Recent graduate from M-TEC Inc.

Hello,

I am a recent January graduate from M-TEC Inc with a 96% GPA from the Premier program. I have been finding it hard, as is the current theme, to find companies that will waive the 2+ years experience required.

I have all my own equipment and research materials. Slow still but very accurate and question everything I am unsure of.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Regards,
Kristen

That is very discouraging. I am surprised that companies are not willing to waive the 2 year experience requirement since MTEC offers such a comprehensive program. Have asked anyone at the school about this? After reading negative posts about the difficulties of findng a job after graduation, I asked my instructor if it were true. She said there is a tremendous need for qualified MTs. The economy is so bad, so it might have some bearing on your difficulties. Also, you just graduated this month, so you might just need to give it a bit more time. But I would call your instructor and ask. She might have some tips for you.

bchbum82 in Toledo, Ohio said: Hello,

I am a recent January graduate from M-TEC Inc with a 96% GPA from the Premier program. I have been finding it hard, as is the current theme, to find companies that will waive the 2+ years experience required.

I have all my own equipment and research materials. Slow still but very accurate and question everything I am unsure of.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Regards,
Kristen

I am a radiology transcriptionist with 17 years of experience, and I got my first job at a SMALL hospital working SECOND SHIFT. Sometimes you have to take jobs that are less desirable when you are a newbie. Also, take online tests when you see on MTJobs.com and MTStars.com that a good company is hiring. If you do really well on the test they may take a chance on you. How do you know if it is a good company? Without experience, I would say to watch the forums on the above websites and see what is said OVER TIME about specific companies. Keep a journal of the ones who seem to have the best reputations. Hope this helps!

well, here's my two cents. I'm taking a medical coding certificate course at the local community college here in atlanta. at first i was very optimistic about my employment oppurtunities. as i was talking to a lady who was in one of my classes, i asked her what her course of study was and she told me HIT( health information technology). she already has a career in the medical field. she told me that i am not going to be able to get a job as a coder. here is how she put it: "do you think some doctor who has been to school for 8 years is going to hire you with no experience to work in the office. she told me that the coder was basically responsible for "paying" the office. she said you need so much more knowledge than what they teach in a certificate program because you are a major player in the operation of the office. she told me that you can't get a job with a certificate in coding. the only way that you could get a job in coding (and you would still need medical background) was if you had a degree. the HIT program at my school is the degree program that would enable you to do real coding work. of course, i was distraught at learning this info and talked to one of my instructors. when i relayed what the other lady said she didn't bat an eye and said the woman was telling the truth. she said that i would need to search for jobs in Medical Records or work as a file clerk. and she did advise me to continue with my education and get my degree in HIT after i got my medical coding certificate. with the economy what it is, i wish people would be more truthful and realistic when giving advice to newbies in the medical field, like myself. another friend tried to console me and told me that this woman didn't know what she was talking about and not to listen to her. But basically, the teacher confirmed what the lady said and job searches seem to support what the lady told me also. so the silver lining is that i now know what to expect.

I think you should look at some job postings online like careerbuilder and see what they expect as in credentials for coders. Most jobs I have noticed were more concerned about what type of certification that you have, nothing about background training. There are some that mention what type of education they expect you to have.

You have to know that earlier coders did not have formal education and the learned on the job and the earlier part of the millenium is when they started asking for certification.

I can't believe what I reading! An M-TEC recent graduate with a 96% GPA cannot find work?
Well,that is discouraging according to what is being posted in the MT chat forums you guys (MTEC, Andrews etc..) are the best programs online.
Nonetheless, here you are stating the opposite.
That's ashame with all that money spend and no job straight out of the course.
I'm so happy to have chosen VLC that's right you heard it VLC! The online course you MTEC and Andrews graduates talk so wrong of... Our comprehensive program had an internship program and workplacement program.
So let this be a lesson to those interested in MT Carreers. I am a student from this course and have seen many graduates from VLC go off to do the internship and be hired right after completing the program.
Is not the money you spend that counts is the right program with the right resources to help you become the best in the long run that counts.

bchbum82 in Toledo, Ohio said: Hello,

I am a recent January graduate from M-TEC Inc with a 96% GPA from the Premier program. I have been finding it hard, as is the current theme, to find companies that will waive the 2+ years experience required.

I have all my own equipment and research materials. Slow still but very accurate and question everything I am unsure of.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Regards,
Kristen

Hi Kristen,

I'm also a graduate of MTEC way back in 2002. I started out kinda slow working from a local doctor's office in my town. you just have to make up an old fashion resume and talk to people. I did that for 2 years and then got a lead on a hospital job. I've been working for a nearby hospital (although I moved away, kept the same job) ever since. gotta love a job you can move with and raise kids with. Now i'm back in school and have great flexibility in my work, all the time.

I think there are jobs out there if you look. Small practices, ask your local hospital what service they use, ask what people are doing.

MTEC is a great school, great foundation to get you out there but still a lot to learn.

Don't give up.

VLC Student in Deltona, Florida said: I can't believe what I reading! An M-TEC recent graduate with a 96% GPA cannot find work?
Well,that is discouraging according to what is being posted in the MT chat forums you guys (MTEC, Andrews etc..) are the best programs online.
Nonetheless, here you are stating the opposite.
That's ashame with all that money spend and no job straight out of the course.
I'm so happy to have chosen VLC that's right you heard it VLC! The online course you MTEC and Andrews graduates talk so wrong of... Our comprehensive program had an internship program and workplacement program.
So let this be a lesson to those interested in MT Carreers. I am a student from this course and have seen many graduates from VLC go off to do the internship and be hired right after completing the program.
Is not the money you spend that counts is the right program with the right resources to help you become the best in the long run that counts.

Ouch, that really is bad. I know that program is costly. I took the program with PCDI and it was like little less than a $1000 and I can't find nada. So I pretty much gave up on Med. Tran. and have decided to take a online self-study in coding.

I think the fact that "VLC Student" has delivered a post with numerous misspelled words and poor grammar speaks volumes of the school, much like it would for any school.

Being a graduate of M-Tec or Andrews certainly helps you get a foot in the door, but is no guarantee of employment. Then, after finding employment many graduates are very disappointed to find themselves earning less than minimum wage in the first months. I attended one of those schools and received a superior education. I know that my choice of schools was the right one. Having said that, if I could go back in time and do it all over again I would RUN away from the field. In the amount of time it has taken me to complete the course, I could have become an LPN or 2-year RN and at a minimum be making $14 per hour and not worry about my patient being sent to a foreign country for care or that my skill might be replaced by a machine.

Shasta, It seems that you already know this, but those certificates in coding are nearly worthless. I am about to finish a second bachelors degree in HIM, after which I will take the RHIA exam. Other than the investment of time, getting an AS in HIM and sitting for the RHIT is really not a task that will require a great deal of you academically. More education is always a good thing! Good luck to you.

Tit4tat in Mocksville, North Carolina said: Ouch, that really is bad. I know that program is costly. I took the program with PCDI and it was like little less than a $1000 and I can't find nada. So I pretty much gave up on Med. Tran. and have decided to take a online self-study in coding.

Do your homework before investing anymore money in cheap programs. You get what you pay for. You are going to need a 2-year degree in HIM/HIT and not a certificate. Be careful with online programs. There are a lot of great online programs, but there are far more that just want your money. If it does not prepare you for credentials then you are wasting your time and money.

bchbum82 in Toledo, Ohio said: Hello,

I am a recent January graduate from M-TEC Inc with a 96% GPA from the Premier program. I have been finding it hard, as is the current theme, to find companies that will waive the 2+ years experience required.

I have all my own equipment and research materials. Slow still but very accurate and question everything I am unsure of.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Regards,
Kristen

Hi Kristen,

I am sad to hear that a fellow MTEC grad can't find a job. MTEC is a great school. Up until now even 7 years after graduating from MTEC, national companies are still sending me invitations to work for them because of MTEC's reputation. I am also proud to say that MTEC had opened the doors for me. I am now a proud business owner of an established MT company and has been servicing local physicians in my area. I started out working for a small MT company making peanuts just to get my foot in the door. I saw your post was 5 months ago so you probably have found a job by now. I am sure you will. Don't give up!

Good luck!

I hope at this point, Kristen, you have found something. I am on the verge of finishing #17. I am very curious to learn about what you've been doing. I hope you are enjoying a career as an MT. Please update us.

I am a recent graduate of At-Home professions and I am also having trouble with getting a job as a Medical Transcriptionist. I have applied to nearly 200 places locally and online. I just can't find any place that is willing to waive the 2 years of experience. I live in a very small town and the local hospital has sent there transcription to India and the other hasn't hired in six years. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Tueke,

I would suggest trying to find a job online first. You can try MTjobs.com or MTStars. Some employers there are looking for MTs to work for them even without experience. The pay will be low but that is a good place to start to get some acute care experience especially the big 4s (H&P, Operative Reports, Discharge Summary, Consultation Reports). When I first graduated from MT school, I was an apprentice for this small company online then after 6 months I got a better paying job, also online.

Good luck!

Thank you for your quick response I look on mtjobs.com everyday. I haven't found anything that will let me do an apprenticeship. I don't mind if I was making less I wouldn't mind doing some volunteer work for a period of time just to get my foot in the door and keep my skills up to date. What was the company that you did that for? I will start checking mtstars also. How long ago did you graduate? Thanks again for any suggestions you have!

tueke in Lake Park, Minnesota said: Thank you for your quick response I look on mtjobs.com everyday. I haven't found anything that will let me do an apprenticeship. I don't mind if I was making less I wouldn't mind doing some volunteer work for a period of time just to get my foot in the door and keep my skills up to date. What was the company that you did that for? I will start checking mtstars also. How long ago did you graduate? Thanks again for any suggestions you have!

I graduated from MTEC in 2002. Not that I have anything against other schools, but MTEC kind of opened the doors for me. Most of the national MT services out there were willing to hire new grads from MTEC. I guess it is the reputation. I worked for LTS in Richmond, VA when I was starting out. I tried to find their website but I had no luck. Sorry! I also tested for Sten-Tel and passed their test that time and they were offering me a job but I accepted LTS instead.

I am a graduate from M-Tec in April 2009. It took me a total of 3 months of diligently looking for work before I was offered a training position back east. She is not hiring anymore new people so I can't give out the name. But this is a confirmation that another M-Tec student got a job. ;)

Well I guess I will have to just keep checking. Thanks anyways.