A Day in the Life of a Transcriptionist

Transcriptionists are responsible for transcribing audio, video and written documents. They create accurate transcripts by listening to or viewing the source material and writing down what they hear or see.

Transcriptionists must also proofread their own work before sending it off to clients as it is their job is to create a clear, accurate transcript of the source material. This means that transcriptionists must possess good spelling skills as well as an eye for detail when editing their own work. Finally, transcriptionists format the final product in accordance with client specifications (for example: Word document versus PDF file).

Transcriptionists must be able to type quickly and accurately in order to produce a high-quality transcript. Transcription jobs are available in many different fields, including court reporting, medical transcription, legal transcription and video captioning.

Transcriptionists typically work from home or an office, but some may work in the field (for example: traveling with an interviewee). The majority of transcription jobs are freelance and require self-discipline and a strong work ethic.

What Is a Transcriptionist and Why should I Hire One?

If you run a business, there are many reasons why you should hire a transcriptionist. While the job itself may seem simple, it’s complex and requires extensive training to master. It’s important that you choose someone who has been trained properly in order to ensure that your work is done correctly and on time. This can be difficult if you’re not sure what questions to ask when looking for candidates.

Start by getting referrals from people who have worked with transcriptionists before. If someone recommends someone else as an excellent translator or editor, chances are they will also make an excellent transcriptionist. Translating and editing requires similar skill sets and this will prove invaluable for your project. Working with a human transcriptionist is also an opportunity to build a long-term relationship, regardless of what level your business is at.

Experience is another key factor to consider. You’ll be better off with a seasoned transcriptionist of 10 years for example, over someone new to the craft. A transcriptionist meaning well and eager to help may actually do more harm. The nature of the work requires years of devotion to excel at specific skills. This does mean that you will be paying more for experience, but consider the money and energy saved in the long run.

Transcriptionists in an Ever-Changing World

The advent of AI (artificial intelligence) has added an extra level of pressure to the traditional transcriptionist’s duties. Instead of fearing automation, she can now use it to lay a foundation. AI transcription is still lacking in a variety of areas and this still leaves room for the accuracy of human transcription, that is as yet, unbeaten. There is still space for the most skilled transcriptionists to thrive.

Transcriptionist services are available for a variety of settings, including hospitals, law offices and media companies. Transcriptionists typically have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and undergo training before beginning to work on their own. The demand may not be as high these days, but highly skilled human transcriptionists are still in demand, yet exceedingly rare. The AI revolution provides an opportunity for human and machine to coexist in harmony.