The United States Department of Labor predicts that health care jobs in general will experience growth by 2020, and medical transcriptionists openings in particular are projected to grow by 18 percent. According to iSeek Jobs, the average wage for medical transcriptionists is $17.59 per hour. Seeking employment as a medical transcriptionist involves a combination of self-assessment, preparation for the job and putting wise job search strategies into action.
Instructions
Finding a Medical Transcriptionist Job
1. Do a complete assessment of your career skills and interests to determine if the medical transcription field is a good fit for you. Skills and interest assessments can be found on websites such as iSeek Jobs. As a baseline, you should be an organized person with computer skills, have an interest in health care, and enjoy working independently.
2. Make sure you have the educational experience necessary for the field. Complete a one-year or two-year medical transcriptionist education program. Additionally, become certified. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) facilitates the certification exam. Once certified, you will need to renew your certification every three years by earning continuing education credits related to the field.
3. Determine if you would like to work for a corporation or become self-employed. Many medical transcriptionists work from home and this arrangement will involve a lot of planning and self-motivation. Before considering working from home, inform yourself about the expectations and restrictions related to self-employment as defined by the IRS. Additionally, consider completing continuing education courses on business management and entrepreneurship.
4. Polish your resume and practice your interviewing skills. Be sure you have updated your education and any relevant employment history on your resume and highlight your certification if you have one. Practice interviewing with a friend or associate and let them provide you with honest feedback. For a list of common interview questions, visit Common Interview Questions (CIQ) at http://www.commoninterviewquestions.org.
5. Start your job search online. Visit the AHDI's Career Connection website (link below in Resources). You do not need to be an AHDI member to use this site. You will be able to search for medical transcription jobs, register to receive job postings via email, create a personalized website, and post your resume for employers to review. Check general job search sites such as Monster.com and Yahoo Hot Jobs as well.
6. Network with others in the field. Speak to those who are currently working in medical transcription and let them know you are seeking work. Attend local networking workshops which are often offered by Government Workforce Centers. If you are a recent graduate, ask for an appointment with your school's student career center. Networking is a highly effective means of finding employment since you will have a direct reference from someone you know and who knows about your skills and motivations.
Tags: medical transcription, medical transcriptionists, your resume, continuing education, from home, health care