12 Things Every Transcriptionist Should Know

If you’re a fast typist with a great ear, you might be interested in transcription work. Good transcriptionists are in demand and can set their schedules while working from almost anywhere. You don’t need a degree to get started.

Plus, it’s possible to specialize as a medical or legal transcriptionist if that interests you and earn more money for your services. To fully understand the profession, though, keep reading for 12 things every good transcriptionist should know!

Takeaways
1. Understand the importance of accurate transcription for various industries.
2. Develop strong listening comprehension skills to capture audio details effectively.
3. Familiarize yourself with transcription software and tools to enhance productivity.
4. Pay attention to grammar and punctuation to ensure high-quality transcriptions.
5. Continuously work on improving typing speed to meet deadlines efficiently.
6. Stay updated on industry trends and best practices for professional growth.
7. Develop research skills to verify information and handle specialized terminology.
8. Prioritize confidentiality and data security when handling sensitive transcription projects.
9. Effectively manage time and prioritize tasks to maintain productivity.
10. Develop effective communication skills for clear client interactions and requirements gathering.
11. Practice proofreading and editing techniques to deliver error-free transcriptions.
12. Continuously seek feedback and learn from mistakes to enhance transcription skills.

1. You Don’t Need A Degree To Be A Successful Transcriptionist

You don’t need a degree to be a successful transcriptionist. Many of the most successful transcriptionists are self-taught. You can learn the basics of transcribing in a few weeks, or just by reading through our guides.

There are numerous online courses available that can teach you everything from dictation and editing skills to best practices for delivering transcripts on time and within deadline requirements.

There are also many online resources available for self-improvement: forums where you can ask questions and get feedback from other people in the industry, and courses that teach specific methods or strategies for improving your speed and accuracy.

As well as making sure that everything is delivered on time every single time (or getting back on track if things have fallen behind).

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2. You Can Be Your Boss

The best part of being a freelance transcriptionist is that you can be your boss. You have the freedom to work from home or anywhere in the world, and you create your schedule. 

Some people choose to work full-time, others may only do it on weekends, while others still might prefer to work one or two hours per day. Freelance transcription is also ideal for those who want to fit some extra income into their lives but don’t want to commit themselves full time.

There are many different ways for freelancers like yourself to get started as independent contractors (IC). You can set up shop on Upwork or Freelancer; join a company such as TranscribeMe, or even start your blog where clients will find you based on their needs at hand!

3. Good Transcriptionists Are In Demand

There is a shortage of qualified transcriptionists in the US, which means good ones are in demand. Companies need transcriptionists to transcribe their internal meetings and recordings, customer calls, and training videos.

Transcription jobs are available across industries and locations, including healthcare, legal services (contracts), government agencies (policy meetings), education (educational videos), corporate communications departments (internal presentations), and financial services firms (presentations at conferences).

Consulting companies (meetings with clients) or any other organization that produces written records of audio recordings need a transcriptionist to convert them into text files that can be manipulated by computers for further analysis by others within the company or externally as part of an ongoing business process.

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4. Working As A Transcriptionist Gives You The Freedom To Work Anywhere

The most important thing to know about working as a transcriptionist is that you have the freedom to work anywhere.

The possibilities are endless, and you can even work in multiple places in one day if you want. If you’ve got a friend or family member who lives near their own office, try working from there on occasion they’ll love having the company.

And then there are all those other great spots: coffee shops, parks, beaches the list goes on! You don’t even have to be at home for your living space you could do it from any hotel room in the world.

Even better yet? A conference room at your employer’s office (if they’re cool enough) offers private access without leaving home a win-win situation if I ever heard one.

5. Transcriptionists Who Have Specialized Knowledge Can Make More Money

Transcriptionists who have specialized knowledge, such as medical transcriptionists or legal transcriptionists, can make more money.

Specialization often requires additional training that is not free. Some employers will reimburse you for the cost of classes and other certification expenses; others will not.

If you want to specialize in something like medical or legal transcription (or anything else), research it first and see if it’s something you want to do before making the plunge into training and certification costs. If so, look for jobs that require those specializations from the get-go there are plenty out there.

6. You Have To Have Great Attention To Detail

One of the most important skills a transcriptionist need is the ability to focus on their work and not get distracted. As you may have guessed by now, this job can be pretty tedious at times. You need to be able to concentrate and not let yourself be distracted by other things going on around you.

It’s also important that you have great attention to detail because there are lots of small things in an audio recording that might not make sense unless they’re written down exactly as they are said in the audio file.

For example: “I saw him at my house yesterday.” In this sentence, it’s unclear who “him” refers to: is it someone else or does it mean himself? If it doesn’t make sense when reading back what you’ve transcribed, then go back over your work until everything makes sense before sending anything off into virtual space.

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7. Transcriptionists Are Independent Contractors, Not Employees

[Transcriptionists] are independent contractors, not employees. This means that you enjoy all the freedom and flexibility of being your boss, but you also take on the responsibility for paying for any expenses relating to your business (such as equipment and software).

You are not entitled to benefits like healthcare and paid time off. According to IRS guidelines, transcriptionists fall under the umbrella of “independent contractors” rather than “employees” because they perform work that is outside their company’s usual course of business.

Therefore, they are not entitled to most employee benefits such as sick leave or paid holidays. However, many companies provide these types of benefits even though they aren’t legally obligated to do so (for example, Transcribeme).

8. It Takes Time To Achieve Optimal Typing Speed And Accuracy

You’ll also want to know that it takes time to achieve optimal typing speed and accuracy. One of the first things you need to do is learn how your fingers move on the keyboard so that when words pop up on the screen, you can find them quickly and accurately.

Practice makes perfect! You’ll have to work at it to become a pro-transcriptionist but trust me: Once you learn how to type efficiently and quickly, it will make all your work easier (and more enjoyable).

9. Transcriptionists Do More Than Just Type What They Hear

As a transcriptionist, you are responsible for the accuracy of your transcript. You must be able to read and edit your work quickly and accurately. You also will be working in a team with other professionals who rely on each other’s work to meet deadlines.

As an individual contributor, it is up to you to keep track of all aspects of a project: deadlines and costs, potential issues with audio quality or recording conditions, and how these might affect the final transcript (and therefore accuracy), etc.

This requires strong organizational skills as well as an eye for details that may not seem important at first glance but could end up costing money or taking more time than expected if left unchecked until later stages in the project lifecycle (e.g., transcription).

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10. Specialization May Require Additional Training That Is Not Free

While specialization may be a great way to add value and make more money, it’s important to know that there is no such thing as “free training.” In most cases, there are fees associated with the additional training and certifications required.

For example, some transcriptionists specialize in legal transcription or medical transcription and must obtain additional credentials before they can work in those industries.

In addition, some clients require background checks or even security clearances for their employees who specialize in specializations like these.

11. Specialization Often Requires Background Checks For Security Purposes

Specialization often requires background checks for security purposes. In some cases, this can mean that you’ll need to disclose any convictions or arrests in your past. Background checks can be done by the employer or by a third party (such as a credit check), and they can include criminal checks, drug tests, and more.

It’s important to note that all of us should consider having our backgrounds checked regularly while it might seem like something only for transcriptionists with sensitive information at their fingertips, there’s no reason why we should let ourselves fall into complacency when it comes to maintaining our safety.

12. Not All Transcription Work Is Equal, And Not All Transcriptionists Charge The Same Amount For It Either

Not all transcription work is equal, and not all transcriptionists charge the same amount for it either. Some transcriptionists charge per minute, others per hour. Some will charge by line or page instead of by the minute.

The best way to find out what your rate should be is to look at other people’s services and rates online and decide if you think you could do better or worse. If you find someone else’s rate that seems too low or high compared to what you know about the industry standard, don’t hesitate to ask them why they’re pricing their service that way.

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Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into the world of transcription. If you’re still on the fence about becoming a transcriptionist, I encourage you to give it a try. There’s nothing to lose and so much knowledge to gain.

I hope that this post helps you start your journey toward becoming a successful transcriptionist.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that provide further insights into the field of transcription:

The Sage Millennial: Things to Know as a Transcriptionist: Explore this informative article for valuable tips and advice on becoming a successful transcriptionist, including essential skills, industry trends, and best practices.

TridIndia: How to Become a Good Transcriptionist: Dive into this blog post to discover expert tips and strategies for honing your transcription skills, improving accuracy, and delivering high-quality transcriptions.

Espresso Translations: What Is Transcribing?: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the transcription process and its significance in various industries by reading this detailed article that explores the basics of transcribing.

People Also Ask

What Is Transcription?

Transcription is the process of converting spoken language into written language. Transcriptionists convert audio files into text that can be read by computers, translated into other languages, edited, and distributed to users across the world.

What Is A Transcriptionist?

A transcriptionist is someone who listens to audio or video recordings, and types out what they hear. They are responsible for making sure the transcription is accurate, and they may also be asked to edit their work before sending it off to the client.

What Kind Of Jobs Does A Transcriptionist Do?

Transcriptionists work for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits to transcribe audio recordings into text. They may also be asked to create an audio version of a document that’s already been written down.

What Is The Difference Between Transcription And Dictation?

Transcription is a process in which the written or recorded information is converted into a readable format. It involves converting a recording into a written document, and it requires special skills.

Dictation is an oral communication process where one person verbally communicates information to another person who records what they say. In contrast to transcription, dictation requires that the person being dictated understand the language being used by the speaker so that he or she can accurately record what was said.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Professional Transcriber?

The time spent on becoming a transcriber will depend on your learning speed and how much time you dedicate to learning this skill.

If you are already experienced in writing and typing, then it might take less time for you to become an expert in transcription than for someone who has never done any transcribing before.

However, if you are just starting as a newbie in the field of transcription, then it might take some time before you become proficient enough to work with clients professionally.

What Do I Need To Get Started As A Transcriptionist?

You’ll need an internet connection and a computer with a microphone and speakers, as well as some free time! There are also some software programs available that can help you get started with transcribing faster than if you were just typing everything in by hand.

Why Do We Need Transcriptionists?

Transcriptionists are needed because they are skilled in listening to spoken language and then writing down what they hear in a way that can be easily understood by others. They help ensure that an organization’s information is accurately recorded, stored, and retrieved.

What Are The Best Transcriptionist Tips?

Transcriptionists should be able to take direction, but they should also know when to take initiative. Transcriptionists need to have a solid understanding of what their clients need, but it’s also important for them to be able to act on their initiative when necessary. This is how you’ll get ahead!

What Is The Best Way To Learn Transcription?

The best way to learn transcription is by doing it! If you want to become a successful transcriptionist, you must practice as much as possible. The more practice you get, the better you’ll become at transcribing your work, and the more money you’ll make!

What Are The Best Transcriptionist Tips?

Transcriptionists should be able to take direction, but they should also know when to take initiative. Transcriptionists need to have a solid understanding of what their clients need, but it’s also important for them to be able to act on their initiative when necessary. This is how you’ll get ahead!

What Is The Best Way To Learn Transcription?

The best way to learn transcription is by doing it! If you want to become a successful transcriptionist, you must practice as much as possible. The more practice you get, the better you’ll become at transcribing your work, and the more money you’ll make!

What Skills Or Education Do I Need To Become A Transcriptionist?

If you want to become a professional transcriptionist, it’s important to get as much experience as possible but there are some things you should know before you start.

First, learn how to type fast! It’s also helpful if you have a college degree in any field (but especially English or journalism).

Finally, you’ll need some knowledge of medical terminology because this is one area where most transcriptionists specialize (and it’s often required for jobs).

What Is The Best Way To Prepare Me For A Transcriptionist Job?

The best way to prepare yourself for a transcriptionist job is by learning how to listen and speak clearly. You need to be able to hear people’s voices clearly and understand what they’re saying to transcribe their words accurately. You’ll also want to learn about proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation so that you can make sure your transcriptions are correct.

What Are Some Good Tools For Improving My Speed As A Transcriptionist?

Several tools can help you improve your speed as a transcriptionist, including:

• A good pair of headphones or earbuds
• Transcription software that allows you to save files in multiple formats (like .docx)
• A hands-free device, like the BlueAnt Q2 or Jabra Freeway

What Should I Do If I Can’t Find A Job As A Transcriptionist?

There are many reasons why you might not be able to get a job in the field of transcription, but it’s important to remember that you can gain experience and make connections that could help you land a job in the future.

If you’re having trouble finding work, try contacting local organizations that work with the disabled or elderly, who might need someone to transcribe their health care providers’ notes. 

You can also contact local hospitals and clinics to see if they need any transcriptionists on staff, or if they can recommend you to other hospitals in the area. You may even be able to find work at home through sites like Upwork or Fiverr!

What Education Is Required To Become A Transcriptionist?

To become a professional transcriptionist, you’ll need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in something related to communications or language (such as English or journalism).

Some employers may accept applicants with associate degrees in these subjects as well, but it’s important to check with each employer before applying.

What Are The Key Differences Between Transcription Software And Human Transcriptionists?

There are many differences, but the most important one is accuracy. Human transcriptionists will have more accurate transcripts than software, but they are also more expensive.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Professional Transcriptionist?

The cost of hiring a professional transcriptionist depends on what type of job you need to be done. If you need a standard audio file transcribed into text, this can be done for as little as $0.02 per word.

If you’re looking for quality work that’s guaranteed to meet your standards, however, expect to pay around $0.05 per word or more. In general, the more time-consuming the project is for us (for example, if we’re having to convert an audio file into text), the higher our rates will be because we’re working harder with fewer resources available!