A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

So sick of rejection...need advice please

Posted: Apr 24, 2014

Once again, I have tried, applied, and been denied from the local hospital I've been trying to get into for years. I keep seeing the same job postings for the same positions every 3-4 months and apply each time, and update my CL/resume each time as well so it is not just a cookie cutter cut and paste job. Well, I applied online Wednesday morning for a unit clerk position (again), got an email asking me to complete an assessment, which I completed Wednesday night, and now lo and behold Thursday I get the auto reply rejection email! I was actually excited this time because this application was the first time I've been offered to continue on to step 2 (as it were) to complete the assessment questionnaire (unless this is something new they started) and now to get the rejection yet again is just heartbreaking and frustrating! Do they not get the hint that I really want to work there especially when I keep applying for the same jobs over and over and/or apply every 2-3 months for some position or another! The only "good" thing about this email rejection this time is that it is not one of those do-not-reply email addresses and I'm seriously thinking about replying and asking why not me? what's up with that? But you know, more professional and proactive and not sounding clingy or needy or pushy. Have any of you ever asked an employer why you weren't considered for even an interview? If so, how did you word it? Thanks for the advice :-) I also applied for bank teller and a general office entry level position in my town as well, but I won't hold my breath on those :-( I guess it's back to the temp agency for temp-to-hire $9/hour with no insurance jobs for me, since that's the only thing I can get nowadays. I just feel so defeated...;

I would actually ask why you weren't selected - - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
...so that you could improve? I mean, maybe say that you are very interested in the position and have been turned down a few times now, so what criteria are they looking for that you lack? Or what skills could you work on?

You never know, sometimes even just getting someone to take a second look could work out to your benefit. And if they reply with some tips, maybe that will help. The worst that could happen is that you hear nothing.

Just keep it professional, positive, and polite.

Dear CLB - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Please don't let yourself feel defeated. There is nothing wrong with YOU. They are probably looking for someone with a specific piece of experience. While they're missing out by not hiring you this time around, in the future you might be exactly who they're looking for! I know that it's devastating and frustrating to get rejection after rejection. I've been there, too. When they say they found someone else with all the things they were looking for, but don't tell us what we're lacking in, how are we to know which skills to learn or brush up?

Here's what I found to be the best way to get interviews AND offers: Go in person to the hospital or wherever you're applying, and drop off your resume and cover letter in person. Put your resume, cover letter, and any reference letters together in a bright red shiny folder! Trust me....YOUR resume packet will stick out among all the rest! When you drop it off, dress like you're going to be working there. Take the time to fix your hair and makeup and wear a professional looking outfit. Introduce yourself to the person at the desk, even if they're not the person who will be interviewing you. Smile and shake their hand. I know this works because that is how I have landed some really great jobs!

If you mail or email your resume and application, it will just go with the rest of the huge stack and might not even be looked at.

Keep your head held high because the right job is waiting for you. :)

It's tough, but fight that feeling - wanting to quit

[ In Reply To ..]
I wish I could tell you exactly what steps will lead to success in the job search, but conquering the feelings of rejection is a MUST. I am currently working with a friend with a load of HR experience, and she continually encourages me to keep positive, and to BELIEVE that there is a new job out there for you. It is very hard, but keep refining your strategy.

my hospital experience - I so wanted to work there

[ In Reply To ..]
Applied for first job there out of H.S. Rejected for having no car. For years and years, I applied for any job I was remotely qualified for and never even got a thanks for your app. Years later, my husband (a suit guy) was taking a stop smoking class there. He mentioned to the instructor his wife wanted to work there. She said send me her resume (no experience whatsoever). She passed it on and I was hired immediately. Moral of the story - 99% of the time, they hire a person with some sort of association with somebody already in the hospital. As proof, I left for 10 years. I have tried to get back in several times with my now strong experience, and its crickets again.

It is not you, believe it.

Same thing happened to me - SickNTired

[ In Reply To ..]
I did call back and ask why I didn't get 2 jobs at a hospital. They told me I wasn't "cheerful enough." This after I had told them my Mom was in Hospice dying. Plus, these MT jobs working from home are enough to push anyone over the edge. Next time, I'll "tape" a smile on my face, lol.

sickNTired - just an observation

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think they look to kindly at someone who brings their personal problems to the interview level, no matter what they are. They may view you as a possible chronic complainer. Next time stick to the facts and yes tape that smile on your face.

To CLB - Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Try not to feel so defeated and don't get down on yourself. Just keep trying. I'm in the same situation as you. I managed to get a job out of MT, but it was because I begged for an interview. I was a patient at the office I currently work at, and the employees liked me (& my husband), so they gave me the direct phone number of the hiring manager. I actually was not her first choice for the job, but after the one she hired left after two weeks, she offered me the job. I don't like my job, and am still looking everyday for a different job, but I am grateful to have a job. It's like the poster who said she got the hospital job because her husband was in a class and mentioned his wife wanted to work there -- a lot of the time, it's not what you know but who you know. Sad but true. Good luck and keep your chin up!

CLB they also may be hiring from different departments - my husbands experience at a army base

[ In Reply To ..]
He is NAF and once he applied for the lead position out where he works and now he's applying again for another better paying position in the same organization. it's pretty much just a formality that they announce positions and interview, 99% of the time they already know who they want to hire and it has nothing to do with you personally. Good luck!

I stopped trying - Here is why

[ In Reply To ..]
I spun my wheels for about 2 years with that. I found out from an inside source that the hospitals hire from within, or rotate employees around from position to position. In other words, if a new job opens up, they hire someone already working there as an old position my be closing or cutting back.

I don't bother at all with hospitals anymore, waste of my time.

I can see that, totally - knew there was

[ In Reply To ..]
something up with some of those desirable positions (unit clerk OB, etc) being posted for months. It was obvious that it was not because they could not find qualified people.

Probably true... - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
I know several nurses/MAs in different clinics who have told me that usually they hire within but still have to post the job ad for "legal reasons" but just want a transfer from another dept or a nurse to do yet even more work. One person doing two jobs. Saves them money. Hospitals really do this? LOL. So I guess I'll never get a hospital job unless it's volunteering for free or becoming a doctor or nurse, since those positions are always open. Um no thanks.

I just don't get it that they post the same exact jobs every 2-3 months, why is it always open again?

Maybe I don't want to work for a place like that after all :-(

Our local teaching hospital here posts all jobs- sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
but it has jobs that are open to the public and those that are only for current employees, it will say so in the ad, and at the button to click on at the bottom of the job listing. I have been trying on and off for 9 years to get in there, actually had an interview there once, and a phone interview another time about 2 years ago (got the call six months after I had applied). I will keep on trying. I don't let it get to me (the rejection or no response), half the time they probably don't even know you applied since it is all electronic these days. You cannot take it personally, not worth the aggravation or stress. Lots of people looking for a half-way decent job these days so the competition is fierce too. Just keep trying and good luck!

Thank you for that. I appreciate it. nm - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I think that's why MTs complain about applying - to ads and never hearing back, or - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
being told "the position is filled", or "you don't quite match our criteria", etc., and then these same companies still continue to run the same ads. It's because they don't really want US MTs, they want offshore MTs, but I think for legal reasons they have to run ads in the US. There obviously must be some kind of a financial loophole, or protection, or whatever, by continuing to run job advertisements ad nauseum in America, when in reality they don't want American MTs.

But I'm applying for non-MT jobs... - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
This may apply to just regular American workers in general though, wouldn't surprise me.

It just sucks. I guess all my knowledge of the MT field and everything I have to know or do know to do my job now is not enough to fill a position that only requires HS diploma and "some medical terminology preferred." Really??

And it's not about the money as first off, these positions pay more than I make as an MT so they can afford me, and secondly I don't even get an interview to get the chance to tell them that. I'd work at a job making less money if it meant I was happier. But I'm stuck being an MT because I have health insurance and make more than $9/hour and have a mortgage. This isn't just an extra fun money income for me.

It's just frustrating to never be good enough when I NEVER had trouble getting interviewed and/or hired before MT. What does that say?

Does your resume talk about all - that "MT" knowledge?

[ In Reply To ..]
If so, there is one reason nobody wants you ... if their job isn't MT, they have no idea how that MT knowledge applies to them. They don't know what an MT is most of the time.

If you were hiring MTs and a nurse applied, going on about her nursing knowledge, would you think she was a good fit? No.

So, why do you think someone hiring ward clerks will think you and all your MT knowledge is a good fit?

They want to see that you fit their position, and you have to show them exactly how! You have to show them that you understand what THEY want.

You also cannot expect to be hired if you appear to be a disgruntled employee, a job hopper, overqualified, or a threat to their jobs. Certainly not if you have failed their test.

One key I picked up on was that you offered to send your resume to us for opinions. Do you have ONLY ONE RESUME? If so, that's part of the problem. You need to tailor it to each job you apply for. You have to meet them, not expect them to adapt to you.

Unit clerk jobs are always available because they are high turnover. Those people move on and up and out.

As for hiring from within ... well, yeah, that is how employers know the people they promote are good workers. They will do the same for you once you get in. The key is in figuring out what position is a starting job there. That is the job you apply for.

The people who reviewed your resume already told you what was wrong with it. You aren't hearing what they said. Go back over that and take it seriously.

So how do you put other than MT-type knowledge - on a resume if MT is the only - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
job experience you've had for the past 37 years? I already list the peripheral things I've done as an MT (albeit a long time ago), such as filing, typing papers and book manuscripts, answering phones and being in charge of dictating machine maintenance. Past jobs before MT, which were too long ago to list because those businesses don't even exist anymore, was doing jobs that don't exist anymore: Taking dictation, using a Teletype machine, running an Addressograph machine, or a switchboard. (The kind with all those cables you plug in.) And those jobs were between 1970-1975, which is ancient history to a recruiter, so I don't list those. I know my skills are transferable to many different jobs, but there is always something they put into the mix as a "deal-breaker", i.e., not being bilingual, not having a B.A. Degree, not having direct retail or customer service experience, or not having worked in a business office in THAT particular field (law, construction, insurance, veterinary, hardware, automotive, banking, trucking, postal service, you name it.)

Most reject MTs because they don't have a clue what MT even is. And those who DO know what MT is also don't want ex-MTs, because there's a LOT of stigma attached to this field, especially if you work at home.

In terms of interviews, I've tried going all-out (big fail on those!), and just going into it with a "whatever" attitude, mainly to keep myself from being disappointed yet AGAIN. That's no good, either. There seems to be no right answer. I have, however, stopped trying to be somebody I'm not. I'm not going to go in and act all perky and excited, because frankly, I'm not. I'm friendly, but have learned not to be OVERLY friendly, either. Lately I've decided I'm just going to interviews and being myself. I answer things the way I would normally answer any question - honestly. If that's not good enough for that company, then that company's not good enough for me.

See Message Please - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
First off, I understand what you are trying to tell me. And I appreciate the help.

I do have just one resume, however it lists all of my jobs since 2001, MT/clerical, both medical and non-medical experience and skills. I've worked MT, office, retail, restaurant, phones, pretty much lots of little things (many skills in one position). My current job is my 4th one since 2001, which is not bad at all, however I did also have 2 PT jobs in that time frame in which I was working 2 PT jobs at the same time. I have very good reasons for leaving each job (returned to school, moved, etc.) but how am I supposed to put that on a resume/job application without it sounding like an excuse or "hey wait let me tell you my side..." kind of thing when I can't even get an interview. And no, I don't expect anyone to cater to me, in fact my resume may be a little brown nosing in that my CL/resume/application matches their job description to a T and that my marketable skills match their checklist in what they are looking for in their candidates. "What I can do for YOU..." And I am not lying about them either. My resume only lists the pertinent details that (I feel) need to be on there. I do not put anything medical or MT related on my job application when I'm applying for a factory job, for example.

But yes, I do see your point in your post and have heard what others have said about my resume, yet my question is how do I fix it so they will read it or accept it next time? How can I change it if I don't know what to change? And any potential employer can't/won't tell you (which I don't expect them to hold my hand either) but I can't change what I don't know is wrong! But I don't want to lie or omit or be someone I'm not.

That's the frustrating part!

I think employers & employees alike put way too - much emphasis on resumes. (SM)

[ In Reply To ..]
I see it as simply an introduction, a brief overview of past and current work experience, and info on how to contact me. This whole game of having to put in keywords, and having to stress about what to leave in, what to leave out, what type of font to use, format, and all that other c__p, is just that. The fact that most of them only accept online applications is another thing that irks me, and is discriminatory. I think someone who has enough drive to get in the car, drive to the employer, and ask the front desk for a hard-copy application to fill out should be welcomed and accommodated, not discriminated against and rejected. The mere fact that everyone's resume is supposed to look "a certain way", and have "certain keywords in it" is ridiculous and dehumanizing. The same as running resumes through a computer-assisted selection process looking for those keywords. If an employer can't use their own experience, intelligence and gut instincts about whether a person is a good candidate for a job, just imagine how "wonderful" that employer must be to work for. Not.

Look at what you just wrote ... - that is part of what is wrong.

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't know how to fix it? Others are telling you that your resume is too detailed, that you need more than one, etc.

Now look at what you just wrote. You seem to be trying to justify keeping on doing what you are dooing. It is all "yes, but ..." Yes, you only have one resume, but it contains this, and this, and this, and that, and this, and that, and a flurry of other things, and you left because ... but how can you list that without seeming ... and etc., etc. Oh, and all those individual bits of skills!

You might need to see a professional job counselor. It sounds as though you are presenting yourself in what you think is wonderful detail, but what is actuallyjust overwhelming the employers. They are getting bogged down in your forest of details.

This kind of detailed thinking may be something you can deal with, but that most people can't stand. They don't like obsessive-compulsive fussing and fretting over trivia, and you look like you are going to specialize in it.

Sum it up. Organize it. Thin it out. Condense it. Focus on significant matches to their skills without looking like you are faking it.

If you can't do that, hire someone to do it for you.

Ah. I see. THAT answered my questions. Thank you! - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
I get it now!

If I could've/would've known that before, maybe I wouldn't be in this mess now.

See (employers)? That wasn't so hard to tell me now was it? (I know, I know, they aren't going to either).

I guess I need to just dumb myself down to basic skills and see if that will work, since my way isn't.

Not to sound all "duh" but I never thought of it like that until you just said it. And now I get it!

What a waste of self-esteem and tears that all was.

And as far as hiring someone to do it for me or a job counselor, that sounds wonderful but I can't afford that. Even uploading your resume online for a review costs money so I guess it's back to employment agencies for me, some do resume help for free (for what it's worth).

Thanks again! I appreciate your honesty in telling me WHAT to change and HOW to change it. I could not grasp that concept until just now. Please don't think I'm a ditz or "all that" or too good for people, I'm far from it. I just didn't know how to make myself sound good, and not in a cocky arrogant way.

So thank you.

Glad it helped - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think you are a ditz at all! It is just very difficult to see something from your own side of the fence. On your side, you have an up-close view of the grass ... you see fescue, and three different little plants, some buttercups and a cluster of mushrooms, a bit of birdnest, and a beetle, and , oh look, the daffodil bulbs are coming up! From the other, they are accustomed to seeing less detail... they just see lawn.

Your resume needs to match the view they are used to seeing ... lawn.

That is exactly true. Where I work, they do that. - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
They hire within, but have to post the jobs for some reason; most of the time there is already someone lined up for the position. I got in where I work through a friend. It's a fairly large network of hospitals with several clinics.

Most of the time the ads will say "internal candidates only." That could be the case with the hospital you've been applying to.

Thanks everyone! - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
Well, I replied to the rejection email last night asking very short and sweet about why I was not considered and how I can improve my candidacy for next time. And left it at that. Hopefully I get a response but may not.

My other option is to ask via Facebook who is/was employed by this hospital and speak with them privately about who to contact, send my resume to directly, bypass such and such, etc.

After that, I'm done with them. They will probably call me next year after I've already moved onto another job. Never fails.

Oh well, it's their loss (I have to tell myself that or else I get upset) :-)

Thanks again all.

I work at a hospital -- my experience right now is .... - Psstoff

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been at the same hospital for 17 years now. Two years ago thrown into medical records transcription after my two prior jobs radiology and pathology were eliminated because of VR. Now like the rest of you I am paid by the line .04 for editing. Cannot stand my job. Failed audits, not fast enough, etc. I have applied for Unit clerk, Administrative Assistent positions (several times)phone clerk and housekeeping positions. I was told today by HR that because I am nonunion my 17 years senority does not count for anything. I am just like a person off the street and because I am nonunion they can look at my past work history --- hello, I was written up for my audit. So, basically here I sit -- in house no less -- being paid .04 cpl while the people cleaning the toilets are making more than me and union at that. I am about to have a melt down.

Your situation - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You now seem to be considered an undesirable employee, i.e., your work record is unsatisfactory.

Employees who are not able to perform on the job don't get other jobs. Nobody else wants to risk that.

At this point, your best bet is to find a job elsewhere.

Yes! You have a great attitude, OP! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I love your attitude, and I can tell that you have picked yourself up out of the doldrums and decided that YOU are going to get a fantastic job soon! Keep telling yourself that you're a winner....because you are!

THANK YOU :-) nm - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Ask how many applied also - Hate HR

[ In Reply To ..]
I think the numbers are working against everybody. Somebody in an earlier post said 120 people applied to a listing. And here's a funny/not so funny: I was reading about people who are applying to IT jobs and sometimes the job posting would say something like "Ten years experience in ZZB software required" despite the fact that ZZB software had only existed for 5 years. And you know if resumes are being submitted electronically, all resumes would get rejected b/c it was not possible to have 10 years experience in ZZB. Try to bypass HR at every opportunity, or as someone else mentioned, make a personal appearance.

I've tried to apply for clerical jobs within the UC - (Univ.of CA) hospital system, and -

[ In Reply To ..]
that's even more of a joke. You can forget ever being hired there unless you are:
a) Related by blood to someone in the UC system, or
b) Married to someone related by blood to someone in the UC system.

The Univ. of California can suck it.

IDEA... - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
Would anyone be willing to swap resumes with me/each other to get a third party view on their resume?

I can only see mine as what it is, which of course I think mine is great. I've had friends in hiring positions view it and tell me it is good but may be too detailed and that I am "overqualified" and it may come across as arrogant, cocky, or that I want too much money. Or else I have too much experience, skills, jobs that I've had that I may be a jack of all trades but a master of none. I get bored, job hop, etc. But it's hard to know anyone's reaction to my resume when they don't tell you why they rejected it.

Anyway, I would be willing to email my resume (with all personal info taken off for security reasons) and swap with whoever just to get ideas that I did not think of or get constructive criticism on it.

If anyone would like to see my resume, let me know and I will reply by email. I will gladly help you out as well :-)

Would love to help - by

[ In Reply To ..]
swapping resumes. I also find that sometimes it's just easier to fill out the online application and give them a lot less information if the job really does not require it. If I am only going to make minimum wage or something too close to that, what do I need all the stress and responsibility with HIPAA, etc. for? I have realized in recent months that even when there is work available when I sign on, this work is just making me very unhappy knowing that we are treated so badly. I think I would be happier doing something else, almost anything else.

Send me an email, I would love to help.

I emailed you n/m - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
X

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I've been living with a guy for 12 years. There are some aspects of his personality/behavior that are positive. However, he has a habit of mocking me at just about every opportunity, belittling, that kind of stuff. When I get upset he says he "was being funny." He likes to contradict me in public when possible and point out negatives - not so much about me specifically but demeaning comments about things like my dog or my hobbies, etc. I ask him to please not do these things in public but i ...

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I need advice on what you would do in my situation. I'm so upset about it and my husband says not to do anything and basically dismissing it. I'll try to make this as short as possible. My family has been best friends with another family for about ten years. They're just like family. We do everything together. This past weekend their 16 year old daughter stayed over because she had a track meet and the rest of the family was going away for the lo ...

Aug 27, 2011
I wanted to see if anyone has some advice on what to do on a situation I am having with my ex-husband's girlfriend. This past Monday morning my apartment complex called me and told me that they received a fax the evening before that I wanted to be treated for bedbugs! I told them that I didn't send a fax and didn't have bedbugs, and asked her what number the fax came from. She wouldn't tell me. She then asked me why I didn't leave my phone number on the fax only my addre ...

Feb 10, 2010
Ok, here goes.... My husband drives a truck. When he comes in his dad (who is divorced and lives with his mother who is in her 80s and I guess you would say has no life) comes over. Well, no problem there except he don't know when to leave. LOL He comes around 10 or 11 am and stays until 10 or 11 pm. Then the next day he is back again unless he is working and then he comes after work. I don't mind him coming to visit every day when my husband is in ...

Oct 25, 2010
Our family was planning a trip to Disney World this summer and then I decided that maybe we should go to California (where we are from) and go to Disneyland, that way grandparents can come. Since then, my MIL has taken it upon herself to plan out ourentire vacation, starting with trying to make our motel reservations on the drive there and ending with making them on the way back. If she were just being nice, it would be completely different, but really, she is just being controlling. ...

Jul 22, 2011
I'll try not to make this too long, but I have an 18-year-old, soon to be 19-year-old son who just told me a couple months ago that he is gay. I was shocked, but not totally, as I had suspicions before because he never really showed much interest in girls. Anyway, I told him I love him no matter what and that did not matter to me. it took me a couple months to get over the heartache of it, though. His dad doesn't know yet, nor his younger brother, as I told him ...

Jul 18, 2011
I am having some issues with my boyfriend. He has not been working for a while now and I have been paying rent/bills/groceries all on my own. No big deal, it has to be done, but what I am having a problem with is his bi-weekly "allowance". He needs his own money to spend, and I understand that, but no matter how much money I tell him I am going to give him, it is never enough. He is never happy with what I give him (usually a couple hundred dollars). I never sp ...

Apr 05, 2011
I need some advice about my sister-in-law. We are going to her house next week for three days. Well, she wanted my husband to help her buy some power tools and teach her how to use them and put up a trellis. So that was the plan for Friday. I was okay with that – didn’t feel too left out. Now she has made other plans for Saturday that I don't want to do. How do I politely tell her I’m not into spend ...

Aug 18, 2016
Just got on line to check bank account held jointly with fiance. I see a charge on a credit card that I don't recognize (plus a service fee charge). Questioned him about it a couple of days ago and got vague answer (s). Today, I called the 1-800 number and asked what kind of businesses they billed for. I was told a wide array of different things. One of which could be porn videos. Not happy at all as I do NOT want this in my house. Why can ...

Sep 02, 2016
Asking advice here. My mom is in a nursing home. They provide great, compassionate care, and there's a waiting list to get in. I'm grateful that she's in a place we can afford, and it's only 3 miles from my home. When the need arose, I got her a wheelchair, which Medicare is still paying for. It was a brand-new chair that was fitted to her petite frame, and she was able to propel herself with her feet. About 6 weeks ago, I noticed that the chair in h ...

Jun 13, 2010
I am separated from my husband and soon divorcing which is actually a very good thing for my son and me. We were under a lot of stress, pressure and difficulties with living in his house. But my son grew up with his kids and he has not told them anything about us never coming back. I tried to get him to go to counseling, and despite many of my friends warnings even went to our pastor which just made things worse, b/c my husband works under this guy as a pastor too. ...

Jul 25, 2012
Cat people, should I take in a neighbor's cat? In a nutshell: We thought this "stray" was hanging around our yard last year. I talked to her and she let me pet her. Nasty winter weather came. We couldn't take her in because we have an old blind cat who tries to fight her off sometimes. So I went door to door with her picture, looking for her home so we wouldn't have to take her to a shelter. Bingo. She "lives" a couple houses away. The woman there was very nice, has a sec ...