What to Expect Working with a Transcription Company

Copyright (c) 2010 Anne Shaw

Are you ready for a new career as a transcriptionist? Would you like to do your own home-based transcription business or you are planning to work with a transcription company?

Most probably you would prefer working with a transcription company. Here you need to analyze some points before making a final decision:

1. You must assess the size and goodwill of the company you are thinking to work with. If you are just a beginner, there may be little information available to guide you about the pros and cons for choosing a company according to its size. Normally, companies try to project only brighter side of the picture at the time of interview and they are reluctant to discuss the things that, in future, might not prove beneficial from employee's point of view. Sometimes, certain features about a particular company might not appeal to one person but another person might feel excited about same features. So, it is always better to have a look on some of the potential loop holes before finally choosing the company to work with. Every company, irrespective of its size, has its own work culture. Generally speaking, medium sized companies have healthy work environment as compared to small units with limited resources. These companies offer good benefits and health care coverage in addition to a reasonable compensation package. Here hiring and firing decisions are not taken whimsically. They ensure some degree of job security which is the prime expectation of a sincere employee.

2. Working environment and professional guidance: As an employee, you expect pleasant and harmonious working conditions and would certainly prefer the company that offers best of employees' welfare amenities. You already possess basic skills like working on computer, knowledge of English grammar, good typing speed etc. A reputed transcription company is always open to impart advanced professional training to its transcription team. Listening and recognizing varied accents, familiarization with legal and medical terminology and formatting of different types of report are some of the advanced training facilities extended by these transcription companies to their team to improve their efficiency

3. Expected Working Hours: Some companies follow a turnaround system and others follow set hours work pattern. Some companies have a third shift, i.e. 12 midnight to 8 AM. They offer incentive bonus for working in the night shift. If you can stand typing at late night, working night shift may be a good proposition since it carries extra incentive bonus with it. Is there paid vacation for employees? Is there any time off and if so, how does it work?

4. Compensation package and advancement opportunities: Last but not the least, your prime concern is to ensure your time, skill and efforts are reasonably rewarded by the company you choose to work with. Medical transcriptionists are usually paid on hourly basis. Some others are paid as per lines transcribed by them while some employees get a basic pay per hour plus incentive for extra production. While negotiating salary it is always advisable to achieve higher start at the initial hiring time. After you are hired, increments may depend on various factors including company's financial goals and normal set intervals for any pay revision etc.

In addition to above, you may work out some more points concerning your expectations when you decide working with a transcription company.

If you are looking for a "work-from-home" career in transcription, there is a big demand of freelance transcriptionists. Many Business owners and professionals are looking for independent transcriptionists who can handle their projects on a regular basis. If you can listen well and have a reasonably fast and accurate typing skill, transcription can be a profitable career option for you. Medical or legal transcriptions, which are more in demand, require some specific training. Many institutes offer medical transcription courses on line. Demand of trained medical and legal transcriptionists is growing fast. Many companies prefer home-based trained transcriptionists instead of hiring them on their rolls.

Another popular option for work-from-home is working on Forums. Forum is social media technology used to engage a reader in a "conversation" and it involves some degree of "community building". Check different Forums on line, log-in, create your profile and communicate directly with other forum members online. These days many businesses prefer creating lots of links through forums added to their websites. They keep looking for persons who are willing to take-up working on forums as home-based career option. You sure can generate good revenue by working on forums online.

About the Author:Anne Shaw is the CEO of http://www.transcriptionvendors.com/ , a Santa Ana, California based transcription company, which attempts to bring transcription providers, general customers and transcriptionists together on a common platform. Apart from providing transcription services, Transcription Vendors also provides legal transcription, business transcription and conference transcription.
Source: http://www.goarticles.com/