggerMT - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
You are a prime example of why it pays to go to a good school. I would never hesitate in hiring someone from M-TEC or Andrews. As to the matchbooks that advertise in women's magazines, or some of the various "institutes" of one kind or another, that's a different story.

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