Sadly, these programs are usually just taking advantage of persons looking for a job in a terrible economy. They hype and then saddle the prospects with loans and little in the way of skills. I hired a person who had gone through the course arranged by unemployment, and it was a rip off of the taxpayers and a waste of the persons time, she came out of the course even lacking basic skills. We are a society that is now bottom feeding. I feel for the young people coming up in todays economy.
Last year I took a 9-month course in Medical Billing & Coding at the local vocational school. My last job had been outsourced, so the government paid for my retraining.
After graduating, I discovered that there were NO entry-level jobs in the field. Every employer wanted 2 to 5 years experience.
What a waste of my time and the taxpayers' money. Well, at least the clerical portions came in handy. Typing and data entry are in some demand.
I agree wholeheartedly, Dr. G. If a company can't take the time to spell-check its website or promotional materials, it shows a lack of attention to details and deters me from wanting to do business. And it's becoming ever more prevalent in today's media, isn't it? How sad.
Incidentally, when using the word "its" as a possessive pronoun, there's no apostrophe.
I spend a lot of my work time cleaning up spelling and grammatical errors on engineering documentation. Some are just typos, but others make me wonder just what the writer was "thinking". I've seen far too many errors on documentation that could cause serious problems when using the equipment or building the product. I'm convinced that no one should be allowed to graduate with a BSME without being required to pass a spelling test aimed at bright 12th graders. OTOH, the work helps keep me in cat food...
I spend a lot of time in multiple medical offices (let me say that I can proofread anything with amazing detail; unless I have written it). I actually read each sentence in isolation from bottom to top. It's easier to catch mistakes that way when it doesn't make sense to find the errors (however, I still suck). Through the years I have been the official proofreader of everyone else's writing because I didn't write. So, as I was saying, you would be surprised (or maybe not) of how many errors are on those fliers handing on the bulletin boards in the exam rooms. They are written by the office staff (usually the manager) and then they are either printed in color on card stock or taken somewhere to do that very thing. I find errors on every single one of them. I point them out to my PCP and he chuckles saying "Glad I didn't write them!" Of course he makes sure they are fixed. Now, the big joke is that as he's walking in the door he says, "Which signs have to go this time?" But as I said, my own work, I don't do so great. That is why I "check" from bottom to top. For example, I would read:
That is why I "check" from bottom to top (so if everything looks okay, I move on to the next sentence; all in reverse order).
I hope that this makes sense. And there are not a lot of errors. It's great to teach the kids that trick. Worked like a charm when I taught. Hope it worked okay today too.
I hope everyone is safe. Here in IL; near Chicago we are a "mess!" When the Postal Carrier can't get here for two days, there is a weather problem. We are on day two of school closures and it looks like they may call most of the Suburban Schools tomorrow too.
My son has been looking for a job that would enabe him to move out. I have used often the Cosby phrase, "I brought you into this world, I can take you out". He really wanted to get his CPL, so he signed up at a local school for this. They also promised afterwards to help get a job(they said they were at 100% for this. the whole 6 weeks cost him $ 5000. If it got him a job= priceless. well $25000 later, not only did it get him a job, he is still paying for it(same, same with his entire class).!!! BTW still does not have a job. Beware everyone.
Anonymous Proofread Wrote: "So, as I was saying, you would be surprised (or maybe not) of how many errors are on those fliers handing [hanging] on the bulletin boards in the exam rooms."
The neurologist at my last hospital used to write orders for his patients "Ativan as needed for aggitation". Although there is room for doubt that he was ever approached about the incorrect spelling of 'agitation', the consistently incorrect spelling often made me agitated, but eventually I did reach the point where the correct spelling no longer looked right.
They must economize by turning important promotional materials into projects for the commercial art students.
ReplyDeleteThe FRESHMAN commercial art students.
WV = subtril. Sounds like a new sleep aid.
half surprised it doesn't say: Alot of key features.
ReplyDeletehttp://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
Sadly, these programs are usually just taking advantage of persons looking for a job in a terrible economy. They hype and then saddle the prospects with loans and little in the way of skills. I hired a person who had gone through the course arranged by unemployment, and it was a rip off of the taxpayers and a waste of the persons time, she came out of the course even lacking basic skills. We are a society that is now bottom feeding. I feel for the young people coming up in todays economy.
ReplyDeletePacker is right. Some of these programs charge $10-$20k for these certifications. And they're really nothing more than scams and frauds.
ReplyDeleteLast year I took a 9-month course in Medical Billing & Coding at the local vocational school. My last job had been outsourced, so the government paid for my retraining.
ReplyDeleteAfter graduating, I discovered that there were NO entry-level jobs in the field. Every employer wanted 2 to 5 years experience.
What a waste of my time and the taxpayers' money. Well, at least the clerical portions came in handy. Typing and data entry are in some demand.
I agree wholeheartedly, Dr. G. If a company can't take the time to spell-check its website or promotional materials, it shows a lack of attention to details and deters me from wanting to do business. And it's becoming ever more prevalent in today's media, isn't it? How sad.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, when using the word "its" as a possessive pronoun, there's no apostrophe.
;)
I spend a lot of my work time cleaning up spelling and grammatical errors on engineering documentation. Some are just typos, but others make me wonder just what the writer was "thinking".
ReplyDeleteI've seen far too many errors on documentation that could cause serious problems when using the equipment or building the product.
I'm convinced that no one should be allowed to graduate with a BSME without being required to pass a spelling test aimed at bright 12th graders.
OTOH, the work helps keep me in cat food...
That should really be in Comic Sans...
ReplyDeleteOne that drives me batty is healthcare professionals (with advanced degrees) calling it "HIPPA" -- yeesh.
ReplyDeleteThere was me thinking it was referring to a spelling error rather than the actual course.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even better, Ibee, once they are trained they can come work for you and/or Dr. Pissy. And, if all fails, she can be Fancy's Personal Assistant.
ReplyDeleteWV: mentr: What Ibee will get to do once they hire the person that has been trained. Yippee! LOL
I ain't hiring. My staff would kill me.
ReplyDeleteYou should mail one of these to Cindy Polyester.
ReplyDeleteI think our receptionists and phone staff must have trained there. None of them seem to be able to spel.
ReplyDeleteReely?
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of time in multiple medical offices (let me say that I can proofread anything with amazing detail; unless I have written it). I actually read each sentence in isolation from bottom to top. It's easier to catch mistakes that way when it doesn't make sense to find the errors (however, I still suck). Through the years I have been the official proofreader of everyone else's writing because I didn't write. So, as I was saying, you would be surprised (or maybe not) of how many errors are on those fliers handing on the bulletin boards in the exam rooms. They are written by the office staff (usually the manager) and then they are either printed in color on card stock or taken somewhere to do that very thing. I find errors on every single one of them. I point them out to my PCP and he chuckles saying "Glad I didn't write them!" Of course he makes sure they are fixed. Now, the big joke is that as he's walking in the door he says, "Which signs have to go this time?" But as I said, my own work, I don't do so great. That is why I "check" from bottom to top. For example, I would read:
ReplyDeleteThat is why I "check" from bottom to top (so if everything looks okay, I move on to the next sentence; all in reverse order).
I hope that this makes sense. And there are not a lot of errors. It's great to teach the kids that trick. Worked like a charm when I taught. Hope it worked okay today too.
I hope everyone is safe. Here in IL; near Chicago we are a "mess!" When the Postal Carrier can't get here for two days, there is a weather problem. We are on day two of school closures and it looks like they may call most of the Suburban Schools tomorrow too.
My son has been looking for a job that would enabe him to move out. I have used often the Cosby phrase,
ReplyDelete"I brought you into this world, I can take you out". He really wanted to get his CPL, so he signed up at a local school for this. They also promised afterwards to help get a job(they said they were at 100% for this.
the whole 6 weeks cost him $ 5000. If it got him a job= priceless.
well $25000 later, not only did it get him a job, he is still paying for it(same, same with his entire class).!!! BTW still does not have a job. Beware everyone.
Anonymous Proofread Wrote:
ReplyDelete"So, as I was saying, you would be surprised (or maybe not) of how many errors are on those fliers handing [hanging] on the bulletin boards in the exam rooms."
Just sayin.
The neurologist at my last hospital used to write orders for his patients "Ativan as needed for aggitation". Although there is room for doubt that he was ever approached about the incorrect spelling of 'agitation', the consistently incorrect spelling often made me agitated, but eventually I did reach the point where the correct spelling no longer looked right.
ReplyDeleteha, ha, they spelled taint wrong. fools.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I'll take even an assitant who mispells.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it that an assitant does, exactly?
ReplyDelete