How To Become A Transcriptionist : Make Up To $60/ Hr.

Do you need a flexible gig that lets you work from home that doesn’t require prior experience? Then, a transcription job is the right fit for you. 

Working as a transcriptionist gives you a chance to make decent extra income.

If you get the necessary experience then in no time, transcription will be your full-time work from home job.

However, you need to take this hustle seriously and ensure you establish yourself in this field.

Here are the things you must know about transcription jobs and how you can be successful.

 

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What Is A Transcription Job?

Transcription is a way of converting an audio document into text.

A transcriber listens to the audio files and then types the content into the word processor.

However, transcription services are more than just changing audio files into text.

As a transcriber, you must ensure that the text is grammatically correct, readable, and well-formatted.

You need to find the exact phrases and works to make sure you produce a high-quality transcript.

If you really want to start your work from home side hustle, you can learn it from Janet of Transcribe anywhere.

She is a Transcriber who runs an award-winning course, Transcribe Anywhere.

 

Related: How to Become a Transcriptionist: Expert Interview with Janet Shaughnessy

Pick Your Niche or Category

Generally, transcription tasks are categorized in general and legal categories.

Janet provides both types in her transcription courses 

Based on your skillset, work experience, and education, you can choose a category that suits you.

General Transcription

This entails transcribing fillies for videos, podcasts, and interviews.

It might also include business transcription where you are required to transcribe discursions, conference calls, and meetings.

While you don’t require any certification or special training to do general transcription, you must be a fast typist and have a perfect eye for accuracy.

To learn more about general transcription, have a look at this popular General Transcription course that teaches everything you need to know to start working as a transcriptionist.

For a limited time, Transcribe Anywhere also offers a FREE General Transcription mini-course.

This will help you decide if being a transcriptionist is something you want.

Legal Transcription

This entails transcribing court hearings and depositions.

Therefore, you must have a legal background to transcribe legal files.

You also need to be knowledgeable with legal terminologies and words to be proficient in it.

If legal transcription is what you would like to venture in, this Legal Transcription course will help you get started.

This course has 14 modules designed to help you learn the skills you need to land legal transcription jobs. You can check out the course here.

You can get started with a FREE Legal Transcription Course to help you understand what is needed.

 

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What Are The Skills Needed To Become A Transcriptionist?              

While transcription jobs might be classified as menial duties, the tasks require the same dedication and hard work as other tasks.

Any person can indeed learn, and transcription, but not every person can do a high-quality job.

Let’s look at the skills required to become a successful transcriptionist.

Attentive listening

Having proactive and keen listening skills is essential when it comes to transcription tasks.

Even when transcribing simple topics, you need to have a clear understanding of the conversation despite the audio challenges such as crosstalk, soft voices, or background noise.

Sharp memory

Alongside having attentive listening skills, you need to have a sharp memory.

Rather than pausing the audio files to type, having sharp memory will allow you to type long conversations, grasping each phrase without having to pause.

Accurate and fast typing speed

On average, a person is required to type 40 to 45 minutes every minute.

However, a transcriptionist should type at a speed of 60 to 80 words ever minute with minimal mistakes.

Flawless grammar

While some transcription tasks are verbatim-specific, most customers prefer clean and easy to read transcripts.

So, a transcriber must have higher punctuation, spelling, and grammar aptitudes to create clean transcripts changing the originality of the file and the concept of the conversation.

Researching skills

You must have exceptional research abilities if you want to succeed in transcription.

Files of different topics are posted every day. Having outstanding research skills will help you understand the terminologies and words that tend to be complex.

It also helps you to research important information and proper nouns such as companies, acronyms, establishments, names, or brands.

Adaptive

As a transcriber, you are required to offer services across several fields.

For this reason, you need to be a fast learner who can comprehend various topics in short duration to produce a high-quality transcript.

Determination and focus

As a qualified transcriber, you need to be determined and focused on ensuring the work is complete.

A 30-minutes file requires 3 hours to transcribe.

You should ignore unnecessary distractions and focus on longer durations while transcribing to make sure you complete the work on time.

Applicants must be above 18 years, have a social security number, and have a debit/credit card.

How Much Do Transcriptionists Earn?

Payment differs based on whether you’re working for a company or you work as a freelance.

According to recent research, transcribers in the US can earn $10-$35 per hour or even more.

Big transcription companies can pay up to $60 an hour for those with experience.

In most cases, transcribers are paid per project, mostly per audio hour/minute of the audio file to be transcribed.

 

How to Become a Transcriptionist: What You Need To Get Started

Starting transcription jobs is easy, provided you have the skills, attitude, and tools.

To be a successful transcriber, you need to invest in the right equipment. Apart from the mindset and expertise, you also need the right tools to begin your career in transcription.

They include:

Computer

A PC is essential, and must-have equipment when it comes to converting the audios to texts.

The PC should be installed with a word processor such as Microsoft word, where you will type the text.

Internet connection

The majority of transcribers work remotely. Therefore, the internet is a must-have tool.

It’s essential to have a business email to allow you to download the files and website email where you will upload the converted content.

Headsets

A high-quality pair of earphones let you listen to the files more attentively. Earphones that come with noise-canceling features are ideal for this work.

That is because they reduce the background noise, letting you concentrate on the job.

Foot pedal

The gadget is designed to allow you to play, fast forward, or even rewind an audio file by stepping on the levers rather than doing it from the software or audio player.

The device helps you complete the tasks faster.

 

Finding Transcription Jobs

Transcription jobs are many, whether you choose to work as an independent contractor or as a freelancer.

If you want to do the transcription jobs remotely, you can start by checking the following websites for money-generating opportunity:

• Rev.com
• Castingwords
• AccTran Global
• TigerFishAppen
• Transcribe Me
• Daily transcription
• Cyber dictate
• Upwork

Do you feel ready to start your journey in being a transcriptionist? Grab this FREE E-book to get you started

Final word

Transcription job is one of the best side hustles that lets you work as per your pace, set working hours, and decide your rate.

It’s ideal for stay-at-home moms who are proficient in English grammar and language, are attentive listeners, and have high typing speed.