Are you ready for a new career? The transcription profession is very lucrative and challenging. Transcription is the process of listening to what someone dictates in a recorder and typing it into a text editor or word processing application, such as Word. The completed transcript is then returned to the dictator or the company the dictator works for.

First, Make sure you have the basic skills and qualities of a transcriptionist. Since most jobs are paid on production, the necessary skills required for productivity will be essential.

Second, you must have a good educational foundation. Without appropriate education in your chosen transcription specialty, it will be difficult getting a job. A good transcriptionist who understands grammar and spelling will always be in demand.

What does a transcriptionist do?

Transcription involves receiving dictation by tape, digital system or voice file and use of head phones and foot pedal for start-stop control and a word processing program.

A professional transcriptionist's job is to convert the audio documents or recordings into typed format using transcription equipments. If it is a taped dictation, then the transcriptionist inserts it into the transcriber. With foot pedal and head phones attached to the transcriber, he/she hears the recording and transcribes that into text, making sure all information are correct.

Skills required for a transcriptionist

As with all transcription careers, general transcription requires excellent English skills - grammar, punctuation and spelling - as well as proficient use of the computer and word processing programs. Technical ability is also important. Most jobs are transferred electronically, over the internet. A general transcriptionist must have a simple method for sending and receiving files. If you are working as an independent contractor offering services, it will be necessary to know what methods are available for file transfers over the internet. You must be able to communicate effectively with clients how to utilize the file transfer system.

Some of the basic skills and responsibilities of a transcriptionist include-

1. Good keyboarding or typing skill

2. Computer skill

3. Good communicational and organizational skill

4. Able to sit and type for long hours

5. Should meet deadlines

6. Good at using reference material

7. Be a good editor

General transcription doesn't require any special training courses. You just need an eye for detail, good typing speed ands lots of common sense. But medical and legal transcription requires training to learn terminologies in their specific field. Whether you work outside the home or from home, this is one career where you will have to self disciplined.

Transcription services are always in demand and this is the perfect service to provide from home. A transcriptionist can work for various companies and individuals, transcribing voice recordings into text. All he/she needs is a computer, a head phone, a foot pedal and transcription software and you can set up your own home transcription office. Though each employer may have different equipment requirements, once you have the essentials, you will find you already have what you need for most jobs.

Salary/remuneration

Remuneration is attractive in the transcription industry and one can scale the heights at a very young age. Compensation for transcription service can range from hourly wages to payment for number of lines transcribed.

A beginner transcriptionist can make up to $10 an hour depending on the area of the county in which he/ she lives. These days, many transcriptionists prefer to work from their home offices rather than commuting to the office on a daily basis. The technology has also enabled transcriptionists to work for companies in remote locations, all from the comfort of their home office. The remuneration of a transcriptionist working from home depends upon their productivity as per their speed and accuracy.