Hey Everyone,

Mary Letizi

January 14,2023 at 6:31PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

Hey Everyone,

A year ago, I graduated from Medical Billing and Coding school, I am also certified and living in the Charleston, SC area. Within this year I have been hired for three different jobs. Each and every one I was fully hired! The first one was for an on-sight administrative assistant. Right after being hired I was informed that they had a hiring freeze, so I was not able to start work. The other two jobs were remote in medical billing and coding. Both these jobs were put on hold due to over estimating the workload and as a result they had hired too many people. Also, because I accepted the remote job this last time I missed out on another job. I am frustrated because although I am a new coder I am very employable and I know it is not something to do with me. I am experienced and skilled with twenty years of previous IT experience. As a result, I am a well rounded professional. New coders have a hard time getting hired because employers want someone with experience and because of this I was told I needed to get my foot in the door by working at a medical front desk position. That also seems to be a brick wall. I have applied for a medical front desk position with the VA and have been referred, but can't get any information from the hiring manager on a more specific status. I would love to be hired for a job in the field I went to school for. I am submitting my resume for as many jobs as appropriate, but honestly sometimes I want to cry. How can you get the desired experience if no-one will give you a chance. Does anyone have any suggestions or can shed some light on the job market?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

13 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

13 Comments

Join the conversation

Alexis GladstoneJanuary 14,2023 at 8:22PM UTC
This sounds frustrating. The best advice I have is keep going after those front desk roles. I know someone who did the same pivot during Covid. It took her some time but she did land a front desk role and has been slowly building up her billing experience. She found that specialty practices were easier to get interviews with.
Also, does the program you completed have any type of job board? That might be a way to find something too.
Good luck.
AnonymousJanuary 15,2023 at 2:12PM UTC
Don't be choosy... As a health care provider, yes it is very important that you have real healthcare experience in order to fully understand the complexity of billing and coding. Apply at urgent care clinics minute clinics standalone offices any place where they are providing medical care. You will get a job most of those clinics and offices are hiring medical and front office staff like crazy. Even if you're hired to simply answer the phone at the office that's a step in the right direction and you'll be in the system. Again, don't be choosy about where you're applying any little bit of experience and exposure is going to open up doors for you.. And start to think more broadly. Consider being the receptionist at an orthopedic clinic or answer the phone's and admit patients in the X-ray department at the hospital. Broaden the way you're thinking about this and you will get a position
Mary LetiziJanuary 15,2023 at 7:45PM UTC
Thank you for your input. However, I have definitely not been choosy. I have been applying to any and every position in the the health field in my location that is realistic for me. I have even applied for jobs that my skills and experience are questionable for. Noone wants to hire me.
AnonymousJanuary 15,2023 at 10:03PM UTC
then continue with your current job, and consider volunteering at a free clinic, or nursing home, or even a hospital. Just get your toe in the door somewhere. It will happen; just creative thinking! and networking! Also, not sure if you're aware...but there are two huge Face book groups for medical billers and coders--maybe someone there will have a lead too!?
Mary LetiziJanuary 16,2023 at 11:07PM UTC
Thanks for the info.
Erica MitchellJanuary 15,2023 at 2:14PM UTC
Have you tried MBMS, LLC? It's stands for Medical Billing and Management services. I just got started there last Monday and they have so many job postings out right now. They are always expanding, therefore they need to hire more people. Hope this helps!
Mary LetiziJanuary 15,2023 at 7:36PM UTC
Thank you so much. Just wondering if you were hire with experience or are you a newbie> That's the biggest part of my problem.
AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 1:24PM UTC
Apply anyway and stress your soft skills.. Trainable, willing to learn, etc...
AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 1:22PM UTC
Gm, try Ciox, they are a 3rd party but it's a foot in the door. Also, try one of you local hospitals there in SC. MUSC, McLeod, Tidewater. Even if it not coding/ billing to start. It's is hard to get your foot in the door at first. Also, try indeed and search FQHC or Rural health. That how I got started.
AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 2:18PM UTC
I had several years of doing the work I was applying to do, but it wasn’t tangible to the people who reviewed the resumes. I ended up doing some temp work. It was not ideal, but it did help pay the bills while getting more tangible experience and doing the job search. As soon as I put the work on my resume I started getting tons of calls.
IntentionGirl299847January 20,2023 at 11:37PM UTC
You are aware that the length of time you spent in school studying and practicing is the amount of time you have experience in the field. So if your program was 9 months plus an externship, you would have 10 or 11 months under your belt.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 1:15AM UTC
My school was 8 months and a 1 month externship. I am close to a year. Do you think it would be acceptable to say that I have a year of experience, or would it be viewed as lying?
AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 8:36PM UTC
In my experience, school does not count as actual work experience. You are there to learn how to perform the job, you are not actually working in your field.