Re: Here I go again

Melinda

You are so right on so many levels. After my DH's accident and the, I'll
call it hostile take over of my company, I found myself trying to figure out
what it was I was going to do with the rest of my life because after trying
to get bak into full time transcribing in order to stay where I wanted
financially, I just found I honestly did not have it in me nor did my body
any longer. So I went back to school (community college) to start working
on my degrees and hopefully my new career.

It took me almost 18 months to get a job that paid anything more than
entry-level regardless of my experience because they dont feel you play well
in the sandbox any longer after being home so long and especially since it
is a major non-traditional job (MT). I did civil litigation for 15 years
prior to doing MT and other than the fact that things are more automated
now, I was turned down numerous time and the recruiters all told the same
story - I had been out of it too long and the attorneys were all afraid I
couldnt do it. Hell, no one was asking me to practice law, just handle the
documentation aspect which I did forever and it's actually easier now with
the wonderful case management software and on-line court filing systems.
The only thing that has really changed were the fees. Everything else the
recruiters felt I was perfect for employers still could not get over the
fact that I did everything basically via telecommuting as far as managing
contractors - never mind that I had 3 major hospital accounts and dealt with
corporate administration for years. You will fit all the criteria, but just
cant get past the mommy in jammies thing :(

So I took the first thing that was halfway decent just to get the experience
for my resume. I hate the job, but also know that in 6 months I will have
my associates degree along with a scholarship for big kid school in the fall
of 2008 to go on for my bachelors.

The drop in income has definitely been an issue and needless to say we've
refinanced once and have credit card debt out the ***. Mind you my income
is half what it use to be and so is my DHs with work comp, but I know it's a
temporary place. It's a scary place more times than I want to admit even to
myself, but we've been worse off (although a whole lot younger to realize
how bad we were really).

I just know that I have to be able to provide for my family ultimatley and
more importantly for my old age so I forge ahead taking 12 credit hours a
semester and a summer class to stay on top of things. I was also lucky
enough to be able to love the profession I am going into and there is a
major shortage of CPAs, certified auditors and certified tax professionals
so my age when I'm done should hopefully not be that big of an issue. I'm
hoping to be able to sit for my CPA or auditor exam when I'm 48 and in my
state you have to have either your masters or 60 hours of mentored
experience after obtaining your bachelors to sit for these exams.

Donna, if you can do it and you love it, go for it. It's scary, but I'm
positive it will be well worth it in the long run. MT was great because I
did make a great living and if it was not for one poor choice, I'm sure I'd
still be in it. It allowed me to take care of my family at very crucial
times, but now my baby is 15 while I know they still need me, being home
24/7 is no longer the same priority. I dont want to die at my keyboard a
grouchy, resentful, regret filled person whose family grew up and moved on
and I am unable to. I dont want to be 50 or 60 or whatever and
unemployable. But most importantly I want to finally really do what I set
out to do 25 years ago and not thing of the what would have beens.

Good luck to you Donna and you to Melinda!! You'll find your place. You
are both very resourceful ladies.

Maureen

"Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply" <mmeahan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:46fee533$0$70420$742ec2ed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ed Chait wrote:

If you're done with MT, then the same qualities that allowed you to be a
success in that field will allow you to be a success in your future
endeavors.

Yeah, the only problem is, according to people I have talked to who should
know, after working at home for X number of years and/or being
self-employed, at least around here you are considered unemployable and
have to start out from scratch, because the stereotype is that you work at
home (especially if you started when your children were young) so you can
take time off whenever you want (which, of course, is not exactly true)
and that you work at home instead of in an office because you can't get
along with anybody (which, of course, is not necessarily true).

I tried applying for higher-than-entry-level jobs and was told multiple
times that nobody would consider me. Now when I go apply for jobs all
they want to hire me for is typing jobs because I type fast, and if I
wanted to keep typing, I could still stay home, but I want to get out of
MT and into something else before I can't do MT any more and end up having
NO job possibilities. Tried to learn coding at home (closest classroom
program is an hour's drive away) and couldn't find a place that would let
me do the in-services there. Tried to learn scoping and have basically
given up because the ol' gray matter ain't what it used to be and I am
finding it impossible to learn stenotype through the school I wanted to go
through.

Now I am back at the drawing board trying to figure out what to do,
because I am pretty sure at the way rates are plummeting I won't be able
to afford to do this until I can afford to retire, even if I was able to
do it, which I might not be able to do.

--
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your
work with excellence.


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