Transcriptionist

A Transcriptionist requires the skill of literacy. Because there is the opportunity for just about any word in a given language to be used during the course of a meeting or session that will require transcription, the Transcriptionist must have the ability to transcribe what is heard accurately. This includes understanding colloquialisms that may be employed by various speakers, being able to use punctuation in such a way that the inflection of the speakers are captured as much as possible, and being able to record the dialogue exactly as it occurred. A well rounded education in the art of language is an essential for any good Transcriptionist.

Above and beyond basic language skills, the need to deal easily with technical terminology or simple shoptalk is very handy in many transcription jobs.

Strong typing skills are a must for any Transcriptionist. In some cases, the job has to be accomplished in a real time setting. In effect, the Transcriptionist is taking dictation, without the ability to employ the old-fashioned shorthand method. Even in cases where the Transcriptionist is working off an audio recording of a meeting or event, a quick delivery of the finished transcript may be very important to the client. Circumstances often dictate that a finished transcript be made available to the customer within a day or less. Fast and accurate typing skills go a long way to meeting those sorts of deadlines.

Lastly, a Transcriptionist also may need to employ some research skills to the task. No matter how well versed the Transcriptionist may be in a given field, chances are that he or she will have to look up a few terms or phrases that are used within a meeting or session. This research often helps the Transcriptionist put the remarks into context, which aids in using appropriate punctuation. The research can also serve to verify the spelling of any words that the Transcriptionist may be unsure about.