Ever wondered if you could juggle housework and have a rewarding career at the same time? Gone are the days when you had to be physically present at your office to earn a salary or get a promotion. In this age of technology where your bedroom can be transformed into your office cubicle within minutes, the possibilities are endless.

Transcription is a wonderful business opportunity that can give you wings to fly. Besides giving you the freedom to decide your working hours, it is also a lucrative job which can keep you busy for a good part of the day. Creating a transcript involves listening to an audio tape or a digital audio file and then typing out what you hear. If you are concerned about whether you will be able to keep up with the pace of normal conversation, there’s nothing to be worried about because recorded audio files usually involve a monologue, a conversation or discussion where each spoken word can be heard audibly. To become a stay at home transcriptionist, you need 3 basic skills:

  • Awesome Typing Skills: Your typing skills will largely determine how many transcripts you can do in a day and how much workload you can comfortably manage on your own. You’ll also need a good foot pedal to keep you company while working on a transcript as these little machines help you rewind, pause and playback any audio file section. If you’re not a fast typist, all it takes is a bit of practice and once you get the hang of the job, you’ll be on your way to becoming an ace transcriptionist.
  • Good Language Skills: Creating the perfect transcript does not only involve typing at a fast pace. Depending on the instructions given by the client, you’ll need to edit and proofread the document before actual submission.  Although there are plenty of grammar software cds and spellcheckers available, basic knowledge of medical, legal and financial terms is a must. If you feel your language skills could do with some improvement, don’t hesitate to take free grammar usage tests, quizzes and other language related aptitude tests online.
  • Ability to research: Research is an important part of a transcriptionist’s job and if you choose to work on a medical transcript for example, having knowledge about the subject matter and medical terminology is important. Remember that clients rely heavily on every word that is typed in a transcript and errors made could have a huge impact later on. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection access as well.

You may find working as a transcriptionist tough initially, but it’s a rewarding career which allows you to be your own boss!