Transforming video or audio files into written documents can be a very important task for companies and businesses of any type. With the assistance of experienced transcriber you can make sure not a single word from important meetings will be missed.
In the era of the digital world, having an experienced transcriptionist in your team is a-must. Such an expert can guarantee that any word said during the meeting or any idea shared on webinar was captured, so you can easily refer to this information available in the written format.
Upwork can connect you with professionals who have transcription experience in different industries, can complete transcription jobs not only in English but, for example, in Spanish, and can align with other specific company’s needs.
What is a transcriptionist?
A transcriptionist creates typed documents based on audio recordings, interviews, notes, and other forms of spoken words. Transcriptionists are usually very proficient in spelling, grammar, and punctuation with a fast word-per-minute typing speed. They can assist not only with general transcription, but can be experts in legal transcription and provide high-quality medical transcription services.
Questions To Answer Before Hiring A Transcriptionist
Before vetting virtual assistant transcribing skills, it’s important to lay out your personal and/or your project’s requirements. Answer the following questions and you’ll have a great starting point for hiring talent.
What level of expertise is required to efficiently run your project(s)?
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Transcription work varies depending on the industry. For example, medical transcriptionists can help convert healthcare workers' voice recordings into accurate reports. If you need to create text copies of court proceedings you should look for the assistance of a legal transcriptionist.
What’s the timeline of your project?
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Let prospective candidates know if they’ll be working with your team on a single project or if you’re looking for someone for a part-time/full-time position.
What is your budget?
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Take expertise and time into consideration and have a realistic budget. Negotiation is common, but having specific pricing for different types of transcription services is important.
What skills, outside of those directly related to Transcriptionist, are you looking for?
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From extensive experience with Microsoft Word to high typing speed, proofreading to turning videos into engaging blog posts, what skill set are you looking for in a top transcriptionist?
How much does it cost to hire a transcriptionist?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
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An experienced transcriptionist may command higher fees but also works faster, has more-specialized areas of expertise in various industries, and delivers higher-quality transcription services.
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A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their transcribing services more competitively.
Rates typically charged by transcriptionist on Upwork are:
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Beginner: $12 per hour
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Intermediate: $15 per hour
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Advanced: $22 per hour
Source: https://www.upwork.com/hire/transcriptionists/cost/
Why hire a transcriptionist?
No matter how large your company is, an experienced transcriptionist can add value to your business. Here are some of the main advantages of having such an expert in your team:
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Streamline your business process. It’s better to delegate such types of tasks to professionals. It can guarantee rapid turnaround time with high quality final results.
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Accessibility of the content. By transcribing audio or video files you can target a broader audience.
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Professional transcriptionists have all the necessary tools and transcription software to make their work easier and more efficient. By hiring an experienced transcriptionist, you don’t need to invest time and money into those tools and learn how to use them properly.
The future of transcription services
With the evolution of AI and ML technologies, there are more AI-powered transcription tools starting to appear. But they will not totally replace the human role in transcribing services. Even though many tools claim the accuracy rates to be very high, there will be a necessity to use proofreading services to make sure the final copy is error-free.
Creating Your Job Description
Make sure the job description you created includes the following sections:
Introduction
An introduction to your company and a brief explanation of what kind of transcriptionist you’re looking for.
Responsibilities
A list of tasks the new typist would be expected to complete on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Write out your project requirements here.
Skills and Qualifications
How many years of experience with transcribing softwares an ideal candidate should have? Is it important for a potential candidate to have previous experience working for a transcription company? What kind of degree should they possess? List the educational requirements as well as any necessary training, certificates, and experiences you demand from the ideal candidate.
Hiring Your Perfect Transcriptionist
Once you have created a job description you can post it on Upwork. You can set a budget range, mention timelines and provide important details related to upcoming projects.
Once your job posting is live, the applications from talented freelance transcriptionists interested in the position will start rolling in. If there are professionals on the platform who may have the right kind of experience and skills, you can invite them to apply for this freelance transcription job. Be sure to have good interview questions lined up to shortlist your favorite candidates.
Finding an experienced transcriptionist can be a challenging task. Upwork can significantly simplify this process, by providing you access to the catalog of experienced professionals who can guarantee the successful completion of your project. Hire the best transcriptionist on Upwork today and convert interviews, meeting notes, audio recordings, or even podcasts into well-written and error-free documents.