Transcription is one of the simplest yet challenging professions today. It requires changing different recorded voice files into text format. Transcription is a fast growing telecommunication job which has immense earning potential. Main reason of its popularity is that transcription work can be started from home with minimum investment. Its acceptance as a part-time engagement for housewives and retired persons makes transcription work a much sought-after home based business of modern times. People aspiring to become successful transcriptionists need to possess some set of skills, which requires basic training for the same.

General transcription includes transcribing speeches, religious sermons, insurance and meeting minutes, group discussions, interviews focus groups, telephone conferences, educational seminars etc. Ability to type fast and accurately, strong vocabulary, excellent spelling and grammar skills, and familiarity with word processing software are the basic skills required by a good transcriptionist. For successful execution of transcription work, you will need some basic equipment like a computer with a good headset, foot control pedal, microphone and perfect Internet connection.

There are not many schools offering courses for general transcription because it pertains to a general field, open to a wide array of topics. Since there is no specific industry in relation with general transcription, it will be a tough task to find a college providing such a course. Some business colleges offer transcription as a part of other courses. This course will generally include transcribing and deciphering speech, which forms the core of a transcription job. Reputed transcription companies also offer training, which is known as in- house training. The training schedule includes a training manual, with necessary details about the basics of transcription. The candidate will be expected to adhere to the rules set forth by the company. Audio and video files will hold the transcription process, the formatting, and in general software to be used by the trainees to practice.

General transcription training does not usually require an official college degree. A student can teach himself to transcription without any formal education. The most important requirement for transcription is a good typing speed and listening abilities. These skills can easily be developed by constant practice.

Though general transcription is not tough and anyone with a good typing hand and ear can start of as a transcriptionist; accuracy does matter. It makes or breaks your reputation as a transcriptionist even if you are within a company.  General audios have materials that are full of technical, financial or specialized terminology.  This is typical of business transcription. To the managers the terminology may seem easy but transcriptionists may be unfamiliar with them. What to do?

It may be necessary to listen to words, terms, sentences or even a whole section several times in order to transcribe them properly. In such circumstances, it helps enormously if a glossary of keywords can be provided in advance or words can be spelt out while dictating. If you are working for a company you can ask for the glossary before hand especially if the client is an prior one.

However, if you are working independently and if you are working with a new customer or in a new area of business, you would be wise to get prior information about vocabulary and difficult words that may crop up. These words may not be specialist terms but may just be terms that are specific to the particular recording to be transcribed. Getting such a glossary avoids you using incorrect words throughout a document. Also, if you have a prior knowledge of a topic and information on the kind of words or names that may come up, you will find it easier to decipher words that on the first hearing you may think are audible. 

Knowing how to spell difficult names or words will help not only to make the final version of your document more accurate, but it will make your task more enjoyable. There is nothing more frustrating than hearing a word time and time again and having no way of checking whether you are transcribing it correctly. This is particularly the case with people’s names because no dictionary, specialist or otherwise will help you check the accuracy of the spelling.

If you are transcribing the recording of a meeting, you might wish to ask for a glossary, which contains the following-
#1 The name of the attendees
#2 The name of the project being discussed and related projects
#3 Name of other people and organizations who are closely involved in the project
#4 Relevant addresses, place names, property names
#5 Technical phrases, jargons, abbreviations that may be used during the course of meeting

Create your own glossaries as you work. In addition to requesting a glossary from the authors, you may find it helpful to note down, as you transcribe, any words that you find difficult to hear or spell for your own future reference. In this way, you can create your own on-going glossary that you can refer to and add to any time-in financial, medical or legal terms.