How to Do Transcriptionist Work at Home
When you decide to work at home as a transcriptionist, there are a variety of options from which to choose. Medical, legal insurance, court proceeding and general transcription (such as marketing surveys and audio interviews) are only some choices. If you have legal transcription experience or training, or medical transcription certification, you are ahead of the game. If you have dictaphone and online software-transcription experience, you are ahead of the game as well.
Working from home will allow you the freedom of a flexible schedule and a decent income. You will save on gas and vehicle expenses and be available to your family at a moment's notice. With those lovely thoughts in mind, here are the steps involved in becoming an online transcriptionist.
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Things You'll Need
- Home office
- Newer model computer and peripheral equipment
- Broadband Internet connection
- Express Scribe (or other transcription software)
- Headphones
- Foot pedal
- Word processing software
Instructions
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Become an Online Transcriptionist
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Set up your home office with a newer model computer, broadband Internet connection, Express Scribe or other transcription software, headphones and -- if you are serious about this profession for the long haul -- a foot pedal. The foot pedal will double or triple your transcription speed. Many computers come preinstalled with some type of word processing software.
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Make sure you have the required skills and training for the type of transcription you will be doing. For example, medical transcription generally requires training and certification. There are a wide variety of programs available; check with your local community college. Transcriptionists are usually paid based on production. In other words, the faster you type, the more money you make. Most companies require at least 75 words per minute.
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Look for work online. Here's a list of 17 places that offer online transcriptionist opportunities:
1. Mulberry Studio (http://www.mulberrystudio.com/jobs.htm)
2. Daily Transcripts (http://dailytrans.com/transcotest.html)
3. Rapidtext.com (http://www.rapidtext.com)
4. Mountain West Processing (http://www.mountainwestprocessing.com/page5.html)
5. RNK Productions (http://www.rnkproductions.com/jobopportunities.html)
6. Cyber Dictate (http://www.cyberdictate.com)
7. AccuTran Global (http://www.accutranglobal.com)
8. Escriptionist.com/Verbal Ink (http://www.escriptionist.com)
9. Aegis People Support (http://www.peoplesupport.com/transcription.aspx)
10. Tigerfish (http://www.tigerfish.com/employment.html)
11. Morningside Partners LLC (http://www.fdch.com/careers.htm)
12. ubiQus (http://www.ubiqus.com)
13. Net Transcripts (http://www.nettranscripts.com)
14. SpeakWrite (http://www.speak-write.com/web)
15. MT Daily (http://www.mtdaily.com/mtcos.html)
16. Echoscribe (http://www.echoscribe.com)
17. Purple Shark Transcriptions (http://www.thepurpleshark.com/index.html)
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Tips & Warnings
You must be able to type at a fast rate and have impeccable transcription skills, with few or no errors. You must have excellent command of English or your native language (spelling, grammar rules, knowledge in subject area such as medical or legal terminology).
If you are a slow typist or are not very good at spelling and grammar, you may find this profession frustrating and usually unrewarding.
References
- Photo Credit c. john_a_ward, flickr, creative commons
