6 Qualities That Set a Professional Transcription Services Provider Apart (2024)

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 of the benefits of working as a transcriptionist.

If you would like to get started or are already running a transcription business, there are various qualities you should have to stand out from the competition. Here are the top six qualities of the best Transcription services providers:

Speed and Accuracy

Transcription jobs typically require fast turnaround delivery. Sometimes, clients would want their files transcribed within hours. Therefore, you need to have fast typing speeds and also be accurate. Great transcriptionists have excellent language skills, can decipher colloquial accents and understand grammatical and punctuation errors.

Excellent Research Skills

To produce outstanding transcripts, you need excellent research skills. Some clients may provide audio clips that are inaudible. Sometimes, technical jargon may have been used improperly or mispronounced.

Understanding the basic terminologies of the industry and quickly researching the topic will help you to minimize indiscernible gaps and ensure your final transcript accurately captures the verbatim.

Proper Punctuation

To produce quality work, you should understand grammar punctuation rules. The way you punctuate your transcript can affect how it is interpreted when read. As a transcriber, you have to type everything that you hear and in verbatim. One incorrectly placed punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence.

Understanding the context of the verbatim will help you know the correct punctuation to use.

Also Read:Why Documentary Makers Should Use Transcription

Good Listening Skills

Transcription jobs can be challenging. Accents and indiscernible words are among the challenges you will face on a daily basis. However, clients would still expect a perfect transcript. Therefore, strive for no “indiscernible” in your transcript.

Before you use "indiscernible" parenthetical, isolate the channel of the speaker and listen to the section of the audio file multiple times. Having the right equipment, such as a good pair of transcription headphones can improve your listening skills.

Self-Motivation

Whether you are working on your own or with a transcription company, you will need to be self-disciplined and motivated. For many people, the prospect of being their own boss is what attracts them to go into transcription. However, what they quickly learn is that being your own boss comes with consequences. Instead of working any time you want, you may be working all the time. It is not uncommon for transcriptionists to pull all-nighters when urgent projects have to be finished.

To overcome the challenges of transcription, you have to be self-motivated. No matter the weather, the job will have to be done if you are to stand out in the industry.

Commitment and Confidentiality

Keeping your clients’ data confidential and secure is important in the transcription industry. The way you handle your clients’ content can have legal repercussions. For example, legal and medical transcribers have to abide by strict privacy rules when transcribing content to protect both themselves and their clients.

The above are six important qualities you should have to stand out from the crowd of transcription services providers.

Also Read: How to Choose the Best Transcription Service for Your Business

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As an expert in the field of transcription with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved, I can attest to the critical importance of possessing specific qualities to excel in this demanding profession. My expertise stems from hands-on experience, having worked extensively in transcription services and witnessed the evolution of the industry.

Now, let's delve into the concepts highlighted in the article about the top six qualities of the best transcription services providers:

  1. Speed and Accuracy:

    • Fast turnaround is a norm in transcription, and clients often require quick delivery. Demonstrating exceptional typing speed and accuracy is paramount.
    • Great transcriptionists excel in language skills, deciphering colloquial accents, and maintaining precision in grammar and punctuation.
  2. Excellent Research Skills:

    • Outstanding transcripts demand excellent research skills. Inaudible audio clips or technical jargon can pose challenges.
    • Familiarity with industry terminologies and the ability to conduct quick research contribute to producing accurate and comprehensive transcripts.
  3. Proper Punctuation:

    • Understanding grammar punctuation rules is crucial for quality work. Punctuation can significantly influence the interpretation of the transcript.
    • Transcribers must type verbatim, and a misplaced punctuation mark can alter the meaning of a sentence. Contextual understanding aids in proper punctuation.
  4. Good Listening Skills:

    • Transcription jobs are inherently challenging, with accents and indiscernible words posing daily obstacles.
    • Striving for perfection, even in the face of challenges, is essential. Using quality transcription equipment, such as headphones, enhances listening skills and accuracy.
  5. Self-Motivation:

    • Being a transcriptionist, whether independently or with a company, requires self-discipline and motivation.
    • The allure of being your own boss comes with the responsibility of meeting deadlines, sometimes leading to unconventional working hours. Overcoming challenges necessitates self-motivation.
  6. Commitment and Confidentiality:

    • Maintaining client confidentiality is paramount in the transcription industry. Mishandling client data can have legal consequences.
    • Adhering to privacy rules, especially in fields like legal and medical transcription, is crucial to protect both transcribers and clients.

In conclusion, possessing these six qualities sets apart exceptional transcription services providers from the rest. The transcription landscape demands a combination of linguistic prowess, technical acumen, and unwavering commitment to deliver accurate and confidential transcripts in a timely manner.

6 Qualities That Set a Professional Transcription Services Provider Apart (2024)

FAQs

What skills or characteristics are necessary for becoming an expert transcriptionist? ›

12 transcription skills
  • Active listening. Active listening is the ability to focus on a speaker and hear everything they say. ...
  • Typing skills. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Computer skills. ...
  • Editing. ...
  • Multitasking. ...
  • Time management. ...
  • Attention to detail.
Mar 10, 2023

What is a professional transcription? ›

A transcription service is a business service that converts speech (either live or recorded) into a written or electronic text document. Transcription services are often provided for business, legal, or medical purposes.

What are the benefits of transcription services? ›

Accessibility for d/Deaf or hard of hearing viewers

Given that closed captions were originally developed as an accommodation to provide an equivalent entertainment experience for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people, it makes sense that content accessibility is arguably the most important benefit of transcription.

What format is professional transcription? ›

There are two primary types of transcription: verbatim and non-verbatim. The general transcription process for creating these transcripts is similar, but the final products differ slightly. Because of their differences, these transcription formats can support various types of projects.

What skills does a transcriber need? ›

What are the skills of a transcriber?
  • Accurate typing. It's important that transcriptions reflect what people are saying, which requires you to be very accurate. ...
  • Fast typing. ...
  • Technological skills. ...
  • Active listening. ...
  • Literacy and grammar. ...
  • Appropriate pacing and layout. ...
  • Time management. ...
  • Transcribing spoken words.
Aug 24, 2023

What are the 3 most important skills of a medical transcriptionist? ›

Important Qualities
  • Computer skills. Medical transcriptionists must know how to operate electronic health records (EHR) systems and should be comfortable using software to prepare reports.
  • Critical-thinking skills. ...
  • Listening skills. ...
  • Time-management skills. ...
  • Writing skills.

What is the highest pay for transcription? ›

High Paying Medical Transcription Jobs
  • Transcript Evaluator. Salary range: $43,000-$66,500 per year. ...
  • Transcriber. Salary range: $40,000-$52,000 per year. ...
  • Audio Transcriber. Salary range: $40,000-$52,000 per year. ...
  • Transcription Manager. ...
  • Scribe. ...
  • Transcriptionist. ...
  • Medical Transcription Supervisor. ...
  • Pathology Transcriptionist.

What is good pay for a transcriptionist? ›

How Much Do Transcriptionist Jobs Pay per Hour?
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$57,000$27
75th Percentile$48,500$23
Average$41,995$20
25th Percentile$34,000$16

What is the average price for transcription services? ›

Ultimately, the answer to “how much does transcription cost?” is not an exact figure. A reasonable estimate is around $100 - $150 per audio hour to get a high-quality and accurate transcript. These transcription rates can be a significant cost for many companies who need to transcribe large volumes of videos.

What is the main goal of transcription? ›

The goal of transcription is to make a RNA copy of a gene's DNA sequence. For a protein-coding gene, the RNA copy, or transcript, carries the information needed to build a polypeptide (protein or protein subunit). Eukaryotic transcripts need to go through some processing steps before translation into proteins.

Why outsource transcription services? ›

Reliable accuracy

Many industry professionals choose to outsource medical transcription and other forms of technical transcription because they know that accuracy is a non-negotiable for their projects. However, leaders in every industry must consider the accuracy of their transcripts.

How should a transcript look? ›

A transcript should include the words spoken by someone in an audio recording. It should also name the different speakers and attach sentences to a timestamp for easy reference.

How fast should a transcriptionist type? ›

A transcriptionist's typing speed is measured in either words or keystrokes per minute. On average, good scribes type 40-60 WPM, with the more experienced of them capable of scribing more than 80 words in 60 seconds! Court reporters and real-time transcriptionists are the fastest - they can type over 100 WPM!

How do you transcribe correctly? ›

Transcription: Basic Rules
  1. Text order. Transcribe text in the order it appears on the page. ...
  2. Preserve original spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Transcribe original text spelling, grammar, and punctuation. ...
  3. Line breaks. Preserve line breaks. ...
  4. Page breaks. ...
  5. Illegible or unclear text. ...
  6. Blank pages - Nothing to transcribe.

How do I become an expert transcriptionist? ›

Language skills – language skills are essential to successful transcription. Your grammar, vocabulary and general linguistic abilities need to be tip top. Exceptional listening skills – to work as a transcriber, you need to be able to listen in a focused and effective manner.

What are skills of transcription and handwriting? ›

Transcription is simply the act of putting words on paper (or screen) through handwriting (or typing) and making those words understandable through good spelling. Think of handwriting and typing as siblings—and of spelling as a bossy aunt who takes charge, disciplining the letters to get in line and in the right order.

How do you become a qualified transcriber? ›

While you can be hired for a transcription job without any formal training or experience, certain higher-paying positions, such as medical or legal transcription, require certification. Transcriptionist work in the medical field requires a one-year certification program or an associate degree in medical transcription.

Which special skill is required for transcribing medical reports? ›

Your transcriptionist needs to have excellent grammar and spelling skills. This ensures an accurately transcribed voice file. Also, they need to have excellent editing and formatting skills as well. This is because they may need to update quite complex reports.

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