Medical Assistant

They lie to us with these tv ads. I went to school in 2003 for MA. I still don't have a job in that field. It was 25 people in our class, I think only about three are working. They were hired through thier internship. And we have to pay back this money and got nothing out of it.

They do lye to us on the TV ads about guaranteed employment after completing the Medical Assisting Program at Cabrillo College or Bryman College. I graduated in 1999 and it took four months to get a job. I worked for Pulmonary Specialists and in Family Practice. Now after not working for two years these employers require that you be bilinguel. That is a bunch of crap, if i wanted to learn how to speak spanish i would move to Mexico. What is up with that?

I graduated in 2004 and it has been a constant struggle for me finding full time employment in the medical assistant field... I have been working maybe 1 or 2 days a week when I'm working at all...I figure in the coming years this field is going to be obsolete so I enrolled in college to take up nursing... this field is really booming and it is so many areas to work in.... I plan on working in labor and delivery...you may want to try additional training good luck to you!

I graduated at march 2006. I'm certifiedd medical assistant and certified EKG Tech. I'm still looking a job. I am OK to work any department.

I can't find a job either!!!!!!! There are CNA jobs but not CMA jobs!!!!!

I see all you people are from different states and everyone has the same problems.Here in missouri it is not much better!I graduated in 2005 with gpa 3.8 and speak 3 languages and still looking for employment.From all my peers that graduated with my about 10% are in the MA field and still think they want to go back to school and not stay in the ma field.

I feel everyone struggle trying to become a medical assistant with excellent pay and benefits I have been struggling trying to get a permanent position for at least 2 years

Terri Flint, MI said: I feel everyone struggle trying to become a medical assistant with excellent pay and benefits I have been struggling trying to get a permanent position for at least 2 years

KEEP YOUR HEADS UP AND TRUST GOD

I come to find out that you need to have 6 months to 3 years exp and thats not including your exturnship. So if you dont get a job through your exturnship, seems your not getting a job and That sucks! So now were all stuck having to pay all this money back and no MA job to show for it. These Shcools should be a shamed of them selfs.
But I wish you all good luck for whatever you decide to do. Good Bless and Good Luck.

I feel cheated. Here I thought that I would get the training I needed to get a good job and then nothing happened. They say that you should network and cold call. I hope that they are right because that's like my last choice.

R. Davis said: They lie to us with these tv ads. I went to school in 2003 for MA. I still don't have a job in that field. It was 25 people in our class, I think only about three are working. They were hired through thier internship. And we have to pay back this money and got nothing out of it.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT HAVING TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY BACK. I GRADUATED IN 2005 WITH A 4.0 GPA AND I TOOK MY WORK VERY SERIOUS. WITH ME I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE SO CALLED "COLLEGE" NAME.WHICH WAS TRINITY. I'M NOT GIVING UP BUT I WON'T USE THIER NAME FOR SIMPLE FACT COMPANIES OR HOSPITALS ARE NOT RECOGNIZING THAT SCHOOL AS AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL.

I know what you all mean. I finished MA in 2005 I don't have a job yet and most jobs don't want to pay you over $8.00 either. I feel it was a waste of time and would not advise any to become a MA.

I understand where your coming from. I graduated in December 2006. Just finished my externship. I have been looking for a job for 3 weeks now. The career center at the school said they will also help but I really doubt it.It's a lot of money I have to pay back.

Every where I apply they want you to speak spanish or 5-10 experience in the field. When do I get this experience if they don't give me a chance.
I'm not giving up my heart was set on medical assistant. Hope I find something soon.

Thank you for reading.

(Disappointed)/ Fiedel

Please reply

i know how eveybody is feeling about this medical assistant i graduated from NIT in southfield for a medical assitant and istill don't have a job i been looking for 4mons now

Hello Brittany

I graduated 1 month ago and I'm still looking for a job. The extern I was at they were not hiring and I knew that but, that was the only place the career center had for me at the time and I was finishing school in 3 days.

There were ones that got hired on there extern after they finished and I really don't think they wanted it that bad. They are young ones and lazy but, oh well best of luck to them.

Thanks for reading
Fiedel

I'm bout to graduate and i am having such a hard time finding a job. I have looked at every web site possible and still nothing. I just don't know i'm starting to give up hope.

neuza said: I'm bout to graduate and i am having such a hard time finding a job. I have looked at every web site possible and still nothing. I just don't know i'm starting to give up hope.

Have you tried doing a job search on Indeed (www.indeed.com). Here is a search I did to help you get started:
www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Medical+Assistant&l=

There are a lot of listings included in this search so I would highly suggest refining it by adding a location in the "where" search box, looking at the left-hand refinement margin or using the "Advanced Search" link located directly below the "Find Jobs" button.

Something else you may want to consider is setting up a LinkedIn or Ryze account. THese are social networking sites that will help you meet people in the industry. In addition all job listings in Indeed have direct links to people within your network. You can find this link by clicking on "more actions" located on the bottom line of each job listing.

Good luck!

I took a MA class at Bryman college in San Bernardino,Ca and I did my externship for an Orhotopedic Chiropractor in Riverside,Ca and got nothing out of it.I'm still out of a MA job since 2004.

wow i'm sorry for that i have a feeling that the saame thing will happen to me . i think that i'm going to have to do something else which sucks.

keep your head up

I know how you all feel I'm a medical assistant still looking for a job I graduated from Trinity college in 2003 and I'm still looking for a job in a field with no career advancement.Why pay all this money for school when you can't find a job in your field.

I graduated from a medical assisting program in 2005. Everyplace here wants you to speak spanish and have 1-3 years of MA experience that does not include any time on externship. I have been without a job since, and can not find a MA job. I am going to go to nursing school once I get some of my credit cards paid down. MA school has only benefited me with an introduction to the medical field. I wish though, I could be compensated for the tuition since I can not find employment as an MA. My school could care less. They are only in it for the tuition.

i feel the same way i graduated in 2006 and still nothing. they don't even consider that fact that u just got out of school. how are u suppose to have experience if nobody wants to hire us. ya Spanish is recommended in a lot of these lobs.

Yeah I know how that is I graduated last January and I can't find anything for someone who does'nt have experience or speak spanish. I really don't think that it is fair to be required to speak spanish.

Heather in Portland, OR said: I feel cheated. Here I thought that I would get the training I needed to get a good job and then nothing happened. They say that you should network and cold call. I hope that they are right because that's like my last choice.

I also live in Portland, Oregon. I graduated back in 2000, and it took me a few months to find a job. I am currently working at one of the biggest hospitals in the world, and have good pay, and great benefits. Jobs are out there...you just have to look and never give up! Go to local hospital websites, jobdango.com, monster.com, ect... and post your info so if something comes up they have your info. Good luck to ya'll! BS

A said: Yeah I know how that is I graduated last January and I can't find anything for someone who does'nt have experience or speak spanish. I really don't think that it is fair to be required to speak spanish.

I agree with you! This is the USA, and we speak English. No offense, but if you are going to live here...learn our primary language. We'd have to do the same if we wanted to survive in any other country whose primary language wasn't English. Come on!

classydiva said: I graduated in 2004 and it has been a constant struggle for me finding full time employment in the medical assistant field... I have been working maybe 1 or 2 days a week when I'm working at all...I figure in the coming years this field is going to be obsolete so I enrolled in college to take up nursing... this field is really booming and it is so many areas to work in.... I plan on working in labor and delivery...you may want to try additional training good luck to you!

We are a ObGYN office in Santa Monica looking for a full time medical assistant ASAP. Are you still looking?

Terri Flint, MI said: I feel everyone struggle trying to become a medical assistant with excellent pay and benefits I have been struggling trying to get a permanent position for at least 2 years

Terri,

If you graduated from Ross Medical Education Center, call their career development coordinator (Heather) at 810-230-1100. Ross grads receive placement assistance long after they graduate.

Sherry

ma = vaste of time+money

I agree with you. I graduated in May 2006 and about 150 Resume's and Application's later no job and I am now paying back my StudentLoans .

Debbie in Janesville, Illinois said: I agree with you. I graduated in May 2006 and about 150 Resume's and Application's later no job and I am now paying back my StudentLoans .

I am From Robinson,Illinois not Janesville,Illinois

neuza in Dover, Massachusetts said: I'm bout to graduate and i am having such a hard time finding a job. I have looked at every web site possible and still nothing. I just don't know i'm starting to give up hope.

I know how you feel. The websites don't even give the medical assistant jobs,you type in the words and it comes up with other kinds of "assistant" jobs. Monster.com is notorious for that. And yet some ads will say how "Offices are screaming for good help!". Well,who are they hiring? Where are all these so-called jobs? If you did well in your classes and externship,and are certified,then you are "good help".
As for the rejection excuse from these offices about "not enough experience"-that really is baloney if you stop and think about it. You had experience in your own clinicals/externships,yet these same offices will hire in someone who did their ext. with them,so the ones they DO hire have the SAME amount of experience that you have.

I guess we are expected to spend a year volunteering to get the "experience".

Maybe you should move here to Portland Oregon....There are a ton of jobs here! B

Josie Georgia in Doerun, Georgia said: I know what you all mean. I finished MA in 2005 I don't have a job yet and most jobs don't want to pay you over $8.00 either. I feel it was a waste of time and would not advise any to become a MA.

Wow...here in Oregon finding a job isn't too difficult...Most jobs start at atleast $10.50/hr. I can't believe how many of you all are having troubles finding jobs. Maybe moving here to Oregon will help. Good luck to ya'll! B

okay girls i am scared. I am currently in an MA program with 6 months still to go. Isn't the school supposed to help you find a job even if your extern job doesn't hire you?

some do most don't for me it has been hard to get a job you may be one of the lucky few don't give up and be all you can be during clinicals.

shane in Boise, Idaho said: okay girls i am scared. I am currently in an MA program with 6 months still to go. Isn't the school supposed to help you find a job even if your extern job doesn't hire you?

Whatever you do,don't let your guard down when it comes to thinking that everything will fall into place, and you have trust that the school HAS to find you a job. They SHOULD help but many have a "job specialist" who is no help at all. In other words,WORRY about it and voice your concerns in class CONSTANTLY. We never talked about that in class,we had all these print outs piled on us from the Dept. of Labor about how medical assisting was the fastest growing career etc. It was their way of assuring us that all these jobs were out there and it turned out not to be true IN THIS AREA (it may be the opposite where you live). So challenge that to your teachers and whatever kind of career coodinator you have. Ask them what are you to do if you apply and apply and get nowhere.
And try to make sure you pick or are assigned a good externship site,even if you have to find it yourself. Pick a busy office where you will get a chance to do everything,and DO everything. Make it clear to the office manager that you like working there or want to work there even if you don't. Getting hired in at your site is all important,so try to make that a goal.

shane in Boise, Idaho said: okay girls i am scared. I am currently in an MA program with 6 months still to go. Isn't the school supposed to help you find a job even if your extern job doesn't hire you?

Hey, don't i felt the same way a couple of months ago. just when i was starting to give up i received a call for some where that i interviewed for another position offering me the chance to interview for a MA position that was about to open up. and look 2 moths later i'm working and loving it so don't give up no matter what happens.

I am a Certified Medical Assistant, who graduated in January of 2007, and have put in resume after resume, nobody wants to hire you without atleast 2 years experience! How are we supposed to get experience? I am really getting depressed now because I worked so hard in school to maintain a 4.0 GPA, then became Certified to better myself, and still, no job!!!!

I got my associate degree in april 2007.
I've been looking for a job since february 2007.
And I'm still looking for one.
I'm certified Phlebotomist and EKG tech.
I totally agree with people who say that
" How can I get experience if they don't let me start to get experienced ? "
I never skipped class.
All quarter perfect attendance.
All quarter Dean's List.
Also chosen as student of the quarter by faculty.
3.98 GPA with 1 B and all A's.
I figured out that these don't matter at all to get a job.
I'm afraid...
Many people who graduated MA program in my school they come back to school to study such as business management.
So should i go back to school ?
I already have like 15k school loan.

i think you should keep looking for a job and go back to school after you pay off some of your loans but look to the future and achieve all you can

I went back to college for medical assistant. The school said there alot of jobs. I graduated May 2007. I can not find a job because I have no experience!!! Please tell me how I get it if I can not get hired.

Granted I do have many years experience...but even when i just graduated I applied to places even when it said one year experience. I don't know if your school offers it, but the school I went to for Medical Assisting had a department that will help you find jobs....or in Oregon there are more than a few temp agencies that hire specifically for the healthcare field. I go onto www.craigslist.com all the time and look under the JOBS area, under "healthcare jobs." I actually found quite a few last night for myself...applied online via e-mail, and already had one contact today. I looked in New Hampshire and there are a few different jobs available for Medical Assisting. Not sure of what they are looking for experience wise...but I would apply to all of them, and don't give up! Post your resume and info on jobdango.com, monsterjobs.com...all of those sites. Look at your local "big" hospital websites and look under job opportunities and apply there too! Sometimes you have to work in a not ideal clinic or whatever just to get a little experience under your belt...then you'll be good to go! I would just not give up. Just keep applying, and explore all your options! It's a fun job, and you'll learn so much! I promise you'll be successful, just don't give up so easily! Good luck! Brandy

Oh...I also wanted to say...in that same section on www.craigslist.com, you can post an ad yourself with your information and what type of work you are looking for. Be honest and tell them that you don't have a lot of working experience outside of school or your externship, but that you are willing to work hard and gain that experience you need to gain even more from the field...or something like that. Like I said...Good luck! :) Brandy

I posted mine 2 months ago.
I finally got a job !!
I've been working at this big hospital for 1 month now.
And I really love it.
I think I applied over 30 hospital and clinics over internet.
And I sent actual my paper resume like 5 places.
I didn't have any experience but anyway finally I got a job.
Honestly the pay is not great but I'm here to build my experiences.
This one that I'm working at. I sent my paper resume, recomment letter from director of my school, cover letter and everything. I sent by Fedex it costed 13 bucks but it was worth it.
I looked for a job like 4 months.
Please don't give up. Even I got a job.
I'm just still upset about my school.
In school now they know I got a job and wanted to use my picture like they got me a job. and I had to say No.
I just can't wait til graduation ceremony and get done with this stupid school thing.
Hope you guys good luck !!

Josie Georgia in Doerun, Georgia said: I know what you all mean. I finished MA in 2005 I don't have a job yet and most jobs don't want to pay you over $8.00 either. I feel it was a waste of time and would not advise any to become a MA.

I'am thinking a class action suite would be fitting for all these schools that are ripping us off

Really I'am thinking about a class action suite. This is crazy there are to many MA speaking out about not having jobs and not being able to find work this was a quick way for these schools to get some money out of some people that was ready to change their lives there has to a better way out of this debt.

shane in Boise, Idaho said: okay girls i am scared. I am currently in an MA program with 6 months still to go. Isn't the school supposed to help you find a job even if your extern job doesn't hire you?

Thats cute you belive that too look it's highly unlikly that they will help you find a job so be on alart!!!! Also it akay to be scared i'am still scared and i have been out of school one year.

I graduated in June of 1998 with a associates in medical assisting. I did not go into the field, but now I have been looking for a job and because I don't have experience I can't find a job. There is not many jobs out there for MA's just LPN's and RN's. I really feel like I have been cheated. I was on the Dean's List and Honor Roll. I wish I would of went to school to be an RN or LPN. Medical Assisting is a waste of time.

I am currently looking at a MA school that takes up to 16 months. I know that experience is a big issue for most of the applicants. I just got done with a transition class from Military to Civilian. I learned that even thought they say 1 year experience if you have a good resume` then you may even get looked at. And plus after interviews send the person that interviewed you a thank you note for their time. I am going to get out of the military after 8 years hoping to find my dream job in the Nursing community. My ultimate dream job is to be a Neonatal nurse:)
Good luck to everyone:) Please email me with any advice at sillytinagurl04@aol.com

I think that looking for a Medical Assistant position is very time consuming and difficult. I was hired right out of school(not at my extern facility)and when I took time off (5yrs later) to take care of my kids for a year I found it extremely difficult to find a job (approx. 6 months). I found the key to this is small clinical settings. OB/Gyn and Family medicine or internal medicine. However, OB would be the top choice and never mention your personal feelings regarding women choices when you go into these interviews. I know that we all have values but it is important to find income first for what we went to school for. There are people out there making way more than what MA's are making with no degree. I would look into the hospital's (universities) for the patient financial services. If you get into the door you can usually find internal hiring.

Good luck everyone and God Bless.