Most home-based jobs provide you with the flexibility to work anywhere and anytime you want to. That is why it is not surprising why a lot of people nowadays are clamoring to work from home instead of working on regular office setup. One of the most common work from home these days is transcribing jobs. No wonder why there are a lot of companies coming out offering freelance transcriber jobs.
I used to work on a regular day job, but motherhood changed me. Late on, I realized that the idea of work from home, even more, engaged me into becoming a fulltime mom. I thought I can actually do both! To make money to help pay the bills, at the same time, take care of my kid and ensure his mom is by his side all throughout the day.
But I will be honest, initially, it was quite a challenge working while being a mom at the same time. But with proper time management, I was able to pull it through. And I believe you can too! If you are someone like me – a fulltime mom and hoping to earn money by freelancing – this one is for you. I hope to inspire you and make you realize that your career life does not necessarily need to end because you can do something else and continue working even while taking care of your kid at home.
Anyway, just so you know, according to certain statistics, people opting to work from home is actually increasing as the years go by. Thanks to digital media, home-based jobs became possible. Personally, I think one of the many groups of people that really benefit from work from home jobs is the fulltime moms like me. We are one of those who are really grateful that work from home exists.
You know, as years go by, more and more jobs are becoming available home-based. A lot of companies have offered work from home jobs because they saw how efficient hiring freelancers or home-based workers can be.
One of the most common and probably most sought after industries that people are getting into is transcribing. When you go search online “freelance transcriber jobs,” you’ll be surprised at how many companies are offering freelance transcriber jobs.
But what is transcribing all about, and how does one get into it? Well, hang in there as I will be sharing with you some basic facts about transcribing, and where you can find freelance transcriber jobs online.
What is transcribing?
First thing first, defining transcribing or transcription. Transcription refers to the process of transforming audio or video files into text or written format. Usually, it is done for the purpose of indexing, accessibility, and/or archiving. This is done by simply listening, and typing out the narrative or speech using Microsoft Word or other transcription software.
Transcription is used in different fields like in musical performances, medical, law enforcement, legal matters, as well as in numerous businesses. Thanks to technological advancement, it has made transcription tasks easier and a lot more efficient by coming up with added ways to record original materials, and produce clear, readable transcripts for business use.
What are the different types of transcription jobs?
There are three different forms of transcription jobs. These are:
– General Transcription, which refers to almost any type of transcribing projects like meetings, speeches, narrations, etc.
– Medical Transcription, which refers to transcribing doctor’s narratives and other medical-related audio files. To be a medical transcriptionist though, you have to acquire certain certifications or at least have a medical background. A mastery in medical terms is highly required.
– Legal Transcription refers to the type of transcription job that is obviously related to legal work. It may include transcribing court hearings, mediations, and others. While you do not a certification, companies require knowledge or mastery in legal terminologies.
What are the skills required to land in freelance transcriber jobs?
Like any other job, be it online or offline, there are specific skills or requirements that companies set in order to find the best or the most suitable person for the job.
Compared to other work from home jobs though, transcription job does not necessarily require a college degree (unless you are getting into legal or medical transcription). It may be an advantage, but is not necessarily required – unless you are pursuing medical transcription or legal transcription.
To succeed in this industry as a transcriptionist, you must possess the following set of skills – these are considered as the four major skills required for freelance transcriber jobs:
– Excellent Listening Skills
Transcription is primarily about listening. You have to have excellent hearing/listening skills in order to succeed in this field of work. Listening is very essential for the job. It enables you to proficiently transliterate the work. Also, having a very good ear for different accents is also an advantage because there are some instances when you will be working on files with speakers who have a heavy accent.
– Proficiency in the English Language
Most often than not, you will be transcribing English audio files – unless stated that it is in a different language. Thus, having a very good command of the English language is very essential for the job. In most cases, files to be transcribed contain Native English speakers. So, for a transcript to be highly accurate, it is vital that a transcriber keeps excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
– High-speed Typing Skills
Apart from listening, typing is also very vital in this job. Ideally, as a starter in the job, you should be able to type at least 35 words per minute. For an average experienced transcriber, it usually takes 4 to 5 hours to transcribe an hour-long audio or video file. But for a beginner, it might take even longer than that. That is why it I suggest that as a beginner, if possible, you start working on short audio files first. Once you already get that hang of it, you slowly take longer files, until you are already capable of transcribing an hour-long audio or video file. The key to succeeding and earning more in transcription jobs is to type faster. The faster you type, the quicker you are able to finish a file, and then, the more work you can handle, which means the more money you get.
– Good Research Skills
In some instances (or maybe in most times for other transcribers), you will deal with files that have technical or non-technical terminologies. Thus, requiring a lot of research especially if you are not familiar with the terms used. For instance, you may deal with files with IT-related terminologies, and you are not an IT person. So, what you will need to do is to research about it and familiarize yourself with the terms used.
In addition to these major skills, here are some other skills you need to be a successful transcriptionist:
– Time Management Skills
Unlike in an office setting, working from home can be very distracting (especially when you have a baby or little kids to take care of as well). With that said, you must learn to manage your time properly. In my case, I follow a daily schedule to help me manage my time properly. I usually work when the baby is asleep. I make sure he does sleep in the morning and in the afternoon to ensure I have enough time to work on projects. As with other household chores and social media thing, I do it when he is awake. That way, I kept the times when the baby is asleep solid to working on files.
– Work Management Skills
Usually, upon waking up, a transcriber must check his or her email and then immediately respond to urgent messages. Then, you could start bidding for work on transcription sites or log in to whichever transcription company you are registered in. If you are on the latter, all you need to do is pick an audio file and listen to it to gauge if you can transcribe it effectively or not. If you think you can, then it will be assigned to you. Most transcription companies do allow you to choose the file and how many files you want to work on in a day, while there are also some sites that assign you certain files without giving you the freedom to reject it. I suggest you look for a transcription site that belongs to the former especially if you are new to transcription.
– Client Management Skills
Since you are a freelancer, you deal with all sorts of clients on a day to day basis. While you can choose a file to work on, sadly, you can’t choose the client. You know, sometimes, no matter how workable the file may seem, when the client is not right, it will never be easy. There are times you will encounter difficult clients, so, you must learn how to handle them. No matter how hard they seem to handle, you have to remain polite and professional. You know, in transcription, your lifebloods are the repeat and long-term clients. So, make sure that you get to handle every client as perfectly as possible.
What are the technical requirements for freelance transcriber jobs?
Now that you already know what set of skills you need to land in a transcription job, let’s proceed to the technical requirements for the job, which include the following:
– A laptop or desktop computer. Ideally, you must have a good quality-, high-speed laptop or desktop computer. In most instances, you will be required to download transcription software. Thus, your computer must have enough memory, and that no matter how big the file may be, it must be capable to work fast still.
– A high-speed, reliable internet connection. All filed will be sent online. Thus, a reliable and high-speed internet connection is highly recommended. You know, as a work from home worker, an internet connection is your best friend. Thus, make sure to pick the best provider as much as possible.
– Excellent quality headphones. I prefer the one with the noise cancellation feature. It helps keep your focus on the job. Also, it allows you to hear the file more clearly.
– A foot pedal. A foot pedal is very helpful in transcription work. It helps you do different commands like forwarding, back warding, fast-forwarding, etc. without having to do it by hand. I swear, it’s really helpful. If you see yourself working as a transcriptionist for a long time, I highly suggest you invest in a really good foot pedal.
Furthermore, here are some additional recommendations from me, which I think will make your transcription work easier:
– A transcription software. While this one is also essential, it comes on a case to case basis. For starters, it’s not a must – in my opinion – unless the company or your client requires you to have one then you must invest in transcription software. Also, some companies provide their own transcription software. So yeah, it really is a case to case basis.
– A comfortable ergonomic chair. As a transcriptionist, you will be seated for long hours working on audio files. So, to ensure your back is supported properly, and you get to be more efficient working, I suggest investing in a really good, comfortable ergonomic chair.
– A home office. The most effective way to avoid distractions when working from home is to have your own home office. You can work on your files in there without getting distracted from anything. I suggest you pick a place in your house that best suits your needs.
How much does a work from home transcriptionist make?
How much you make as a transcriptionist depends on a lot of factors like your years of experience, your expertise (general, medical or legal), your typing speed, your skills, etc.
But generally speaking, a work from home transcriptionist make around $15 per hour. However, for advanced transcriptionists or those who have been in this business for a long time already, they make around $25 to $30 per hour. With this kind of rate, this means you can easily earn as much as $1,500 a month provided that you work at least 2.5 hours a day for 24 days.
If you come to think about it, it’s super working it. I mean, you get to work at home, save a lot from transportation and food allowance, and other miscellaneous expenses you spend on when working at an office. It’s definitely worth trying out, and well, very interesting.
Where to find freelance transcriber jobs?
Here are some of the best transcription companies where you can find and apply for freelance transcriber jobs:
- Daily Transcription
Daily Transcription offers different transcription services like corporate, legal, and entertainment. The reason behind the name is because the company provides same-day turnaround times. Meaning, you will need to work on the file and submit the written format within the day. While there are no guaranteed hours or amount of work available, the company is always looking for transcriptionists at all experience levels. Unlike other transcription companies though, work is available on an as-needed basis.
- Get Transcribed
Get Transcribed provides not just transcription jobs but also reviewer positions. To get into the reviewer post, you will need to work your way up. It’s actually a good opportunity to make more money. With Get Transcribed, you get to earn $0.12 per minute you review apart from the $0.23 per minute you make in transcribing files. Payments from Get Transcribed are made once a month through PayPal. However, you need to earn at least $100 or else your earning will roll over the next month.
- GMR Transcription
GMR Transcription has a consistent transcription position offered. In fact, the company has a project which is into medical condition reviews that offer enough work for anyone who is willing to transcribe and proof 60-minutes’ long of audio per day. GMR is open to hiring transcriptionists without experience as long as you are able to pass the test.
- Accutran Global
Accutran Global is always hiring new transcribers. However, they specifically hire transcribers who are located only either in the United States or Canada. With Accutran, you have to keep in mind that they have what they call as peak times when there is a lot of work available, and they also have non-peak times of the year when there is less to do. Pay rates are made on a per word basis, which usually starts at $0.005. Payments are made every 15th of the month. To get in the job, you must pass a transcription test
- Bam! Transcription
Apart from entertainment transcription services, Bam! also offers legal, finance, corporate, general and research transcription projects. To get in as a transcriptionist, you must pass a skill test first. Unlike other sites, if you wish to apply for their freelance transcriber jobs, you must send in your application via [email protected].
Final Thoughts
You see, the transcription industry is very promising. In the coming years, expect it to even grow further. So, if you want to start your transcription career anytime soon, no need to worry about not landing in a transcription job because there are so many freelance transcriber jobs out there available for you – whether you are newbie or pro.
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