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Spheris will hire you. They have lots of Career Step people.

Posted By: See Message on 2007-11-20
In Reply to: new grad help - ShellyMT

As long as you do not need health insurance, they are fine for a new grad.


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Spheris - is it true they will hire Career Step grads without
making them take employment test? It is so stated on New MT board.
You don't have to go to Career Step
I smell something a little fishy here.  Are you advertising for Career Step?  I repeat if you are already a transcriptionist, then you can apply for online jobs.  It does not take a certificate from Career Step.  I have been offered many jobs online, and I do not have a certificate from Career Step or any other training program.  
Career Step
Just to clarify about Career Step, the cost is nowhere near $5000. It is in fact, between $1500 and $2000 the last I knew. I do not work for them, but graduated a year ago and they did prepare me for acute care MT work. (After 9 months I am making about $20,000 a year, working 2 IC jobs for a total of about 40 hours a week).
Career Step
CS has been a dream for me. With their training, I had 7 offers for at-home MT employment within 2 weeks of graduation. It is a hard course, and the final exam has a 50% fail rate, but it really prepares you for the real world of MT. If it wasn't that hard I think I would be dead in the water. If you want to learn more, they have a forum for people who have questions about joining at http://careerstep.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/frm/f/6960008433
and their website is www.careerstep.com. Before joinging, I checked them out with the BBB and called them probably 20 times with questions. They were very helpful and have a shiny record with the BBB. Also, they are one of the few schools approved by the AAMT, as you can see from the AAMT website. They are also a lot cheaper than most places. Hope that helps!
Career Step
Career Step is legit (and I don't get any $$ for recommending them). The course is self-paced and allowed me to work from home right after graduation. The website has all the cost info. on it. 
Career Step
If I knew then what I know now, I would not have attended Career Step.  I would have attended MTEC or Andrews.
Career Step
My sister took this course 3 years ago and was hired as a graduate. I was able to view this course and was very impressed with it and how it prepared the students. There is a lot of practice dictation starting from beginner to advanced, working your way up. Another good school is M-TEC. When I helped my sister research what companies were looking for in graduates, these were the 2 schools that always popped up as being recognized by companies that hire graduates.

I went to a local business school and worked on site at a hospital/clinic for 5 years before working from home.
They do get a fee for all who actually enroll in career step.

Career Step is $1320 or $1560
x
If they use MTTEST by Career Step - Don't bother...
...just like Career Step's program, MTtest is GREATLY flawed. And the potential employers don't bother to review this or your testing. If an employer lazily uses MTTest (and is recruiting people to buy Career Step's scam terrible training program), I don't bother. Even if you get it right, the module is flawed and will likely say you got it wrong. Don't waste your time being insulted by same.

Companies that actually send you dictation to transcribe are the best to test with. They test your true knowledge/ability, not through a flawed and inadequate multiple choice module that's sole purpose is to recruit people to Career Step.

Just my 2 cents... :O)
Yes...Career Step has a referral program where you receive something like sm
50.00 for every person who signs up for Career Step through you. I BET they are affiliated. How unprofessional can one co. be?
Anyone heard of Career Step program?..cost?..legit?
I checked out the Spheris website and I don't have enough experience to apply...but they directed me to Career Step kind of as a prerequisite to get your foot in the door for employment....there's gotta be a some kind of cost, but I didn't stick around to find out....link, after link, after link..yada yada...anyone have any comments on this setup?
but of course, people in the 10-step program
.
Thank you, Spheris recruiter! Anybody wanna place a bet that there are lots of Spheris
HELP WANTED ads on the job board?? So funny!! Out of the blue, Spheris, we love you!! Lets all run and apply NOW!!
More people will come into VR because the qualifcations to do MT are not the same. Lots of people w
to work at home. It's all relative to what you are used to. The nationals are counting on this. I think MTs will work cheaper rather than reenter the work force with no other skills than MT. The nationals are counting on this.
Does Spheris ever actually hire?

Because I have applied several times, and have never received so much as an email from them.  Weird, because I usually hear back from everyone I apply with. 


TIA!


Against offshoring, yet hire Spheris?
xx
Well, lots of people....
have husbands that work the weekend as well, so they dont mind hanging out at home working that schedule.  For me personally, that doesn't really work for me either.  I have never had a job where weekends were required though.
Go on Spheris private board. Lots of tips
nm
I think in the last few months, lots of MQ people have gone there. SM
A few ex-YOGGERS have been there for awhile, but some aren't there anymore.  The ESL accounts at YOG, where I used to work, are NOTHING compared to FN.  Not even close.
It seems they should be anxious to hire people on, and get right on it.
I guess some of these companies think they are the only fish in the sea -- NOT
Lots of people using an ExText system can really
s
Lots of people work PT on the weekends
as a second job, so no, all full time people don't have to work weekends.
They do hire people as hospital employees, but
it's not the great situation it's cracked up to be. The hospital complains about everything possible to the account manager, who gets nervous about losing the account and it's all downhill from there.

It's too bad because it's a great idea in theory. Unfortunately it's human nature to pass the buck and place blame on those at the bottom of the totem pole, so that leaves the nameless faceless MT's on a daily roller coaster of paranoia and hysteria.
No! Recruiters HIRE people! You don't have that authority!
It is EXTREMELY misleading to come on this board and identify yourself as a recruiter of Keystrokes when you were never actually given such a position by the company. Keystrokes does not have recruiters. The owner posts open positions on the job board, people send in resumes, and they have people in HR who do the actual hiring. They do not have recruiters. You are putting the company that I work for in a bad light, and lots of us do not appreciate it. Please stop.
Lots of people like it here even though the ESL load is supposed to be heavy. nm
s
Most generally lots of people on here to start trouble????

Bringing this back up from below posted by Babe  People come here to get advice, and seeking opinions on companies good or bad.  Sure, there are a few bad apples that will not be happy anywhere they go but I think most of us all want the same thing, an honest and good company to work for.  To post only the positive would be great, but then as we all know, there are companies that do their advertising right here posing as MTs, only to find out later when we get burned and have to start the entire process of testing and bouncing yet to another job.  You are either very naive about the MT world we live in today, or more likely you are a company official that doesn't like anything negative posted about your company, specially when its lots of it.  I don't think anyone is stupid enough to believe everything they see here, but if you see a  lot of  specifics about a particular company and you experienced it yourself, then you have to give that some credibility and back that person up - this could be good information or bad information.  My assessment of KS personally is that I have not seen anything that would sway me in any way.  Any information I have seen here leaves me as feeling neutral.I think people just want an honest opinion, thats all.  I guess you perceive a negative post warning about another company's ripoff techniques starting trouble  Hmmm.. makes me wonder what chair you're sitting in, sure don't sound like an MT. 


Lots of people work for Adept and LOVE us
Would Adept hire you back? It's a two-way street, you know? This is irresponsible.
You are gathering wrong. Lots of posts of people
This is like beating a way dead horse at this point. So many just can't follow the subject of posts. The poster you are responding to is stating the fact that this is JUST LIKE the fiasco that used to go on here regularly with Keystrokes, with management and owners freaking out at any perceived criticism and posting over and over and over defending the company, calling the MTs liars, fakes, whatever. Yes, it is exactly the same, and it shines a very negative light on the company name, worse than the original posting. It is very yucky to see companies posting on here. It does tend to validate the MTs who have complaints. Its just plain old weird.
Agree.. What is up with Spheris..They hire new grads yet I have over 14 years experience in acute
care, multiple specialities, yet..they said I didnt meet the qualifications. WHAT???? Why arent they honest and tell the truth. Do not tell me I am not qualified when I have worked for two hospitals doing all work types including radiology for all those years. Their ad said at least one year of experience. I guess 14 did not count for anything. The funny thing was that the hospital I was working for at the time had just signed them on to do our overflow, having switched from MedQuist. I just find it ironic that they were hired by our hospital which I worked for and had experience at, yet, I was not qualified enough. What a joke!!
I have seen many companies who want to hire OP people to work from home!
nm
Depends on the accts you get put on. They hire people every month, tho'! nm
s
Lots of people are happy with them, but you DO have to "clock out" every time you leave your
s
Does Spheris have QA people?
Just curious. Their website only mentions MTs.
Lots of promises, no follow through. Lots and lots of internal sm
problems. She is recruiting heavy right now as she has a CHANCE at getting a big account back. Even if they get it back, they'll blow it again from poor management.
Did Spheris people go to Medscribe?
x
Nice people at Spheris
You are so right; however, with horrible unitelligible dictators and lousy sound quality, I could not make a living there. Also, too many inconsistencies and subjective QA-ing. When the dictator says duh x-ray, and you type the and get counted off because QA thnks it should be an or ptient's x-ray that gets under one's skin in a hurry.
may people have left spheris sm
Yes, I worked for them for 9 years and finally had to leave because they cut may pay in half. At least 4 people from my team alone have left, and I suspect many more are leaving. Horrible insurance with sky-high deductables, abusive team leaders, no holiday pay, expectations to work most holidays. I never got a raise in 9 years. Terrible place, they just keep cutting benefits/pay/perks.
Lots of people have been burned by them..be careful, very careful. NM
xx
I totally agree, your story is mine and lots, and lots of others, please
believe me when I say Keystrokes has been honest like we used to have in this profession. If I can help one Transcriptionist avoid what we have, this will all be worth it. I worked parttime for Keystrokes at the time I was fulltime with ____ and quit, 2 years later I begged them to take me back after once again my paycheck was cut in half, and they did with open arms. I don't mean to run down anyone but a lot of these transcription companies are getting obscenely rich while paying below minimum wage to transcriptionists, playing with dictation and after working for a couple of them you know who is honest and who is not. Sorry I came down so hard but the reality is there are single mothers out there that I bet cry themselves to sleep not able to give their children a decent life because it is easier to steal from us. When companies have millions of dollar to pay for other transcription companies, open transcription schools in other countries, ect., ect., you know there is a lot of money in it. That is all I am saying.
I don't think we work at the same place, but I have been working lots and lots of hours.
Very thankful to have a decent job.
Lots and lots of recent stuff in archives.
 
We should go one step further than that!
We should stop buying products made in other countries if at all possible (Wal*Mart comes to mind). Don't forget: Every time you buy a foreign product, an American somewhere at some point lost her/his job to offshoring because of that product. MTs represent ONE segment in a loooooooong line of people who are losing/have lost their jobs to offshoring.
One step further
You got one step further than myself.  I sent my resume but didn't even hear back from them...so I am guessing they were probably inundated with resumes.  Doggone it anyway!
Maybe Transcend needs to step up
to the plate and fix these issues before their investimate goes down the drain.
Yes but Transcend needs to step up
They are loosing a lot of their money by allowing MDI to continue to operate they way they do. I personally would love to see them merge MDI into Transcend and be one company. I'm holding out hope this happens, if it does not then I'm leaving MDI.
Been there . . . this is actually a step up on dictators for me!!! NM
NM
Does feel like the new Q. This is step 1...
Beware.
I agree, but it's a step up from
and I don't care to the Nth power.
Hold on there! Now I must step in.

Don't be putting down people who like to do VR. I did straight typing for over 15 years and I am making the same, if not more, doing VR now. I was not a very slow typist, and quality is my first priority. I've been doing VR for almost a year now and love it. What makes it easy for me is I never really relied on Expanders to up my line rate since my hospital didn't really allow them, except for autocorrect. I didn't have an Expander until 6 years ago. Doing VR, I can't use the expander I did finally learn, but it's no big deal.


Like some other posters stated, it depends on who else is doing the reports whether or not VR is easy or hard.  Some days, my reports are easy, other days tough. It's the same when doing straight typing. Some dictators are easy, other are tough.


I don't think VR is really made for large companies with hundreds of transcriptionists. It's made for the smaller companies that all conform to the same verbiage.


If you're good/fast/quality-oriented with straight typing without expanders, then VR would be good for you. If you rely on an expander to get those lines, you will have a problem in the beginning, but if you're flexible, it will pan out.


Don't down people because they like VR. You know what they say......try it. You may like it.


 


Let's take a step back

Okay.  I think we can agree that in this industry, like every other, there are some bad apples.  There are some bad MTSOs, some bad MTs and even some bad clients.  And there are some good apples, too. 


Unfortunately, even the best MTSOs have to deal with a lot of new realities in this business that limit their options.  Over the past 15 to 20 years, the business has become much more competitive, clients are now being run by bean-counters who squeeze every penny out of contracts that they can, and the investment that an MTSO has to make in technology today has simply skyrocketed - not only the initial investment, but the ongoing investment in tech people, etc. to keep it running.  On top of that, there's been the deteriorating business climate that has actually been going on since 2007, although it didn't attract significant notice until late in 2008. 


And now comes speech rec.  There's a lot of MTSOs who haven't been thrilled about this because it's a huge investment and because they know how crummy SR really is - but clients become sold on the exaggerations in savings that the SR missionaries preach, and start insisting on it.  So you'll do SR or they'll find someone else.


The costs to every business in America for what we call compliance (to all of the jillions of laws that affect business) have also skyrocketed.  You can find plenty of information about this yourself.  These costs include all sorts of insurance and a lot of costs in terms of your operation just to keep yourself out of court or an administrative hearing of some kind.


MTSO's don't run the industry like some people here seem to think.  Clients run the industry.   Technology runs the industry.  Congress and various administrative agencies at every level of government run the industry.  Lawyers run the industry. 


There is one thing that I do criticize many MTSOs for, however, and that is the crappy line rate that many of them are paying for SR editing.  The typical scenario is that they promise you'll be able to edit jillions more lines per hour than you can transcribe,  so you shouldn't mind going from 9 or 10 cpl to 3 or 4 cpl.  Unfortunately, you buy into this and then discover that if you do your editing job properly, you really can't do all that many more lines per hour.  So your next paycheck sucks.  You give it a little longer...and your paycheck still sucks.  A couple more paychecks that suck, and now YOU are the one who is out of options. 


It's no good telling people who get caught in this trap Well, then, get into another field! because by this time they have no money to be trained in anything else.  Their kids are already fighting with the dog to see who gets the food in his bowl. So my criticism is the shameful way that many MTSOs have dealt with their people.


What bothers me the most about this is that every line of an SR document gets edited - even if it doesn't need to be changed.  In other words, there's really no difference in the KNOWLEDGE that an Editor has to bring to a line whether she declares the line to be correct or decides that it needs correction.  That line is correct is PRECISELY THE SAME SORT OF JUDGMENT as saying That line is wrong. 


This is a knowledge business, not a typing business.  There is absolutely no excuse for reducing the line rates so drastically (and little experience to show that people can still earn the same living).  This means, then, that the MTSO is buying knowledge on the cheap - and that's one thing that I can't forgive them for.  That, and the way they sucker people into accepting editing jobs in the first place.