Hopefully you’ve had a chance to read my post on working at home as a transcriptionist. As promised, I’m back to give you all some information on how you can get started working at home in the transcription industry!
So how do you get started? Explaining it all in one post is nearly impossible, but if you are interested in pursuing transcription as a career, here are the steps to get you headed in the right direction.
- Find a pair of quality headphones.
- Download Express Scribe and install Microsoft Word if it’s not already on your computer.
- Brush up on your grammar rules.
- Learn how to research words, names and terms online.
- Download audio from a variety of sources and begin practicing.
- Create or brush up your résumé and cover letter.
- Begin applying as an independent contractor.
- Look for projects on Guru, Elance and/or Craigslist.
- Continue developing your skills and looking for ways to increase productivity.
Posts on all of these aspects can be found interspersed on Transcription Talk. However, if you’re one of those people that need things laid out in an orderly and step-by-step fashion, I recommend purchasing General Transcription 101.
When my partners and I started Transcription Talk, our mission was to help other moms not only get started working at home as transcriptionists but also to give them the tools to improve their skills and speed so that they can earn more in less time giving them more availability for their family. We made a commitment to blog daily towards this goal; however, we quickly realized that a daily blog of this sort in addition to our other obligations was taking too much time away from our own families.
We made the difficult decision to discontinue posting on Transcription Talk but not before we published our first transcription ebook, General Transcription 101: Your Complete Guide to Getting Started. We worked very hard to make sure that General Transcription 101 walks the reader through each of the steps to getting started as a work-at-home transcriptionist. We had it reviewed by people just getting started, those considering the industry, experienced transcriptionists, and even professional editors. We did rewrites, design changes, and tweaked it more times than we can count.
All three of us are very proud of the end result, and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback from those who have purchased it. I’m hoping to hear that it’s helped some of you out as well!
Patricia
I have the greatest difficulty with finding time, that is my biggest challenge. Between juggling my home responsiblities, running after a toddler, teenager and hard working husband. It takes alot of time…to do it halfway well.
I would love to have your book to see if this might be a realistic option for bringing in some additional income.
Thanks for the posting!
Patricia´s last blog post..Sales Cycles/Very Important Information!!!
Patricia
I have the greatest difficulty with finding time, that is my biggest challenge. Between juggling my home responsiblities, running after a toddler, teenager and hard working husband. It takes alot of time…to do it halfway well.
I would love to have your book to see if this might be a realistic option for bringing in some additional income.
Thanks for the posting!
Patricia´s last blog post..Sales Cycles/Very Important Information!!!
Kristen
My biggest barrier to working at home is my husband. I love him dearly, but he has a hard time “giving up” my accountant salary. We truly do not need my entire salary, but his worries about it, make me nervous to completely walk away from my career and start something new. He would have to be very sure that this is something I can do, and something that pays out in the end. Time is ticking away as my boys grow up without me spending the time with them I want and they deserve.
Kristen
My biggest barrier to working at home is my husband. I love him dearly, but he has a hard time “giving up” my accountant salary. We truly do not need my entire salary, but his worries about it, make me nervous to completely walk away from my career and start something new. He would have to be very sure that this is something I can do, and something that pays out in the end. Time is ticking away as my boys grow up without me spending the time with them I want and they deserve.
Marty
My biggest barrier to working at all is time. I homeschool my 3 children, 2 that are adopted with special needs. My parents are in a nursing home and I am their primary source of outside care. But I am a great typist and my husband’s business is slow so this might be a possibility. Would love to win the book!
Marty
My biggest barrier to working at all is time. I homeschool my 3 children, 2 that are adopted with special needs. My parents are in a nursing home and I am their primary source of outside care. But I am a great typist and my husband’s business is slow so this might be a possibility. Would love to win the book!
Rebecca C
My barrier is that I am afraid that they are all scams! I would love to bring in extra money other than what I make doing surveys (which is minimal) but I don’t want to put us in a bad financial situation by risking being scammed. Also, finding time would be difficult, but if I was actually making money rather than just “playing around on the internet” I believe my husband will be likely to help with the kids during my set working hours.
Rebecca C´s last blog post..Giveaways 10/21
Rebecca C
My barrier is that I am afraid that they are all scams! I would love to bring in extra money other than what I make doing surveys (which is minimal) but I don’t want to put us in a bad financial situation by risking being scammed. Also, finding time would be difficult, but if I was actually making money rather than just “playing around on the internet” I believe my husband will be likely to help with the kids during my set working hours.
Rebecca C´s last blog post..Giveaways 10/21
Alissa
My biggest barrier is my child. I want to stay home with her and be able to contribute some sort of income too. So, for me finding the time between taking care of my daughter and finding work that would accomadate my schedule.
Alissa
My biggest barrier is my child. I want to stay home with her and be able to contribute some sort of income too. So, for me finding the time between taking care of my daughter and finding work that would accomadate my schedule.
Diane
My biggest barrier is knowing what is a scam and wasn’t isn’t so I haven’t even looked into any of these options. I think finding someone who does it and trusting them is what can open the doors for you.
Diane´s last blog post..Some Great Online Coupons Week of October 19-25
Diane
My biggest barrier is knowing what is a scam and wasn’t isn’t so I haven’t even looked into any of these options. I think finding someone who does it and trusting them is what can open the doors for you.
Diane´s last blog post..Some Great Online Coupons Week of October 19-25
Jenn
My biggest barriers are not knowing what a realistic earning potential is and how to find an opportunity that is not a SCAM! I’d love to learn more from your book!
Jenn
My biggest barriers are not knowing what a realistic earning potential is and how to find an opportunity that is not a SCAM! I’d love to learn more from your book!
sara
my biggest barrier is time management. i can’t seem to figure out how to balance my obligations to get them done AND have time for myself at the end of it all. so then i get burnt out. maybe that’s my biggest barrier! :)
sara
my biggest barrier is time management. i can’t seem to figure out how to balance my obligations to get them done AND have time for myself at the end of it all. so then i get burnt out. maybe that’s my biggest barrier! :)
Amiyrah
any type of “work at home” businesses i’ve come across have wanted me to investa ridiculous amount of money into the company BEFORE they could even tell me how to start making money. I just want to contribute more to my household without having to give up my first born to do it. I have heard of transcribing before and thought that it was something that I could definitely do, but didn’t know how to go at it. This book would be a life saver for me!
Amiyrah
any type of “work at home” businesses i’ve come across have wanted me to investa ridiculous amount of money into the company BEFORE they could even tell me how to start making money. I just want to contribute more to my household without having to give up my first born to do it. I have heard of transcribing before and thought that it was something that I could definitely do, but didn’t know how to go at it. This book would be a life saver for me!
Tiffany
Hi! I would love to be included in the give away. My biggest barrier that I have came across when working from home is working too much taking and taking time away from my kids. When I realized this is happening I close it all up until bed time!
I work as an office manager from home, I sell on ebay, I blog, and I have worked for ChaCha as an internet guide. I think ChaCha is job that most anyone can do. I have been too busy with my office management job and starting my blog to work for ChaCha lately. My last check for them was right at $550. This was all earned working really hard for about 45 days.
I posted a blog about working from home about ChaCha and other opportunities if you are interested in reading further.
I will not post a link here, because that may be consider rude! :)
I love your new wordpress format. I have plans to transfer over to wp too one day.
Thanks for the give away!
Tiffany´s last blog post..Clearance Deals
Tiffany
Hi! I would love to be included in the give away. My biggest barrier that I have came across when working from home is working too much taking and taking time away from my kids. When I realized this is happening I close it all up until bed time!
I work as an office manager from home, I sell on ebay, I blog, and I have worked for ChaCha as an internet guide. I think ChaCha is job that most anyone can do. I have been too busy with my office management job and starting my blog to work for ChaCha lately. My last check for them was right at $550. This was all earned working really hard for about 45 days.
I posted a blog about working from home about ChaCha and other opportunities if you are interested in reading further.
I will not post a link here, because that may be consider rude! :)
I love your new wordpress format. I have plans to transfer over to wp too one day.
Thanks for the give away!
Tiffany´s last blog post..Clearance Deals
AmyP
So far, the work from home opportunities I’ve had have been home-based businesses which have required buying product, buying ahead, buying large quantity, & all things ‘money up front’.
The money up front part is what always got us.
Your gig sounds hopeful.
Fingers crossed!
AmyP´s last blog post..Opinions are like Backsides
AmyP
So far, the work from home opportunities I’ve had have been home-based businesses which have required buying product, buying ahead, buying large quantity, & all things ‘money up front’.
The money up front part is what always got us.
Your gig sounds hopeful.
Fingers crossed!
AmyP´s last blog post..Opinions are like Backsides
Lacy Reyes
I have searched and searched the web for at home jobs! Most sites I come across expect you to pay to start working for them. I think that is the biggest scam of them all! I would never pay someone to let me work for them! I have a fun part time job as a guide for ChaCha.com researching and answering questions. It doesn’t pay much, but it is a fun past time that pays!
I went to school and got a ‘certificate of medical transcription” yet I do not have experience. I can not find work in transcription that will hire a newbie. I am really interested in this book! I really hope that I win!
Lacy Reyes´s last blog post..
Lacy Reyes
I have searched and searched the web for at home jobs! Most sites I come across expect you to pay to start working for them. I think that is the biggest scam of them all! I would never pay someone to let me work for them! I have a fun part time job as a guide for ChaCha.com researching and answering questions. It doesn’t pay much, but it is a fun past time that pays!
I went to school and got a ‘certificate of medical transcription” yet I do not have experience. I can not find work in transcription that will hire a newbie. I am really interested in this book! I really hope that I win!
Lacy Reyes´s last blog post..
Terri
Lots and lots of barriers. Mostly scams or things that are not worth the trouble. The legit things I am hesitant because I feel like I can’t devote the time unless I am good at planning things for my kids to do while I am working because only 1 naps now and while “playing alone” and “room time” sound great my kids haven’t mastered that yet and I fear I’d be dealing with “mom, mom, mom” while I’m trying to work and end up getting fired because the person I transcribed for would say “um, no one said MOM in this meeting, why is Mom typed here 40 times?” (ha) oh did I mention all the scams out there?
Terri´s last blog post..Silence
Terri
Lots and lots of barriers. Mostly scams or things that are not worth the trouble. The legit things I am hesitant because I feel like I can’t devote the time unless I am good at planning things for my kids to do while I am working because only 1 naps now and while “playing alone” and “room time” sound great my kids haven’t mastered that yet and I fear I’d be dealing with “mom, mom, mom” while I’m trying to work and end up getting fired because the person I transcribed for would say “um, no one said MOM in this meeting, why is Mom typed here 40 times?” (ha) oh did I mention all the scams out there?
Terri´s last blog post..Silence
kim julian
I get to the part where they ask for money and then I think, “OK, how do I know this will work.” and I stop. I just wish I knew which jobs are legitimate if I put the work in and which ones aren’t.
Thanks again for all that you do.
Kim
akjulian at aol dot com
kim julian
I get to the part where they ask for money and then I think, “OK, how do I know this will work.” and I stop. I just wish I knew which jobs are legitimate if I put the work in and which ones aren’t.
Thanks again for all that you do.
Kim
akjulian at aol dot com
Trish
I’ve done general transcription before, but I worked part time in an insurance consulting office. I have always wanted to do it at home, but do not know where to begin. Plus, I know I need to get some equipment, such as a foot peddle if I want to be effective and get some work done in a timely manner.
I have a real hard time with discipline. It’s hard for me to sit and work when I see a mess in my house or dishes still not done. When I have work to do, the laundry seems to call to me. I also struggle with procrastination; this is my biggest barrier. Yet, I realize it’s self-imposed.
Trish
I’ve done general transcription before, but I worked part time in an insurance consulting office. I have always wanted to do it at home, but do not know where to begin. Plus, I know I need to get some equipment, such as a foot peddle if I want to be effective and get some work done in a timely manner.
I have a real hard time with discipline. It’s hard for me to sit and work when I see a mess in my house or dishes still not done. When I have work to do, the laundry seems to call to me. I also struggle with procrastination; this is my biggest barrier. Yet, I realize it’s self-imposed.