How Technological Advancements Affect Transcription Job Opportunities

Do you hear that? It's the sound of change. Thanks to technological advances, today's transcription job opportunities don't look like yesterdays, and they certainly won't look like tomorrows. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, innovation's rapid pace--the one that has led to incredible advancements in the area of speech recognition software--is actually an opportunity for those currently working in the field as well as those who will be seeking transcription job opportunities in the future. Here's why:

Mistakes Matter

If you are like most people, you've heard a lot about speech recognition software and how it is the future of the transcription industry, which it very might be. But not yet. For now, the technology is still too mistake-prone to be counted on by the courts and medical professionals with some of the most important words ever spoken. According to Xuedong Huang, a senior scientist working for Microsoft who shared his expertise with Wired, the error rate for people (actual living, breathing humans) transcribing words over the telephone is around 4 percent. Not bad, but shouldn't a bunch of computers be able to do better? Nope, not according to Huang. He says that if you put all of the best voice recognition systems together the error rate would still be at least twice as high as that of humans (at least 8 percent). That's simply not good enough for judges, lawyers, doctors and medical researchers working to address some of the world's most vexing challenges. Until voice recognition software is perfected, they will always choose the more reliable people to take their transcription job opportunities.

Where the Transcription Jobs Will Be

So this is great news, right? Voice recognition software isn't where it needs to be so the jobs as court reporters and medical transcribers will be plentiful. Outstanding! Not so fast. Even though voice recognition software isn't perfect and isn't better than the human ears, eyes, head and hands, some physicians have started using it more and more. That's why the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expected job opportunities for medical transcriptionists to decline by 3 percent between 2014 and 2024. On the other hand, transcription job opportunities for court reporters were expected to grow by about two percent over the same period of time. So between court reporter jobs and medical transcription jobs, things aren't looking all that rosy--unless you are interested in general transcription jobs. That's an area that's booming. The internet has created a world of opportunities for people who have precise listening skills, the ability to type quickly and accurately, and who have the desire to make money working for a variety of different clients from the comfort of their own homes. Yes, the jobs will be where ever you want them to be--if you specialize in general transcription services. All you have to do is hone your skills, log on and find them.

Generally Speaking, the Future Looks Bright

So what does all of this really mean for you? And what does it really mean for your ability to secure transcription job opportunities? It means, generally speaking, that the future looks bright for you--as long as you are willing to specialize in general transcription. Imagine the possibilities! You can work for authors, Fortune 500 companies, small startups on the forefront of innovation in every industry, academic institutions and more. You truly can be a part of any industry that has your interest. And you actually have several distinct advantages over the software currently being developed: You can distinguish between multiple speakers, you don't get distracted by background noise and you can determine context, which can be incredibly important when it comes to deciding whether a question mark or exclamation point is called for at any given time. Are you ready to get started?

Related Read: The Future of Medical, Legal & General Transcription: Jobs Outlook

Kickstart Your Transcription Career Today

Yes, change is in the air. Technology is changing everything, including the transcription industry. And now is your time to take advantage of the opportunity by developing and honing your skills, earning the income you deserve and starting your very own transcription services career (or business or consulting firm). If you are motivated, willing to learn and hungry for opportunities, consider kickstarting your career in transcription with the Transcription Certification Institute. When you do, you will receive a bevy of benefits you won't find anywhere else, including:

• a guaranteed internship with a well-established transcription company (once you earn your certification with a qualifying course score)
• the skills you need to transcribe more quickly and more accurately, which allows you to earn more money
• the ability to work from home (or anywhere else in the world) on your own schedule
• a work-life balance that truly keeps you in control
• the ability to someday start your very own transcription business or become a valuable consultant.

Sounds good, doesn't it? If you agree and can hear the change in the air, connect with the Transcription Certification Institute today--and start building a better financial for yourself tomorrow.