| Gone are the days of the Dictaphone and the | | | | (dentists) and educational (teachers, professors) |
| secretary writing furiously in shorthand while her | | | | professionals. |
| boss talks. Transcribing audio to paper is still a | | | | These professionals often do a lot of talking with |
| much-needed service in a number of industries. | | | | clients, students, patients and other professionals |
| However, today, over half of transcription | | | | and must have paper records of these |
| services in North America take place via the | | | | conversations, lectures, orders, etc for their |
| Internet rather than in the boss's office. This | | | | official records. Rather than employ someone |
| means that online transcription service providers | | | | in-house to do transcription work (which is often |
| are in great demand. | | | | not cost-efficient), many turn to online |
| Transcription service providers (or | | | | transcription services. |
| transcriptionists) listen to audio recordings and | | | | Online transcription service providers usually |
| transcribe the words on the recording to paper | | | | charge fees based upon either number of |
| (or computer file). In order to be able to do this | | | | transcribed pages or number of words. |
| type of work, you must: | | | | Transcriptionists can usually make between 15 and |
| * Have a computer with Internet access. Clients | | | | 25 dollars per hour for quality, accurate work. |
| deliver their audio files to the transcriptionist via | | | | If you think you possess the qualities mentioned, |
| email. | | | | you can probably start a successful online |
| * Have software capable of playing audio files on | | | | transcription service from your home. You may |
| your computer. This kind of software is readily | | | | want to think about what type of transcribing |
| available and inexpensive. Many home computers | | | | you'd like to do: medical, dental, educational or |
| come with audio-player software already installed. | | | | other. Many online transcription services cater to |
| Check your computer's owner's manual if you are | | | | one particular sector. Others do all kinds of |
| unsure. | | | | transcription work. |
| * Have excellent listening skills. You'll have to be | | | | In addition to the qualifications already discussed, |
| able to listen carefully to hours of audio recordings | | | | it's important that you familiarize yourself with |
| without missing anything. | | | | medical and dental terminology if you plan on |
| * Have good typing skills (80-95 words per | | | | working with these industries. Medical and dental |
| minute). The faster you can type, the more | | | | terminology isn't in most people's everyday |
| money you can make. | | | | vocabulary. However, these kinds of words will |
| * Be able to work with precision and attention to | | | | pop up all the time in transcription work, and |
| detail. Official transcriptions must be completely | | | | clients who hire online transcription service |
| accurate. That is, they must contain every single | | | | providers expect 100 percent accuracy. Get a |
| word on the audio file. | | | | medical/dental dictionary and study it, especially |
| Many different kinds of industries rely on online | | | | when you run across a term that you aren't |
| transcription service providers to transcribe | | | | familiar with. If you happen to know a doctor |
| various audio recordings to paper (or computer | | | | dentist you feel comfortable approaching for help |
| file). The sectors that most commonly rely on | | | | now and then this can increase your efficiency |
| these services are medical (doctors), dental | | | | tremendously. |