2011年12月7日 星期三

Telecommuting Job Idea: General Transcriptionist

A general transcriptionist is not the same as a medical or legal transcriptionist. Those two fields are more specialized, but require similar skills. Many of the positions are full-time or part-time, instead of freelance work. But, there are many employers who like the benefits of using freelance, or contract, workers.

Where to find a job as a general transcriptionist: There are many on-line job sites that advertise for transcriptionists, some sites specialize in just transcription work. Some local companies may be willing to farm out some transcription jobs, if you are willing to come in and pick up the recordings. As with any telecommuting job, you need to research the company and be sure that you will get paid for the work done.

Skills you need: Most transcription jobs require training and some experience, but there are many entry-level jobs available as well. Excellent typing skills (having speeds anywhere from 65 to 90 WPM) with good spelling and grammar are essential. An extensive vocabulary is also a plus, especially if it is a specialized field. Transcribers must have good listening skills, in order to transfer speech to written language accurately.

Tools you need: A reliable computer and internet connection are a must for a transcription job. Many companies require that you have a 4-track transcriber, which can be rather expensive. Some only require a standard tape player to transcribe from recordings. Word Perfect is a pretty standard word processor to have, but some may want a program like Corel.

How much money can you make? The pay will vary greatly, depending on whether you are an employee or a freelance worker. Some companies could pay $0.06 up to $0.12 per line, based on your experience. Some offer a salary beginning at $40,000, again this would be based on experience and performance.

