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What does a freelance transcriptionist do?

A general transcriptionist is responsible for the documentation and conversion of voice recordings. The job involves listening to audio, such as interviews, notes, and messages, and converting them into written documents. Transcriptionists are typically skilled in grammar, spelling, and punctuation with a proficient word-per-minute typing speed.

There are several types of transcription services, and as a freelance transcriptionist, you should be aware of them. The job might involve working with recordings in the legal or medical field, as well as in other areas that are highly confidential. Jobs for transcriptionists in these specialized industries typically require some form of certification and extensive experience.

What skills do I need to become a freelance transcriptionist?

When searching for transcription jobs and pitching to clients, you need to effectively communicate your skills to help you stand out from other transcriptionists competing for the same projects.

Common skills a freelance transcriptionist should possess include:

• Patience. When working with low-quality audio, it's important that transcriptionists take the time to patiently work through a recording and, if necessary and possible, ask questions regarding the recording to ensure accuracy.
• Excellent typing. Freelance transcriptionists need to be excellent typists, providing both speed and accuracy.
• Computer skills. Whether using common word processing software or specialized transcription software, transcriptionists must have a high comfort level navigating computer and software environments.
• Fluency in the language being typed. Transcriptionists face a number of challenges during the course of their day. Not being fluent in the language they are typing in should not be one of them. Fluency helps transcriptionists use contextual and grammatical clues to make better choices of words or phrases that may be unclear in the audio files.
• Excellent grammar and spelling. A core skill of all transcriptionists is the ability to spell and write properly. Transcriptionists often have to correct grammatically incorrect language when transcribing. In addition, each word must be spelled properly, and correct punctuation must be used.
• Exceptional editing. It’s important that freelance transcriptionists can edit during the online transcription process. Not every conversation, interview, or dictation will be recorded using proper grammar. The transcriptionist must be capable of editing audio so that it becomes readable when transformed into a written document.

What are the core freelance transcriptionist job responsibilities?

Freelance transcriptionists will find a variety of jobs that require slightly different requirements. However, there are core responsibilities they can be expected to fulfill, including the following:

• Provide accurate transcriptions of interview recordings, meetings, and notes
• Proofread all transcribed documents prior to submission for approval
• Collaborate with other team members to ensure proper assignments and objectives
• Provide weekly report highlighting pending work, projects in progress, and completed projects
• Clean up any grammatical errors encountered from audio recordings
• Use Microsoft Word or transcription software such as oTranscribe or Express Scribe when transcribing audio

Should I get a degree or certification as a freelance transcriber?

In addition to developing your skills, obtaining a degree and/or professional certification can help set your Upwork profile apart. Getting a degree or certification is not a requirement for all transcription jobs. In some cases, only a high school diploma is required, especially if you already have extensive transcription experience.

If you choose to pursue higher education to become a transcriptionist, popular degrees or certifications include:

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or business administration
• General Transcription Certification—offered by the Transcription Certification Institute
• Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT)—offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)
• Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT)—offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)