As a transcriptionist, if you haven’t already, you will eventually come across the occasional difficult dictator.

Factors that make some dictators more challenging to understand than others may include the rate or tone at which a dictator speaks, his or her accent, volume of speech, etc. For example, some may talk too fast, too slow, too loud, too soft or even mumble words. In addition to these, you may be faced with poor overall audio quality.  

In order to combat against these obstacles, there are some tips that you can try. First and foremost, make sure you are transcribing in an area where you will not be distracted or interrupted. It is important to focus all of your attention on what you are transcribing; constant disruptions will only hinder your progress and increase your frustrations.

Additionally, make it a point to review sample documents of previous transcriptions. This will help you become more familiar with a dictator’s format, word choice, structure and style.  Sometimes actually seeing a frequent term or sentence used by a dictator, on paper, helps you to recognize it when hearing it presented within the audio.

Furthermore, you may want to adjust the speed of the dictation audio itself. Slowing down or even speeding up a dictator’s pace may be very beneficial when transcribing. You can gradually adjust the audio rate as you become more comfortable with the dictator. 

Remember, with just a bit of time, patience and practice you will be typing difficult dictators with ease!

What do you do when a dictator is unclear or hard to understand? Share your thoughts!

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We live in a world where social-networking has become a rather prominent societal staple. In fact, it seems as though anyone and everyone is tweeting; actors, singers, political figures, television hosts, reporters, radio personalities, professional athletes, clothing stores, restaurants, bakeries—and more! 

Businesses of all kinds and sizes are utilizing twitter as a marketing tool to help publicize their companies—it’s free, so why not? Twitter’s trendy networking capabilities can reach high volumes of people all over the world. That being said, Twitter is an easy way to keep current clients up-to-date with changes and/or improvements happening within your company. Likewise, it has the potential to help attract prospective clients just the same. 

If you do decide to tweet, be sure to keep your tweets business professional and appropriate. Keep in mind that your company’s Twitter account is merely an extension of your business itself. Consequently, you want it to represent your company in the best way possible.

Generally speaking, Twitter is a simple way to get your company’s voice heard—so to answer The Question—start tweeting! 

Do you tweet? Do you currently have a twitter account for your company? Tell us how you use twitter!

Follow the ATA on Twitter: @Ataus

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In today’s world, having the ability to multitask seems to be right up there with being able to read and write. That being said, we all appear to be under the impression that we can singlehandedly do everything.   At some point or another, however, we realize that even at our best, we can’t possible get everything done alone. Consequently, hiring a subcontractor may be the answer you’ve been looking for all along.  

If and when you find that you are becoming overly stressed (more so than ever) with your current workload and/or are consistently falling behind on client deadlines, hiring a subcontractor or subcontractors may be the next step for the longevity of your company. It might be helpful to line up a few subcontractors even before you find that you are in need of the extra help. By doing this, you are putting yourself ahead of the game and alleviating unnecessary stress; you will already have access to a larger pool of staffing when that huge project pops up out of nowhere. All you have to do is inform the prospective subcontractors that you are currently interviewing for future need and will be in contact with them as work arises.

Remember, even those who have mastered the skill of multi-tasking still rely on the help of others. Hiring a subcontractor does not mean that you can’t accomplish tasks on your own; it means that your company is successfully growing and that your workload is increasing (which are two very positive things).

Have you hired any subcontractors? What was your first sign that you may be in need of a subcontractor? Share your stories!

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The number one key to time management is simple: organization. You have to be able to prioritize your tasks in order of importance, length/duration of the tasks along with taking into consideration approaching deadlines. That being said, you need to plan ahead.

Start off by creating a list of everything that needs to be accomplished in any given day, week or month. After doing so, arrange your list in a sequential and realistic order (listing high-priority items first). In addition, assign yourself personal deadlines for completing tasks. Not only will this help keep you focused and on track, but it will also aid in your overall productivity just the same. 

Even though it is important to follow through with your list, remember that you can always make adjustments and re-work it if needed. Sometimes events occur that are beyond our control and/or new tasks seem to appear out of nowhere. If this happens, all you need to do is take a second and re-prioritize.

All in all, staying organized, planning ahead, as well as keeping a checklist of priority tasks are all proactive ways to help maintain effective time management.
 
What suggestions do you have in managing your time? Tell us what you think!

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For any computer user, learning that your computer has crashed is probably the last thing you want to hear – especially if you have files that have yet to be backed up or saved. Computer crashes seem to happen to the best of us, without warning, and at the worst possible times. Consequently, this reason alone is why you should make it a habit to back up all of your computer files (typed documents, pictures, videos, music, etc.) on a consistent basis.

In order to prevent files from being lost and to avoid unnecessary headaches, it is in your best interest to back up your system as often as possible. At the very least, you should back up your files once a month.  However, in most cases, weekly and daily backups are recommended (depending on how often you use your computer).

Backing up computer files is easy and can be done in a variety of different ways. For instance, you can back up your files to CD’s, USB flash drives and/or external hard drives. Additionally, there are online-based backup systems as well. Some common backup systems are Mozy, IDrive, and Carbonite.

On the whole, the good thing about backing up your computer files is that it can never be overdone. In fact, the more you back up your files, the fewer headaches you’ll have if your computer does experience a crash. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

How often do you back up your files? Have you tried any of the online-based backup systems?  Share your thoughts!

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With the continually growing popularity and convenience of the Internet, more and more people are using the Web to do their banking, pay their bills, make purchases, etc.  That being said, many are entering personal information online such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, as well as bank account numbers. For this reason, it is important that you are cautious and only enter personal, identifying information on trusted, secure sites; if not, you may fall victim to identity theft through computer scams like phishing.

Phishing occurs when computer hackers send emails that look authentic, but are actually phony and corrupted. The purpose of these emails is to acquire a person’s credentials, like usernames and passwords, for various accounts. Typically, phishing emails make it sound as if a person needs to change their password and/or update their personal account information by clicking on a link provided within the email itself. Consequently, the link will direct you to a fraudulent site where it will ask for and save your personal account information.

Most of the time, hackers target ways to acquire a person’s financial information. If you receive an email that says you need to change your account information/profile, you can always contact the company associated with that account and have them verify that the email was in fact sent from them. 

Another way to protect yourself from visiting fraudulent sites would be to get Internet security software installed on your computer. This type of software tells you what sites are safe and what ones are not.

Try not to be too naïve about entering your personal information online; make sure the sites you are using are trustworthy and legit.

What advice do you have about keeping your personal information safe online? Share your opinions!

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If you are not receiving as many responses to your resume as you may like, there are a few things you can do to help improve your odds.

Generally speaking, potential employers do not want their time wasted sifting through resumes that are hard to read, too lengthy, and/or filled with grammatical errors. Therefore, your resume should be well-organized and easy on the eye. It should be straightforward, to the point, and should utilize headlines, bullet points, and bolded font when necessary.

Likewise, remember to keep items lined up correctly and well-spaced. If your resume looks too confusing or jumbled, employers will simply move to the next candidate.  Also, keep it simple; employers should never have to search for the information they are seeking. Thus, limit your resume to one page, if at all possible, and never more than two.

Most importantly, proofread, proofread, proofread—and then proofread again!  If you have a typo or a grammatical error (especially if you are applying for a transcription position) you are setting yourself up for failure. Your resume should not only be perfect visually, but grammatically just the same.

Moreover, resumes are not a one-and-done kind-of-thing. You need to continually update, revise, and rework your resume over time. Additionally, you have to mold your resume to meet the requirements of each position/employer.

Keep in mind that your resume is an employer’s first impression of who you are and what you have to offer. Don’t sell yourself short with a resume that is inadequate, improperly formatted and/or filled with grammatical errors.

What resume tips do you have? Share your suggestions!

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In today’s Internet-based society, if you have your own company, you most likely have your own website—and if you don’t, you should really look into creating one. 

There are a lot of reasons why having a website is good for business. First off, a website is a great way to advertise and promote your company in a rather cost-efficient manner. Websites are global and thus have the ability to reach a large spectrum of people at any given time. Having a website can also add a sense of professionalism and credibility to your company.

Additionally, a website can be used to extend customer and client support. Specifically, your website can supply contact information, hours of operation, services provided, etc. It is an easy way to keep current and prospective clients up-to-date about changes and/or growth within your company. Lastly, having a website may give you the edge over your competitors (as long as it is a well-developed, professional and appropriate site).

If you do decide to create a website, make it worth it. A website not only represents your company, but it says a lot about who you are and what your company has to offer as well. That being said, you want it to leave a favorable and lasting impression.

On the whole, creating a website is a good way to advertise your business, gain credibility, and hopefully be a few steps ahead of your competition.

Do you have a website for your company? What are some of the benefits you’ve found?

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Just as with any profession, in transcription, there are certain “tools” that you need on a day-to-day basis in order to be both productive and successful.

First and foremost, beginning with the basics, it is essential to have a computer, word processing software and audio playback software. Likewise, you will need a foot pedal as well as a headset. A foot pedal allows you to control audio while typing; it lets you play, stop/pause, rewind and fast forward as needed throughout the course of a dictation. A headset, on the other hand, helps you hear audio files in a more intimate manner. Headsets also prevent others from overhearing personal and/or classified information discussed within a file itself.

You may want to consider having a high-speed Internet connection too. This will make file transfer and download time quick and easy thus increasing efficiency and productivity.

Some other transcription “tools” that may make your life a bit easier, but are not necessarily required, are as follows: a large computer screen, a comfortable ergonomic chair and an ergonomic keyboard. Additionally, you may find that you need a printer, fax machine, copier and scanner. Fortunately, there are all-in-one products that contain all four of these useful office functions. 

Lastly, if your main focus is typing for medical transcription, it would be a good idea to invest in medical terminology software. This can be extremely valuable when dealing with any unfamiliar/new terms.

What are some transcription tools you find helpful or necessary? Share your thoughts!

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