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Transcription Jobs For Beginners: How To Be A General Transcriptionist
Want to find transcription jobs for beginners? Our world is moving more and more towards a digital world now more than ever. We do just about everything you can think of: banking online, shopping online, working online. And the latest one is dating online.
Being a transcriptionist is just one of the work at home transcription jobs for beginners that are available to us. There are so many myths about working as a transcriber, that I want to clear the air.
Here is everything you need to know about working from home as a transcriptionist.
What Is Transcription?
The easy way to describe transcription to you is when someone takes a video or audio and type the written words that were spoken. Have you ever noticed while you’re visiting your doctor that they have a little recorder speaking into it?
Once the doctor or whoever is done recording it, they send it over to their assistant to transcribe the notes for them.
What Type Of Transcription Jobs For Beginners Are Available?
There are three types of transcription jobs available right now. I’m going to define each of them for you. My best advice is to start off with the one that you feel is best for your availability right now.
1) General Transcription
It is someone who transcribes notes, interviews, or meetings. They do any type of work that is not related to legal or medical transcription jobs. They can offer their services to small businesses, individuals, and others.
2)Legal Transcription
Now, with legal dictations, these jobs are dictated recordings made by paralegals, attorneys, or other legal professionals. You would be transcribing their legal documents.
When you are a legal transcriptionist, you generally listen to recordings on a headset, using a foot pedal to pause the recording when necessary.
3)Medical Transcription
Another term for Medical transcriptionist is MT. This is when an allied health professional also is known as MT, is an allied health professional that transcribes voice-recorded medial reports that the physicians, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners have completed.
Related transcriber post: How to become a legal transcriptionist
What Are The Required Skills Need To Become A Transcriptionist?
1)Attentive listening skills
You are required to have a great understanding of dialogues regardless of the usual challenges including background noise, crosstalk, and soft-spoken voices. A rule of thumb is to be able to make intelligent “sounds like” guesses for not so clear parts of the audio. In order to dictate efficiently, you must be able to focus and listen to the audio.
2)Fast typing speed
You need to be able to type at least 40 wpm. The faster you can type, the higher the pay is for you. Now, this still means you have to present quality work. So take your time and make sure you are not rushing through on your job, just to say you have completed a task.
3)Knowledge of punctuation and grammar
You need to know how to spot an error and quickly fix it. This is one of the most crucial parts about being a transcriptionist is to be able to dictate proper grammar and sentence structure.
4)Great research skills
Sometimes, you might have a doctor that speaks another language. Being able to research and get answers will help you complete your task.
What Are The Required Tools Needed For A Transcriber?
- A computer that has the latest software
- High speed and reliable internet
- Express Scribe software (this will be a much better experience without needing the mouse)\
- DFX Audio Enhancer software
- High-quality headphones
- A verified PayPal account
- An ergonomic desk and chair. (your body will thank you; spending countless hours at a desk will wear and tear on your body. I learned this the hard way)
How Much Money Can You Make As A Transcriptionist?
According to Payscale, the hourly rate starts at $15.12. You are paid based on your audio per minute. Even though the starting pay is low, you can make more when your experience level increases.
The more you do it, the better your skills will level up. The main thing you want to keep in mind is to always do quality work and be as accurate as you possibly can.
Where Can You Find Transcription Jobs For Beginners?
- Appen: They hire transcribers nationwide for part-time and full-time jobs.
- Flexjobs: This is a paid membership site where they hire for remotely, freelancing, and other work at home jobs.
- Rev.com: They hire freelance Transcribers worldwide. The pay ranges from $0.35-$0.65 per audio minute.
- Transcribe. me: per their website, the starting pay ranges from $15-$22 per audio hour. Transcribers with back-ground in the medical and legal industry earn a higher salary.
- Scribie: The pay ranges from $5-$25 per audio hour. They offer transcription for business, health, and other industries.
- Tigerfish: They only hire in the U.S for transcribers
- Speechpad – Hires transcribers nationwide. According to their site, transcribers can make .25 – $2.50 per audio minute.
- Verbal Ink – They offer medical, legal, and market research transcription and they hire nationwide.
- Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer also have transcription jobs. You can negotiate your prices with your potential clients
Transcriber Conclusion: I hope this gave you some general information on how to become a work from home transcriptionist. I wanted to write this post so that you can get the basic qualifications on how to get started. If you have the above skills and qualifications, then this might be a perfect job for you.
Are you interested in working from home as a transcriber? Still need more information about becoming a transcriber, check out Transcribe Anywhere FREE General Transcription and Legal Transcription Courses that are sure to get you started on the right path. The bonus is, you can do them from the comfort of your home.
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Transcription Jobs For Beginners and how to become a transcriptionist
I actually developed transcription skills while working on my PhD and transcribing interviews from my study subjects. In retrospect, I wish I had outsourced that job as it caused me many hours and headaches, but after reading your post, I’m happy I do have those skills that I could use to generate additional income.
absolutely, its always great to have multiple streams of income
I love typing, which is why I think I would be good at doing this. Not sure it’s my calling, but I will keep it in my back pocket for the future 🙂
hey, it’s never too much to have multiple streams of income.
You definitely gave us all we need to know to get work asa transcriptionist. Great post.
thanks a lot
I had no idea there were so many options to get work as a transcriptionist. I have used Rev but didn’t even think of working for them. Great post!
Yes there are several ways to make money transcribing
This is a good article I am not the best typist but I could always get better and try making some side income typing.
Let me know how it goes