You might have grown up thinking that you had one option for a career: go to college and get a 9-to-5 job.

What you probably didn't know is this: nearly 53 million Americans are making money from non-traditional employment, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Since the turn of the century, a large percentage of the population of American adults have pursued other types of employment paths. The reality is that people who pursue freelance and work-at-home jobs are choosing this lifestyle for a wide range of reasons, and you may be surprised how well your needs fall into the benefits of working at home as a transcriptionist.

Is Transcription a Good Career?

Is Transcription a Good Career

A career in transcription involves listening to and translating audio files into written or typed words – but you probably already knew that. This job is typically done from home or other personal office spaces and is characterized by the personal freedom it provides. It's not a daunting task to get employed in the transcription industry, so there's no reason not to give it a shot!

Not sure if transcription is right for you? Here is exactly what you'd be missing out on:

1. You're Not Your Own Boss

Decide what you want to do, when you want to do it, and where you want to do it.

The ultimate goal in our careers is to have control over what we do. Unfortunately, having full control is often not practical or probable.

But fear not! Pursuing a career in transcription can help you achieve your dream of being your own boss and working on your own terms.

transcription business

For example, take the story of Annie*, who was tired of the corporate culture. On the topic of the traditional work environment, she says "my time has to be very well organized and used as efficiently as possible, and in the office, so much time is wasted on corporate dynamics that the work extends much longer than necessary. Transcription is the kind of work many people are looking for regardless of their personal situation."

With a career in transcription, you decide the amount of work you want to take on and choose a comfortable location for you to complete the tasks. You can make your own schedule around your most productive hours, whether that is in the middle of the day or in the quiet hours of the night. This is beneficial if you need to stay with elderly loved ones who might need constant assistance or small children who should not be left at home alone.

2. You Won't Have Flexibility When You Need It

While some of us simply don't like working in a 9-to-5 job, there are many others of us who simply cannot do so. Those who are either unable to or prefer not to work in a typical office environment could include those who have a medical disability or who is a primary caretaker. If you are a full-time student, then you'll especially appreciate the flexibility of working outside of an office.

flexibility of work

Life is full of ups and downs, and transcriptionists have the advantage of accommodating changing circumstances. Take for example, Jane*. She recently moved in with her elderly and ill mother in order to take care of her. Regarding her career in transcription, she says "sometimes looking after my mother and doing all the work around the house is very demanding. I feel glad that I have carved out a nice career niche with transcription."

If you have medical restrictions that keep you away from the office environment, then transcription is also the perfect solution for you. One transcriptionist had an extreme barrier to the 9-to-5 work environment. Mary*has a sensitivity to some of the fragrances and chemicals that she was surrounded by when she worked in an office. After entering the transcription industry and working from home, Mary now feels significantly better as opposed to when she worked in an office since she can work in a more comfortable environment.

Whatever the reason, you need a job with more flexibility and you're just not getting it. With a career in transcription, you can work at your own pace and in a comfortable and productive environment.

3. You're Not Fulfilling Your Desire To Learn

I am willing to bet that you're reading this article on your phone at work. The office environment can get very tedious at times, and after many months or even years of doing the same tasks, you may start to feel like you aren't learning anything.

Stay at home parents often feel this way as well. One transcriptionist, Sarah*, named this as her reason for going into this field. She is a mother who felt that her college degrees and desire for more educational experiences were not being put to good use in regular part-time jobs. Sarah says that "as a stay at home mom, I often feel like I'm no longer using my brain."

Learning

Transcriptionists often are exposed to many different subjects through the content of the audio files that they are working on, and Sarah says that doing transcription and translation while staying with her kids fulfills her need to learn.

Also Read: How You Can Improve Your Listening Skills by Transcribing?

4. You're Missing Out On Higher Income Potential

Earn more in transcription

When you work for someone else at a full-time job, there is often a limit on how much you can earn.If you are a stay at home parent or caretaker, you know that your monetary earnings for the day are usually… nothing.

A lot of freelance jobs take years of hard work. It takes establishing and developing a business concept and constantly finding clients to do work for, and that can be both exhausting and time-consuming, with very little return on investment.

With a job in transcription, there is less experience and training required in order to get your business off the ground. If you take the time to develop your skills and practice, you can become an extremely efficient transcriptionist and be able to take on more projects.

Even if you love your current office job and have no intention of leaving, pursuing transcription jobs can still benefit you immensely. With the constant threat of uncertain economic times, people are making the smart decision to develop secondary income.

Finding a secondary job in transcription can benefit you, especially if you may be at risk of losing your full-time job and becoming unemployed.For example, Jessica*says that her transcription job has given her and her family "a little extra cash to get through to the next payday." She also points out that she has gained another skill set to add to her professional resume, in case anything were to happen at the office she works at.

There are a wide variety of reasons that the 9-to-5 office environment may not be working for you. Whether you're a new parent or a busy student, if you have medical restrictions that keep you from working in an office, or you just need an extra source of income, there are other options for you.

Non-traditional employment has become significantly more popular in the last few decades. Thousands of people every day are making the choice to take control of their own lives by working in freelance jobs.

But are they choosing the right one?

Taking on a career in transcription can offer you many benefits that you wouldn't normally get from just any freelance job. Working in transcription can give you the power to be your own boss, have more work flexibility, fulfill your need to learn, and ultimately grow your income.

It's time for you to take the next step. Start your training now, so you can reap the full benefits of working as a transcriptionist. It's easier than you think.

(1) https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/freelancers-in-the-us-workforce.htm *Names in this article were changed for the purpose of anonymity

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