Interview tips for work at home professionals

If you haven’t tried it before or known about it before, yes people are getting interviewed in a lot of other ways nowadays. There used to be only a phone interview (which is mostly an invitation for an actual interview at the office) and the interview at a specific place (usually office) but nowadays, people are getting interviewed via Skype or online video chats – basically it’s what they call as virtual interviews.

This is also common to work at home professionals and especially for companies that outsource some of their services and needs. Below are some tips and advice for applicants who would undergo virtual interviews:

1.Always be on time. Treat your interview as an actual interview and be sure that you show up or connect with them on time. You have to ensure that all the tools you need (computer, internet connection, medium of communication such as Skype, is readily available). You can’t use excuses such as poor connectivity for your being late as the interviewers will then know that you don’t have the right tools to work for them – especially for companies involved in a lot of online activities.

2.Dress accordingly. Even if you think that they don’t see the lower part of your body since you are sited, be sure to wear pants and shoes as you never know if they are going to ask you to stand up. Dressing accordingly is one thing but having a good environment is another. Be sure to have a clean and organized workstation and be in a quiet environment. Show them that even when you are working at home, you have your own work station that is free of distractions and is organized.

3.Have a soft copy of your resume on standby. Some employers will still ask you a copy of your CV during your interview so be sure to have one ready for sending.

4.Show you are focused. Don’t look at your surroundings and don’t look at your own image on the computer, focus on your camera.  You can turn off or hide your own image as some people tend to get distracted by their own image.

5.Be sure you are being received 5x5. Although some applications or software allows you to test your system (microphone, speakers, etc.), you should still ask upfront if your interviewer can get you clearly. In case they don’t you can make necessary adjustments to avoid miscommunication.

Treat your virtual interview like those that you get when you go to their offices. Always show professionalism and show them not just your skills and capabilities but also your value and what you can bring in for their company.

Resources:
http://www.meditec.com/blog/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Home_Guide
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2011/ted_20110624.htm

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Career tips for 2014

It’s a new year and as many people would look at it, it’s a fresh year for changes and opportunities. Planning the year for career success is one of the biggest challenges to some people (some don’t even have career plans), but if you do it right, you will definitely find success. Here are tips we can share to help you with your journey to success for 2014:

Review and Plan

There may have been a lot of things that you were not happy with for last year but you can’t just think that what happened has passed. You need to consider all of the things that happened in the past and make goals on how you can make things better – don’t just think about the “what could have been” or “what ifs” but learn from what happened to help you make better decisions if similar situations ever happen again. Keep in mind that setting up your goals for this New Year is not a onetime deal, it may change from time to time and more goals (no matter how small or big) maybe added to the plan. Your goals will help you determine your targets, the things you need to do and what can make you happy or satisfied – from having a target number for how much you want to save to certain destinations you would like to visit.

Don’t lose focus

Some people make New Year resolutions and the same as in planning your career, distractions will come along the way. Take the time to measure your achievements, success and failures with your goals and re-assess if there are things that you need to do differently. Never forget the reasons why you set those goals and what you would like to achieve with them.

Manage your time well

One of the blockers some people say for doing the things that they would want to do is the lack of time. Time management is one of the keys in achieving your goal. Be sure to plan out the things you want to achieve and set a realistic timeline for it. Lastly, when you have your time management and schedule, be sure to follow it 100% because if you don’t stick to it, you will end up just planning without accomplishing anything – don’t be the “there is always tomorrow for it” guy.

Balance your life

Although it is important to work hard and be focused on your career, it’s equally important too that you balance your life (especially if you already have a family of your own). If you focus too much on work you might end up stressing yourself. You should also include in your goals that things that makes you happy – have the time for your family and friends and from time to time, don’t forget to reward yourself even with the smallest things such as going to the spa, getting a massage or eating foods that you love. One of the things that you should not ignore and should be monitored is your health. Working too hard, drinking too much coffee, stress, sleepless night, unhealthy fast food - will sooner or later, take a toll on your health.

Suggested relevant reads:

1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2013/12/23/10-tips-to-get-your-career-in-high-gear-for-2014/
2. http://www.meditec.com/blog/
3. http://theweek.com/article/index/254679/6-smart-ways-to-catapult-your-career-in-2014

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Finding Entry Level MT Jobs

Some people don’t even know that there is a “medical transcription” (MT) job and to those who have heard about this career and the opportunities the industry offers, here are some great tips in finding your first MT job.

Choose the right training program – you would need to take up training before you can start a medical transcription career. You should take advantage of training providers that also offers “internships” or “placement assistance” for students that performed very well during the training. Being able to be an intern with their partners can help you show the company that you have what it takes to be a part of their team. If you cannot find any training provider that offers this, you should look for a school that has a high percentage of graduates that are placed and successful with MT companies.

Add experience to your resume – if you like charities and helping people, once you have finished your medical transcription training, you can look for healthcare facilities that accept volunteers. You can do this for 6 months to a year and add it to your resume to show employers that you have experience and have been successful in working in the industry.

• Aside from having the experience in the field you must also ensure that you prepare your resume exceptionally. Be sure to mention your accomplishments and skills but don’t focus too much on your qualification but instead, show your worth (mentioned how much you have helped the company you have experience with and not just the things you did there –e.g. improved productivity by 20%, etc.).

Be connected – be sure to be connected online with job listing websites and have your profile with them so you can easily submit your application. For work from home MTs, most companies will look for years of experience coming for the MT – they don’t usually hire newly trained transcriptionists.

• You can also connect with a recruiter or a job placement professional to help you get an interview.
• Join blogs, forums and discussion sites with medical transcriptionists. One of your best resources are going to be actual MT professionals since they know the best resources for the industry. You can easily find groups and people on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Connect directly with facilities providing or needing MT services – contact or visit hospitals, services provider companies or doctors/physicians office and send them your resume or business card and don’t forget to include your cover letter especially for future job openings.

Resources:
http://www.squidoo.com/where-to-find-healthcare-jobs
http://www.meditec.com/medical-transcription-training/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-transcriptionists.htm

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Medical Transcription Services Market to Grow to $60 Million in the Next Six Years

Medical transcription is regaining its status as a hot market for job seekers as evidenced by a recent Transparency Market Research report. According to the SB Wire press release of the research company last December 5, the medical transcription services market is forecasted to be worth $60 million in 2019.

The research was based on a market analysis of participating transcription service providers that cater to healthcare institutes, private clinics, hospitals and other professionals. The market analysis was further divided into several categories from patient history to diagnostic reports, as well as modules of delivery such as outsourcing or offshoring. Geographically speaking, the market samples were sourced from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW (Rest of the World). Specifics, however, weren’t revealed in the press release and interested parties would have to purchase the report online to be able to download its entirety. The free market analysis, however, published on the Transparency Market Research website detailed some of the findings found on the report:

• The industry is definitely on an upward trend from its $41.4 million value in 2012. The industry is expected to grow by 5.6 percent (compounded annual growth rate) during the period between 2013 and 2019.
• Key growth drivers among US companies were offshoring medical transcription work to companies in emergent economies in India, China and the Philippines. Savings from offshoring services in terms of financial and operational resources are the top reasons why many healthcare entities outsource transcription jobs to the said countries.
• Asia-Pacific countries are focusing more on developing and providing medical transcription service rather than availing it. Emerging European nations were investing on establishing medical transcription services organizations (MTSOs).  
• The contribution of US healthcare services documentation to North America is the reason why the continent dominates the MT services market across the globe. It is seen to grow as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act take full effect.
• Other driving growths for the industry include increased public and industry-wide awareness of the advantages of EHR systems, an increase in healthcare services demand from the elder generation, government initiatives, healthcare documentation software updates, and improved reimbursement processing. 
• Increase in in-shore outsourcing for medical transcription services in the US as more stakeholders develop advanced products that facilitate medical transcription work and reduce costs

Medical transcription has definitely revolutionized healthcare information management, and has paved the way for the improvement of healthcare documentation not just in the United States but across the globe. It has also been a crucial factor in the growth and improved quality of patient care delivery and facilities anywhere in the world. So remember, just because you sit in a cubicle, typing away doesn’t mean what you do doesn’t make a difference in the world of healthcare; it does.

And with so much support going around the industry right now—from government initiatives like EHR implementation to automation of patient care—medical transcription industry will only grow in coming years. All the more reason to build a career in medical transcription and take part in its remarkable transformation.

Resources:
http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/medical-transcription-services-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2013-2019-402297.htm
http://www.meditec.com/medical-transcription-training/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-transcriptionists.htm

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