7 Ways to Learn General Transcription and Become a General Transcriptionist Working from Home

In this post, you'll find out how to learn general transcription

Medical transcriptionists need to take a steep transcription course. But you do NOT need formal training to become a general transcriptionist.

There is a big demand for general, non-medical transcription.

Many audio and video files with non-medical content need to be transcribed for easy referencing, archiving and search engine optimization.

You can take advantage of this need to get non-medical transcription work from home.

So how do you become a general transcriptionist?

How do prepare yourself for general transcription work?

And how do you get the skills and training you need to become a general transcriptionist?

Here are 7 ways to acquire the necessary skills to become a general transcriptionist.

1 – Increase your typing speed

Your typing speed and transcription speed will affect how much money you can make as a transcriptionist.

Transcription companies expect a general transcriptionist to have a minimum typing speed of about 40 to 50 words per minutes. Some companies require a faster speed. And faster is better. You’ll be able to do more work and make more money when your speed increases.

Keep working on improving your speed to 80 words per minutes or more.

You can increase your typing speed by practicing with typing tutor software. Find  free typing tutorials here.

You can also increase your typing speed and improve your productivity by using word or text expanders and keyword shortcuts.

Read my article on how to instantly increase your typing speed with text expanders.
Read my article to learn about additional ways to increase your typing speed with Word shortcut keys.

2 – Take a grammar course

Transcriptionists need to be proficient in grammar, punctuation and spelling. If you need to brush up on your grammar, take a grammar course from your local community college or find an online course.

TIP: Always grammar check your finished transcript. Grammarly is the best online spelling and grammar checker to help you edit your transcripts. Grammarly has a free version and premium version. Check it out here.

3 – Improve your MS Word skills

You’ll spend less time formatting transcripts when you are proficient with your word processing program. You can quickly increase your typing and transcription speed by using MS Word's autocorrect, shortcut keys and other functions.

4 – Expand your vocabulary and general knowledge

Read books and magazines and research web sites about the industries you want to work for to learn industry terms.

For example, to become familiar with financial terms, read financial books or business magazines like Business Week. Listen to financial TV channels like CNBC and Bloomberg. To learn insurance terms, visit insurance websites. Research terms you’re not familiar with. You can also take business courses related to the industry you want to learn more about.

5 – Practice transcription with practice audio files

The more you practice transcription, the better you’ll get at it. You can practice by transcribing any audio you find. Search for audio files, podcasts, teleseminars, and interviews online. Transcribe TV programs and phone messages. However, when transcribing random recordings, you won’t know if your transcript is accurate.

The best way to practice transcription is with the same types of recordings that transcriptionists are getting. Transcription practice files are specifically designed to enhance your transcription skills. You can compare your transcript with corrected transcripts and learn from your mistakes.

Transcription practice files will help you develop your listening and transcription skills. They will help you become familiar with various voices, accents, inflections, and speech paces. Using transcription practice files will help you to become a skilled transcriptionist fast. Transcription practice audios and videos are also great for people to get a feel for transcription and see if transcription is the right career for them. Transcription practice files are available with a variety of recordings (e.g. interviews, podcasts, meetings), industries, topics, speed, voices, accents and difficulty.

You can get general transcription practice files here.

6 – Take a medical or legal transcription training course (optional)

You do NOT need to go through extensive medical transcription training to get general transcription work. But if you have previous training or experience in medical transcription, you already have transcription skills and can get ADDITIONAL general transcription jobs that require some knowledge of medical terminology.

For example, insurance companies like to recruit people who know some basic medical terminology.

You do NOT need legal transcription training to do general transcription work. However, having a legal background or taking some legal courses or a legal transcription course will give you opportunities for ADDITIONAL, well-paid general transcription jobs.

For example, police departments like to recruit transcriptionists who have some legal experience or training. Janet Shaughnessy has a great legal transcription course.

Click here for more information.

7 – Take a specialized general transcription course (the best and fastest way)

If you’re new to transcription, taking a specialized general transcription course is by far the best way to learn general transcription.

The better your transcription skills, typing speed, grammar, and transcription accuracy are, the more money you can make as a transcriptionist.

It is important to develop your transcription skills and practice before taking tests or applying for transcription jobs. If your transcripts are not accurate, it can cost you future jobs.

Ready to get started in general transcription and get better-paying transcription jobs?

Check out General Transcription: Theory and Practice™.
Janet Shaughnessy's General Transcription Course is a detailed, multi-media course I highly recommend for anyone who wants to get started in general transcription

The general transcription course I recommend will help you get started in general transcription and will help you get all the skills you need to become a professional transcriptionist.

This course will teach you how to transcribe and how to get high-paying transcription jobs.

You will learn everything you need to know to start working as a professional transcriptionist. It includes typing drills, information about equipment, transcription formats, transcription templates, Word skills, shortcuts, grammar and punctuation skills, and of course, it provides tons of specialized general transcription practice files.

Keep practicing and keep improving your transcription skills. Being faster and better means that you can make more money and become a professional transcriptionist who will get repeat business and referrals.

Not sure if general transcription is the right career choice for you?

Learn more about general transcription
with my FREE Mini-Course

The free transcription mini-course will tell you what it takes to be a successful transcriptionist and how to start a career in transcription, answer your questions, and give you the information you need to help you decide if general transcription is right for you.

TRANSCRIPTION RESOURCES

• FREE General Transcription Mini-Course.
• Detailed, multi-media General Transcription Course.
• General Transcription Practice Files.
• FREE Legal Transcription Mini-Course.
• Medical Transcription Course.
• Check out this complete transcription starter kit at Amazon.
• Grammarly is the best online spelling and grammar checker to help you edit your transcripts. Grammarly has a free version and a premium version. Check it out here.

RECOMMENDED READING

• 7 Ways to Learn General Transcription and Become a General Transcriptionist Working from Home
• 5 Steps to Get Started in General Transcription and Get Transcription Work from Home
• How to Pass Transcription Employment Tests
• Top 25 Transcription Jobs for Beginners – No Experience Required
• 14 Work From Home Transcription Jobs That Pay Every Week

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