Throwing in the Towel on MT/Moving on to Scoping

[Lisa L. Bailey]

Okay, so I've been looking at this for quite a while.

 

I confess I began to grow concerned about MT early in our 3rd quarter.  Then, when we were given a list of companies who had hired EVCC grads, I actually visited every single one of them, and several of them were no longer in existence, while a few of them weren't even MT companies, and finally anyone who was MT and still in business made it clear that they only wanted 2+ years experience.  Despite being encouraged to apply anyway, job ads I was tracking closely clearly stated they did NOT want applications from newly graduated MT's.

 

At the time, I was wrapping up my commitment to handle the legal matter for my church, so I never actually applied for any MT position; however, I became active on an MT list of blind MT's with many years of experience - some 30+ years.  The stories are pretty horrendous, so I won't bore you with the nitty gritty, but suffice it to say, blind MT's that have been flourishing for years are being run out of the industry in droves, simply because the newly developed software tools used for MT and VR editing are not accessible, and the companies refuse to make them so.

 

So, I have decided I have two choices: I can ride this dying industry into the ground and die with it, or I can look around to see if there is anything else out there I can do...maybe even something I can build on top of the MT certificate.

 

I have looked, I have researched, I have called people on the phone, I have poured over forums, I have spoken with trainers, I have spoken with software venders, I have decided...I'm going to pursue scoping, and this is the training program I have selected.

 

http://www.bestscopingtechniques.com/

 

I am sending in my application this morning.

 

I've also started a blog about my experience, and I'll pass that along just as soon as it is current.

 

Feel free to ask any questions.

 

I have no idea how this will pan out, but I'll never know until I try.  Come along for the ride if you'd like.  We'll explore this together.

 

[myken goin]

Hi Lisa,

I'm sorry to hear that you've decided to go another route, though I completely understand.  I don't believe that I am going to get anywhere in medical transcription either, but at this time I'm going to keep trying.  I can't afford to take another course without knowing for sure that I will be able to get a job, so for now I will stick with applying everywhere.  I've run into the same issues you've seen with companies not even being willing to consider new grads.  And of course, at this point, we aren't new grads anymore.  I've said before, I feel more and more rusty and uneducated with each day that passes.  I had hoped by graduating with honors that it would give me a leg up, so to speak, but it hasn't made a difference for me. 

I hope the scoping route works for you.  You'll have to keep us updated on your progress.  Maybe that is something I could consider in the future, but like I said, at this point I just don't have the extra money to put into another education course without knowing the outcome.

Good luck to you!

Myken

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "EVCC MT Alumni" group.
To post to this group, send email to evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to evcc-mt-alumn...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/evcc-mt-alumni?hl=en.

[Lisa L. Bailey]

The "unknown" is the most difficult aspect here...the investing more for training without some kind of known outcome.  Hopefully, my "going first" will help to eliminate that aspect.  In the meantime, those of you who have applied for jobs as new grads and been turned down are not alone:

 

http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/medical-transcriptionist/Anyone-willing-hire-new-MT/t135435

 

---

From: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com [mailto:evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of myken goin
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 9:17 AM
To: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [EVCC MT ALUMNI] Throwing in the Towel on MT/Moving on to Scoping

[myken goin]

Yikes, at least we know we aren't the only group struggling for work.  I wish I would have known that before I applied for the MT course.  I was waffling between that and a completely different direction, and now I really wish I would have gone the other way.  All the research I did before signing up for MT indicated that it was a good, stable industry with tons of growth.  I thought for sure it would be my niche.  Really wishing I would have taken my other path.  Oh well, live and learn. 

[DIANE WILLIFORD]

All I can say here, is just like Electricians, there will always be a job for them because there is always lights and power.  Like them a medical transcription will always be needed, because there always will be patients and doctors, and files to be type.  Just a thought to share.  There are jobs out there, you just have to have patience and motivation.  

Have a wonderful day.
Diane

---

Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:47:20 -0700

Subject: Re: [EVCC MT ALUMNI] Throwing in the Towel on MT/Moving on to Scoping

From: myke...@gmail.com
To: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com

[Lisa L. Bailey]

Maybe, but the question is are the jobs that are out there worth the patience and motivation?  If you don't mind me asking, have you found a job, and if so, with whom and for how much?

 

 

---

From: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com [mailto:evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of DIANE WILLIFORD
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 1:07 PM
To: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [EVCC MT ALUMNI] Throwing in the Towel on MT/Moving on to Scoping

[DIANE WILLIFORD]

I work for DIT Transcription, and I get .5 a line up to 5,000 lines, and the between 5,000 to 10,000 lines it is .055. There is more but I have not gotten over the 10,000 lines yet.  You get paid twice a month.  It is kind of low in pay but it is the experience that I have.  I am also looking for another job too,  only because we have to live off my checks for awhile, so I need to make more to cover what my husband can not bring it right now.  He had 2 surgeries on his neck and back, so he is down for awhile.  It is hard, I will give you that referring to finding a job, but they are out there.  It may help, which is something I have not done yet, but to get your RMT, i just have to take the test at Career Step and at AHDI.  I just want to make sure that I can do the tests, so I am studying as well on those.  I hope this gives you a little bit of reassurance.  My friend has been an MT for 17 years, and she said do whatever you can to get the experience under your belt, after that it is home free.  I do feel it is worth pursuing, and in my mind, the cost of the school is enough to keep me motivated.  That is too much money to put aside or forget about.

Have a wonderful day.
Diane

---

From: li...@thebaileybunch.net

To: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [EVCC MT ALUMNI] Throwing in the Towel on MT/Moving on to Scoping

Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:13:12 -0700

[Lisa L. Bailey]

I hope the enormous sacrifice you are making now pays off for you in the long run.  I honestly wish you the very best and admire your perseverance.

 

The amount of money we paid for the course is definitely a shame, because the reality is that teenagers flipping burgers are making way more money per hour...no education or experience necessary.

 

As for the RMT, I admire your stick-to-itness; however, I strongly encourage you to read the job ads very closely.  Rarely is anyone asking for the credentials, and even when they do, there is no difference in pay.

 

As for me personally, being blind puts the icing on the cake such that the struggle isn't worth the effort. 

 

During the MT program itself, parts of Career Step weren't accessible, and they were sensitive, but nonresponsive.  "We're sorry, but..."  AHDI is a joke.  The Book of Style wasn't accessible until a few months ago, and Benchmark is totally useless.  The RMT study materials produced by AHDI are not accessible, and the RMT and CMT exams are inaccessible, as well.  The Stedman's word books which were fully accessible on CD through 2005 are no longer accessible, and they are sorry, but they have no plans to fix the situation.  Companies who have blind MT's already working for them are rapidly switching to pripriatary platforms that are not accessible, and when employees (like your friend who have 10, 20, and even 35 years experience) are not able to do the work anymore, they are being cut loose without a word of apology or anything.

 

By the way, I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, so I understand hard work and motivation.

 

This is a broken industry with a huge disconnect between a cutthroat hiring complex who is screaming for qualified MT's, but who refuses to hire anyone unless they have experience and an educational industry that is cranking out MT's that can't get jobs.  The situation is so bad that the few companies that do hire new grads are openly and blatantly taking advantage (your company and Entrata) by paying sub-standard wages.  (BTW: Did you know that it is illegal in this country to pay less than minimum wage?  If the production wage doesn't equate to at least minimum wage, they are required by law to pay you minimum wage until your production is sufficient to earn minimum wage?  In the state of Washington, illegal aliens with no education whatsoever get paid minimum wage to pick apples on the farm.)

 

If it were Wal-Mart or Costco or anyone else saying, "It's okay...make the sacrifice now, it will pay off later," we'd tell them where to shove it.  But because a lot of MT students were already in desperate circumstances (i.e. single mothers, caretakers for ill or disable family members), everyone just sucks it up, because they don't see any other choice in the matter.  Personally, I think the educational institutions and hiring organizations that are involved are criminal for taking advantage.

 

 

---

From: evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com [mailto:evcc-mt...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of DIANE WILLIFORD

Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 2:28 PM