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

Practicing for job interview tomorrow - nm

Posted: May 27, 2014

Everything I have seen about successful job interviewing says NEVER say anything negative about your current employer. So fellow N MTs, any good suggestions of what I could say that would not be a bald-faced lie?

You are looking for a new position due to job security as MT is becoming obsolete - not a lie.

[ In Reply To ..]
In my experience, I always found it best to follow the don't ask don't tell policy regarding anything! Don't give out more than you need to, in writing or in person, and when answering questions remember to KISS.

Keep It Simple Stupid (or)
Keep It Short n Sweet

I've talked my way out of good things or into bad things by "explaining" too much or being overinclusive. My husband always says just to give him the Cliff's notes version LOL

Just give any interviewer that answer and you are not lying. Good luck!

When I was asked why I wanted to leave Nuance - I said inconsistent work.

[ In Reply To ..]
I did not mention lousy pay or management so inconsistent work was honest without getting into detail about this underhanded company with their stupid Fiesa scores and unobtainable bonuses.

Thanks!! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Both very good points. The work is inconsistent -- that is brilliant.
I'm so glad I posted and you responded. I want this job so bad I can hardly stand it !!!!!

I just tell em the truth: My department was - laid off cuz our jobs were offshored.

[ In Reply To ..]

Thank you for posting this question. - It will help!

[ In Reply To ..]
It will help me and others in our interviews. One can so easily forget (like I did) the dos and don'ts of good interviewing, especially when mired in the depravity of a company like N.

I've had 2 interviews - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
1 where I didn't get a job, 1 where the interview was disappointing, but a decision has not yet been made on the job.
So for this next one, I'm pulling all stops, reading, and doing everything possible to be very well prepared, including for the difficult questions. I may have undermined my chances with speaking poorly of N, which I did on those 2 interviews. I will NOT repeat that mistake, and thanks to this board, I have 2 honest and very reasonable reasons for wanting to leave my job.
Of course, there are dozens more, but I will K.I.S.S.

You have to have a reason to want to leave N - without getting down and dirty.

[ In Reply To ..]
Inconsistent work is the least of my problems with Nuance but it is the nicest reason I can tell future employers why I want to leave this horrible poorly run company that has no respect for MTs.

Moving on - Polllyanna

[ In Reply To ..]
No matter what I apply for I never even get an interview. The older MTs are really having a hard time getting hired - I know, I'm one of them.

Polllyanna - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm 60. I am on the lookout to bring up the fact that I am looking for a new job with virtually every single person I talk to. I have a lot of people look for leads for me. And, I have an HR friend who is advising and helping me. Also, look for job hunters clubs in your area, put yourself on Linkedin and Careerbuilder, and check for jobs daily. I believe it's a numbers game. You must do lots and lots and lots of applications. And you must BELIEVE that you are going to SUCCEED. Then you can project the confidence that will help you land a job and do the job well.
Go for it!

What type of job are you looking for? - MT work? At home?

[ In Reply To ..]
I have applied for work at home doing MT work and no one has asked me my age. It is against the law. Of course if you are looking outside to do work your age may be obvious but no can legally ask your age.

I can't imagine wanting to work outside my home. I have been spoiled in that regard. No having to buy work clothes, fighting traffic, paying high gas prices to get to work, lunch, office politics etc.

Looking for both MT and non-Mt - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have identified a few jobs outside of MT (and I don't want to put that on this board for ID reasons), as well as MT, but no MTSOs.
I am willing to work from home as MT, and equally happy, maybe even more happy, to work outside. There are certainly advantages to at-home, but it's just not a must for me. I'm actually ready to have coworkers.
And, the interviews I have had were all in-person interviews, and that is the only way I am even considering a job. No long-distance, over-the-phone jobs for me. And you are right, employers cannot ask age, but I am told that employers will definitely Google every applicant. Our ages are public information with the Internet, along with lots of other info. I skip pre-1990 work history on my resume, but I assume that they know my age, whether or not they ask.

True. We are home alone so long we forgot how to be social - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
I find it funny just for myself that at one interview I thought I nailed it, didn't get the job, and then the next interview I babbled my way through it and thought they thought I was BS-ing, and then I got the job. Go figure! LOL

I was at home so long I forgot how to speak to someone in person and not through an email. I think I talked their ears off. Being at home can really take you out of the loop.

Social with friends and family - but love electronics

[ In Reply To ..]
I really do not mind not socializing in an environment where you are forced to socialize with people you may not care for such as at work. Love my electronic communication to keep things simple. I now enjoy social events so much more where family and friends get together but that is because I have not been in touch with them daily except through electronic messaging.

other companies already know, tho - alreadyleft

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you're going to find, unless you're not interviewing with another transcription company, that they likely already know the reasons you'd be leaving. When I left, I interviewed with probably 8-10 transcription companies before deciding where to go. Every single one that I talked to, said something to the effect of "Oh you're a former Transcend person? We have interviewed **fill in a different number here** people from there just this week because of the way they started treating you guys! It completely shocked me!

That is really unprofessional - for an interviewer to drag you into gossip

[ In Reply To ..]
I would not get drawn into it. Stay professional and take the highest road you can take. Oh really would be a good response.

oh they didn't ask for gossip... - alreadyleft

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't mean to imply they were gossiping, hope it didn't come across that way! I just mean they had heard the same stories from so many people, that when they saw where I was coming from, they made that type of comment and then didn't ask any further why I was leaving. There were quite a few people leave about the same time as I did, right after the Transcend/Nuance changes, and apparently many of us interviewed at the same places...

Not interviewing with MT companies - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Neither of my two interviews were with other MTSOs, and the one tomorrow is not either. I want to be done with N, as well as all their ugly stepsisters.

Technological advances and outsourcing... - RT

[ In Reply To ..]
I've used the excuses of technological advances in my field (i.e., speech recognition) and outsourcing of labor overseas as the reasons I am seeking a job with more security. Interviewers seem to understand those 2 concepts.

They don't have a clue what a medical transcriptionist or editor is or does or what the technology is, but they understand computer technology putting humans out of work and companies sending work overseas for cheaper labor. However, I never mention the cheaper labor part because it sounds negative. I figure the interviewers can fill that in on their own.

Best of luck on your interviews.

RT - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Just a suggestion from a fellow MT job hunter ... practice a small presentation on the nature of medical transcription, and stress those aspects that are most closely related to desired traits listed in the job listing. If they don't know, take the opportunity to educate them on what terrific background MT offers for a job as **fill in the blank**. You really can use that to your advantage.

Good points - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
I answered some of my interview questions using MT; mostly about meeting production, quality, deadlines, detail focused, flexibility, working earlier or later than needed, weekends and holidays not a problem, proficient in (software name) and Internet usage. Able to sit for extended periods, type, mouse use, computer screen, etc. No problem communicating via phone, IM, email.

That actually was an advantage for me at my interview and now I will be starting my new job at a bank next month. I really was surprised that my MT background was good enough for that position. That was the last place I applied to before deciding to take a break on the application front and just sticking it out with MT as every other place I applied to, medical and not medical, wouldn't give me the time of day. I even interviewed for an in-house MT position and I wasn't good enough apparently. So who knows? Your MT skills may take you to a totally different position. It did for me!

I'm still waiting to wake up and think this is all a dream.

interview - KG

[ In Reply To ..]
I had a phone interview for a part-time retail merchandiser job (on top of FT MT-ing). when they got to the end and asked why I wanted to work there - I was honest and said it sounded interesting and fun. I got the job and really like it too :)

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