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Showing posts from June, 2011

Resume Tips

Helpful tips about what NOT to put on your resume from Yahoo! Finance. I agree completely.

Invest in a Foot Pedal

One thing any transcriptionist will need is a good foot pedal.  A foot pedal is needed in order to control playback of the files being transcribed to text. Below is a newer model of the one I use. In fact, I am considering purchasing another just so I have a backup.

Networking to Work

Make sure you keep in touch with contacts, clients, former clients, and yes, the so-called competition.  You can benefit from such connections by getting steady work, or being someone's top choice to handle their overflow. If you want to transcribe, or even just work from home, network.  Don't forget to use social media.  It's not just for fun anymore.  I use social media to find work, to see what people are looking for and to research who's using transcription services these days. Any questions?  Just ask and I'll explain further.

Submit Your Questions

If you have any questions about transcription, freelancing from home or whatever, leave a question in the comments and I'll answer it as best as I can.

Too Much to Transcribe

Beware.  There is such a thing as too much work.  Be careful not to get so much that you can't handle the work.  Make sure you can still deliver within deadlines. For now, transcribing from home is my primary source of income.  So far, so good.  I'm lucky enough to be able to get enough work to keep me afloat during the job hunt. Time to get back to punching keys.

What isTranscription?

What is transcription? Simply put, transcription is creating a text version of recorded audio or video.  At least it sounds simple enough, right? It takes more than typing ability (which you have to be fast) to be a transcriptionist.  It takes a good Internet connection and high quality headphones.  These days you'll definitely need transcription software and a foot pedal for controlling playback.  To be honest, I hardly use mine these days.  I'm used to it though.  Also, be ready to get familiar with FTP software and have backup plans for downloading and uploading files to clients. Clients?  Oh, yes, you have to get those too, especially if you plan to work from home. More later.

Are you interested in transcription?

More and more people want to work from home and transcription is a great way to do that, whether you want to do it full time or just supplement your current income. But thinking back to a couple years ago, I was chatting with someone from one of my online classes towards medical transcription and she didn't really know what it was.  Do you? Are you seriously interested in transcription opportunities?  If so, here's your first question: What is transcription? Leave your answer in comments.

mhtnt | Freelancer.com - Transcription Data Entry Administrative assistant

mhtnt | Freelancer.com - Transcription Data Entry Administrative assistant

Working to the HEAT

For someone like me who has a chronic disease that can get in the way of living normally, it's nice to be able to work at home when you want. Tonight, I'm transcribing a video and watching the NBA Finals. Let's go Heat!

In Between Jobs

There are so many of us without employment these days.  Is that an understatement?  Maybe I should say there are TOO many of us without employment.  I was laid off in 2008 from a job I'd been at for over six years.  I didn't like it there so much at first but it grew on me and what I really loved about it was being busy.  I was lucky enough to get a contract position soon after.  That only lasted a couple weeks but I made enough of an impression to be asked back a few months later, which turned into a long-term contract that ended after two years.  The permanent position that was supposed to come after that... didn't.  Another contract position followed, which has ended.  I guess you could say that ended at the right time because my psoriasis was flaring up (I had, no have, a very flaky face, neck and chest). So right now, I find myself again in between jobs (real ones).  Most of my day is spent trailing the job sites, clicking Apply Now buttons and sending my resume.  Al