Transcription
What is a transcriptionist?
A transcriptionist creates typed documents based on audio recordings, interviews, notes, and other forms of spoken words. A transcriptionist will usually be very proficient in spelling, grammar, and punctuation with a fast word-per-minute typing speed.
How do you hire a transcriptionist?
You can source transcriptionist talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a transcriptionist.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview transcriptionists. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of transcriptionist you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a transcriptionist?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced transcriptionist may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their transcribing services more competitively.
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How do you write a transcriptionist job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample transcriptionist job post titles:
- Person needed to transcribe an interview with the mayor for local newspaper
- Freelance transcriptionist needed to type up handwritten notes for a museum display
- Writer needed to transcribe a variety of notes from different sources and combine into single document
Project description
An effective transcriptionist job post should include:
- Scope of work: From exhibiting attention to detail to understanding when verbiage should be omitted from the official typed document, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, formatting styles, or software, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Transcriptionist job responsibilities
Here are some examples of a transcriptionist job responsibilities:
- Regularly transcribe one-hour interviews for company’s internal publication
- Transcribe webinar and configure into presentation format
- Review final document and correct grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors
Transcriptionist job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a transcriptionist . Here are some examples:
- Must have an excellent grasp of the English language
- At least 2 years experience using transcribing machines or software
- At least a 60 wpm typing speed is required