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My struggles and success as an OFW dependent

I have been living away from my mother who is an OFW in Japan since high school. As a Computer Science undergraduate of USEP, I wanted to prove to her that I can achieve some degree of self-reliance even before completing my bachelor's degree.

I first heard of medical transcription during an in-campus orientation. We were told that it would take several months only to complete and that a medical background was not necessary. I had some hesitation being a non-medical undergraduate and with no knowledge of medical terminologies. I had fears of not meeting the standards for becoming a good transcriber.

Still, I went ahead and enrolled relying purely on my computer literacy and determination. I encountered many difficulties while studying. Most of my classmates had allied health backgrounds, many were far older than me and I was having difficulty with medical terms. I realized that I needed to be a quick learner because the pace of the lectures is fast.

I finished the program in 8 months. I was offered a chance to join a local transcription team and have started to earn from the part-time work that's given me. With the OJT exposure I received, aside from medical transcription, I can now do legal and business transcription.

I feel grateful and lucky to be part of the BPO Industry at such a young age. Having proven that Ican earn even without a college degree, I feel more confident now that I am no longer part of the unemployed population of Davao City. My mother in Japan was happy to receive news of my new skill and has promised to extend more support so I can continue to pursue my college degree while working as a part-time transcriber.

Chester Von Ferrer

Undergraduate

OFW Dependent

Independent Contractor

Transcriptionist

RN na, transcriber pa!

Until several months ago, I was part of the 2.7 million jobless Filipinos and nursing graduates who are still financially dependent on their parents and generous relatives.

My friends had expressed keen interest in it so I went along, took the exam and fortunately, passed the assessment. I attended a FREE Career Orientation in December of 2008. Listening to the presentation, I was amazed at the multitude of opportunities to both the physically competent as well as the physically impaired. Who knew that this simple “go-with-the-flow” attitude would lead me to become part of a transcription team called ZipIT Solutions after less than 2 months of training.

My nursing background was a distinct advantage and well into the MT program, I realized that I can get updated with the new medical practices in the US, enhance my English proficiency and familiarity with foreign accents and familiarize myself with US drug terms skills that are essential to my dream of working abroad.

Having finished the MT program, I have now become a home-based, independent contractor. And that's an entirely different experience……I get to “go to work” without having to worry about what to wear, what perfume to put on, how to style my hair and worry about jeepney/taxi fare. I am now on my way to financial independence while working consistently on giving quality service through nearly perfect files submitted on time, all the time.

I definitely feel that I have the distinct advantage over others as the MT skills that I now possessed have further enhanced my overall capability to be a competent member of the health management industry both here and in the US.

Scott Philip Carmen

Registered Nurse

San Pedro College

Medical Transcriptionist

ZipIT Solutions, Inc.