Many people enjoy the benefits of working from home when they are able to find transcription jobs. Online transcription jobs are becoming more and more available as the digital world begins to prove itself as a viable resource for finding top-quality workers. A transcriptionist job is becoming highly desired due to its flexibility and excellent pay. To get hired for an online transcriber position, however, the following points must be taken into consideration.

Fulfill Transcription Job Requirements

  • Excellent Language Skills

    You need to have excellent language skills and be able to understand how people speak if you are looking to find best transcription jobs. Learning proper diction and inflection is beneficial and will help you remain as accurate as possible. It is important to understand how language works so that your transcribed notes are as accurate as possible and easily understood.

  • Proficient at Typing and the Use of Word Processors

    In order to be a transcriptionist, you must have a working knowledge of computers and word processors that are used to write and store documents. You must also be proficient at typing. Typing is a skill that can be easily mastered with a few hours of practice. After a short period of time, your fingers will be able to move effortlessly over the keyboard without any thought or direction on your part.

  • Minimal Education Requirements

    While becoming a general transcriptionist requires very little in the way of education, it is important that you have a working knowledge of the language, as well as any phrases and words that are specifically used in the legal field. Proper grammar, punctuation, and etiquette are also a plus.

Get Certified in Transcription to Have upper Hand Over Others

Become a Professional Transcriptionist

In most states, there is no license required to be a general transcriptionist. It is in your best interest, however, to become a certified transcriptionist. A certification proves that you are proficient in both knowledge and technique and that you are capable of mastering most tasks associated with the profession. It is important when you are trying to find an online transcriber position to always put your best assets on the table. Offer testimonials from others if you have them and provide a copy of your certification. Show your knowledge of the profession and be as concise and upfront as possible. Here's a walkthrough about what you need to get started on a transcription career.

Career In Transcription

  • Become a Transcriber from Home

    You can get started as a home-based transcriber by honing your transcription skills to perfection. This includes learning how to touch type, developing the ability to follow extremely detail-oriented directions, refining proofreading skills to leave no room for errors in the transcript, and of course, searching for job openings in the right forums.

  • Freelance Transcription Jobs

    If you are looking for freelance jobs, you can search for them on popular freelancing platforms like Upwork and Flexjobs.Upwork, as a freelancing platform, is simply great for finding more clients, and also for running and growing your freelance career. Upwork offers you the freedom to choose projects that are ideal for you. All you need to do is create your profile, and the jobs that match your inputs get highlighted on the platform. You also have the search option for projects and can even respond to invitations from the client. FlexJobs as a job resource is simply fantastic for any person searching for flextime, part-time or a freelance career. This platform is also good for those who want flexible or non-traditional schedules. Parents who desire more flexibility for their families and kids will also find Flexjobs to be more than a help.

  • Start on Your Own as an Independent Contractor in Transcription

    As an independent contractor, you may either work for a client directly or for a transcription company. A majority of companies may directly allocate work to you project-by-project or alternatively, may have an online queue where all the contractors can pull work from as and when they are available.

Resources to Find Transcription Jobs

For the newbies, as well as the experienced transcriptionists alike, online transcription forums are a valuable resource. Here, you can find valuable tips, keep up with the latest industry trends, find job opportunities, and talk about your problems to transcription professionals. Out of the several transcription forums, the following are worth a recommendation:

  • Transcription Essentials

    The Transcription Essentials forum is great for any transcription job aspirant or is already having one. They give detailed information on companies hiring for independent contractors, either experienced or freshers, for medical, legal, and general transcription. They also have a review section for you to check whether any particular company that you are interested in pays on time, how much money you are likely to make, and the hours of free time that you have at your disposal per week. They do rigorous screening during the registration process to avoid any spam.

  • Transcription Discussion Board

    Transcription Discussion Board of TCI is a community of deeply committed, professional transcriptionists/translators. Whether you specialize in general, medical or legal transcription and irrespective of your skill level, you will find relevant, valuable, and useful information here. Visit the TCI Job Board on the company’s website today to explore the latest job openings from global transcription companies and employers.

  • WAHM.com

    The WAHM.com has a primary focus on helping stay-at-home moms run a successful business online. They also have a section where one can ask questions dealing with any topic. You may also promote your business, in case you are having one, in one of their sections. Apart from that, they also provide you tips on setting up a business. Apart from these two listed above, the TCI Job Board is also an excellent source to search and find online transcription jobs, either part-time or full-time, by companies hiring globally. For more details, visit the TCI Job Board webpage and register yourself.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on Sep 27, 2016 and has been updated with popular career opportunities in transcription and resources to find transcription jobs.