Transcription from home is one of the most popular work-at-home opportunities. Several companies hire online contractors to transcribe audio files. Today we sit down with Beth Worthy, CFO and Director of Operations at GMR Transcription Services, to discuss how to get transcription work from home through their service and beyond.
Can you tell us a little bit about what exactly transcription is and the type of transcription we commonly hear about in the work-at-home world?
Transcription is the process of converting speech into text format. Specifically in our case, typing a digital audio recording into an editable electronic document.
There are different types of transcription, such as medical transcription, which is the transcription of medical reports and doctors’ notes. Medical transcription requires specialized knowledge of training and terminology.
General and legal transcription are common work-at-home job opportunities. Legal transcription is the transcription of audio of a legal nature, such as depositions and court hearings, and general transcription is the transcription of all different types of audio across all industries, such as meetings, focus groups, interviews, academic recordings, and lists. On and on legal and general transcription requires little to no training.
What special skills and equipment does a person need to have to begin transcription?
To start as a transcriptionist a person must be computer literate, have reliable internet, have a secure computer with anti-virus protection and Microsoft Office up to date and have a good grasp of the English language and proper grammar. Being able to meet tight deadlines, being self-disciplined and having good communication skills are also important. GMR does not require specific equipment, but having one Foot pedalA headset, and a transcription software is essential to becoming a skilled transcriptionist. A foot pedal connects to the transcription software making it quick and easy to control the audio while still typing. The headset helps to hear clearly what is being said in the audio.
What type of transcription does GMR hire for? Is experience necessary?
We are hiring for Spanish transcription and translation jobs as well as legal and general transcription. We do not require any experience, but we do screen all applicants. When you upload your resume, you will be emailed instructions on how to take the test. We give you an audio file to transcribe and you must follow our strict format instructions. We have very high standards for accuracy, so the audio file provided for testing is objectively not of good quality. We understand that some parts may not be possible to replicate, so we keep this in mind when grading. We grade formatting very strictly because we provide a style guide and a sample transcript for applicants to follow, and we want to hire people who can easily follow instructions.
How Much Can a GMR Transcriptionist Expect to Earn?
How much a transcriptionist earns depends on how quickly they can transcribe accurately. We pay per minute of audio, regardless of how long it takes the transcriptionist to complete. Our rates are based on the details of the assignment, such as audio quality, number of speakers and turnaround time required. Our rates typically range from $0.70 to $1.25 per audio minute. For example, an audio with 1 speaker and crystal clear audio and no refunds for 2 weeks might pay $0.70, while an audio with background noise, multiple speakers and next-day dues might pay $1.25. We have no set pay rate chart, every assignment is different. We post available assignments with all the details and transcriptionists can pick and choose which files to take. Our experienced transcriptionists typically take 2.5 times the audio duration to complete a good quality, 2 speaker assignment. If that assignment pays $0.90, the transcriptionists will earn about $22 per hour. A beginner can do less to start with until they get into the groove.
Can you dispel some rumors for us? Does GMR have to pay for training courses for newbies or work for free?
We don’t need to train any applicants, newcomers, or anyone at all, let alone pay for a training course. We accept interns and graduates from transcription certification institutes and find that they are well trained, but we never require any specific training.
When a transcriptionist passes our test and is hired, we have a trial period where the transcriptionist transcribes 2 hours of audio at no charge. This is where we take the time to carefully review and proofread their transcripts to ensure that the work is up to our standards. We never rejected the transcriptionist after testing who submitted 98% accuracy on good quality audio. We find that this is a good time to make sure the employment is a good fit for both parties.
If someone wants to apply for GMR transcription, where should they go?
People can apply anytime and know more about careers at GMR here
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