Is A Transcribing Job Right For Me?
A popular work from home option is that of a transcribing job. With this line of work, you are typically given a piece of audio or video, and asked to type up the words that you hear. It’s a fairly straightforward job, requires little to no experience to get started, and can be done from home. However, just because many people have found ways to earn a living through a transcribing job at home does not mean that it is right for you.
What Does A Transcribing Job Entail?
Here’s how most transcription jobs work. You’ll partner up with a company or service that requires transcriptions. They will then send you a piece of audio or video – ranging anywhere from a few seconds to hours. Your job is to listen to the audio, or watch the video, and type everything that you hear. In some cases you are adding captions to a video, in others you are typing up a speech someone gave, or you could be typing up medical notes for a doctor.
Most transcribers need to follow a set of guidelines that govern the formatting of the text, and need to keep these in mind as they are typing. Once you finish with the typing, and you ensured the accuracy of everything you put down, you send the finished transcription back to the client.
Some transcribers choose to work independently, going out and finding their own clients. Others work for transcribing services, who find clients for them. Whichever way you go, the job remains largely the same.
Who Should Look Into Transcriber Jobs?
Working as a transcriber is not for everyone. For starters, you need to have a fast typing speed. You’re going to get paid based on how long the audio/video is, not how long it takes you to do it. If you are slow in typing the transcription, the time spent to money earned ratio will not be a good one. In addition, many clients impose deadlines, and you’ll need to meet them in order to keep getting work.
Transcribers also need to have a strong attention span. In many cases the audio you are transcribing is boring, but you’ll have to listen to it carefully anyway. If you are unable to focus, you’ll make mistakes, and the quality of your work suffers.
Finally, transcribers need some basic equipment to begin working. You’ll need a computer at which to do your work, and one that can play audio/video. Headphones are extremely helpful, as is a good keyboard. Many transcribers use special foot pedals that allow them to control audio playback without removing their hands from the keyboard. If you’re serious about transcribing, and want to make your life easier, these are a solid investment.
Payment As A Transcriber
When you work as a transcriber, you typically don’t bill by the hour or minute. Instead, you base your payment on the length of the audio or video. For instance, you may set your rate at $1 per audio minute. Then, if you receive a piece of audio that is an hour long, you would earn $60. Keep in mind that just because a piece of audio is an hour long does not mean it will take you an hour to complete. In fact, it will likely take you longer, considering you need to read it over and make corrections. Remember this when setting your rates, or considering any offers.
So Is A Transcriber Job Right For You?
If all of the above sounds like it is up your alley, then perhaps a transcribing job is a good idea. You really won’t know until you give it a try, so if you think transcribing is something you might be good at, go ahead and give it a shot.
To start, there are two main paths to try. First, you could list your services online or around your town, and try to find clients on your own. Sites like Upwork are great for listing your services, but you’ll probably need to set your rates low at first in order to attract clients.
Another option is to work for a transcription service. Sites like Rev.com hire transcribers as independent contractors, and then match you up with people looking for transcribers. Rev sets the rates and handles the payments, so you don’t have to worry about this. However, you need to pass their qualification exam, and your earnings are likely limited compared to setting your own rates.
Hopefully this quick guide was able to help you decide if a transcribing job is right for you. If so, let us know in the comments below. Or, if you have some experience as a transcriber, let us know how it went for you so that others can learn from it.