Video transcription jobs are not the easiest jobs in the world but I can say for sure they are fulfilling and you get to learn a thing or two from time to time. Transcriptionists are the individuals who work on different video files and convert them into text/written format. Transcription is an in-demand profession that offers multiple perks that most people would want in a career. Flexible working arrangements and good remuneration are some benefits of working as a transcriptionist.
Video transcription is the process where all forms of spoken words in a video are converted into a text format. It is important to note that during transcription, an accurate verbatim of all the dialogues and spoken words must be included in a transcribed transcript.
A transcriptionist is a professional typist who listens to recorded or live audio files and converts them into text formats. There are specific personality traits that, transcriptionists need to possess in order for them to succeed in a transcription career. Having the right equipment is a plus but these traits will ensure that you have longevity in your career and have clients who are recurrent.
You might notice that some of these traits cut across all other professions, but they also are very specific to transcriptionists where a lack of any would either make your career not as enjoyable and you might even end up quitting and jumping on another one.
Below I have outlined a list of 5 career-specific traits for transcriptionists.
1. Speed and Accuracy
If you have worked in post-production or any industry that involves working with films, you already know that it is a super-fast paced environment where the turnaround delivery is fast. Clients want to work with an individual aware of this and can deliver without compromising on the quality of the transcripts. You need to be a transcriber who is fast enough to work on different files and accurate enough to avoid any unnecessary mistakes that may come because of your speed in typing. Since transcribing deals with typing, you need to be a fast typist who has incredible speed per second of typing. If you are not good at typing or you are the person who presses one letter at a time, then I’m sorry but transcription is not the job for you.
I won’t even lie, being able to type fast and still avoid spelling mistakes is a skill and trait that must be developed over time and that is why speed and accuracy go hand in hand. Great transcriptionists have excellent language skills, can decipher colloquial accents, and understand grammatical and punctuation errors.
To better this skill and trait, you can take up typing classes and work on your accuracy as time goes by. Be sure to note that clients will not work with you on a recurrent basis if they notice that you can’t really deliver as per their specifications.
2. Excellent Research Skills
As a transcriptionist, in order for you to produce incredible and conclusive transcripts for your clients, you must have excellent research skills. Audios are not always audible and you might come across jargon words that are technical and the only thing that will save you in such a situation is your ability to research and get more information. You can’t be the person who takes up a job whose audio is quite messed up and all you do is constantly calling the client to complain that It is hard to hear certain words or sentences. Being a good transcriptionist with amazing research skills means that you will have to do your research and come up with a conclusive script that your client can appreciate because you know exactly what you are doing. In an instance where the accents are not clear you should be able to put your research skills in the use and try to find out what exactly the speaker had said. Understanding the basic terminologies of the industry and quickly researching the topic will help you minimize indiscernible gaps and ensure your final transcript accurately captures the verbatim.
It’s not an easy task but if you understand what you are doing and have the capacity and range to do it, nothing will hinder you from being a sort after transcriptionist. Clients will end up recommending your services to their friends and before you know it you are a transcriptionist household name.
3. Proper Punctuation
Transcribing an audio/video file is like writing a whole new transcript that does not exist. Just like in writing, you must have an excellent grasp of grammar and punctuation rules. Remember the audio does not come with instructions on where you should put a comma, a full stop, a semicolon, or any other punctuation marks. You must know where these punctuation marks go and they must be placed in places which make sense grammatically. It would be such catastrophic for you to transcribe files professionally knowing very well that you don’t even have the slightest idea on how punctuation marks are used.
Remember point number one where we mentioned something about accuracy? Proper punctuation and correct spelling fall under accuracy. You cannot be putting full stops in places where a statement is continuous, be sure to avoid long sentences by breaking them with commas where necessary. Also, be sure to add quotation marks in places where speakers are making statements in present tense. Make sure you understand the context of a speech before you decide on which punctuation marks to use. This will also save you a lot of time when proofreading your transcripts. Punctuation rules are the same across the board and being able to understand them and know where different types are used will make your transcribing career smooth sailing.
4. Self-Motivation
Self-motivation is one trait that keeps many people going even when they feel like they can’t keep on doing something. As a transcriptionist, you will always need this trait because it is very easy to throw in the towel and call it quits. Depending on what your working environment is, you might end up not meeting your targets and we all know if you don’t meet your targets then you will be on the wrong side of a client. As much as working as a transcriptionist means that you can work on your own schedule and still deliver on the client’s schedule, sometimes you will have to work overnight because the schedules are tight and you still have to deliver quality transcripts.
A lot of people who lack self-motivation might easily give up and lose on a great opportunity. When you are someone who is self-motivated, you will keep up with the work and even push yourself harder knowing very well that you will benefit in the long run. Discipline and self-motivation go hand in hand and one cannot exist without the other. When you have an agreement to deliver on something at a particular date and time then, discipline and motivation are the only things that will make sure that you stay true to your word. You will also meet a couple of challenges here and there and to overcome them you need to push yourself even harder.
5. Commitment and Confidentiality
Sometimes you will receive very high classified documents that your client wants you to work on and they should count on you to keep them confidential. Making sure that the information will not leak or form while ensuring that they are secure is very important in the transcription industry. You cannot be the person who works on a client’s documents and goes around telling other people how he or she is working with the said client and going into details about what they are doing for the client. For starters word will spread that you are that kind of person and clients wouldn’t want to work with you anymore.
If you don’t have the range to commit to a said project and remain confidential about it, then you will face legal repercussions from time to time. Clients want to work with someone who they will trust with their files and one who they are sure won’t go around letting out their secrets to the first person who gives them an ear. For example, legal and medical transcribers have to abide by strict privacy rules when transcribing content to protect both themselves and their clients. You must practice minding your business and not letting others in on other people’s businesses because that’s exactly how you practice confidentiality.
With that said, there very many other personality traits that would come in handy for any person who is trying to get their foot into the transcription industry. The ones I have mentioned above are the ones you should give first priority to because as I said they are the most important.
