Your Success as a Transcriptionist Depends on a Winning Career Plan

No matter what career you plan on going into, or what career path you’re currently on, creating a career plan is essential for your future success.

If you’re currently working, you should be setting yearly goals to evaluate how much you are accomplishing and, most importantly, whether you’re truly happy or not. At the end of the day, life is short, so why not be the happiest you can be?

If you are considering transcription as a career, you also need to make a career plan. Your education level now determines the amount of education planning you need to do. If you are still in high school, look into career and technical classes in transcription.

A winning career plan includes the following elements.

1. Goal

Decide what type of career you want to get into, then research fields and jobs you would enjoy. Write a goal statement that is the primary objective of your career plan. Write down your career needs.

• Will you work part-time or full-time?
• Do you want to work from home?
• Are you willing to commute or relocate?
• Do you want to freelance or work as an employee?
• Will you need benefits like insurance?
• How much do you need to earn?

With so many types of jobs in nearly all fields, you can work to getting one that matches most or all of your criteria.

2. Education

Transcription as a career choice is an excellent way to begin working in the medical field, legal field, or in general research. There are courses that can train you to transcribe information in a variety of ways. Decide early which field you will primarily work in medical transcription, legal transcription, or general transcription? Research the education that you will need to attain the skills for your chosen career. CareerStep offers training for medical transcription, and veteran transcriber, Janet Shaughnessy of TranscribeAnywhere provides training in legal and general transcription.

3. The Cost

Decide how you will finance the technical courses or higher education you will need – if you do need it – to become an excellent worker in your chosen field. Financial aid can help you get a degree or certificate. The school or technical center will assist you in applying for assistance if you are eligible. Some courses like TranscribeAnywhere and CareerStep allow you to pay in installments; CareerStep also offers discounts to active duty, veterans, and military spouses.

4. Timeline

Make a written timeline of your goals with small steps outlined clearly. Include celebratory moments throughout your career timeline to mark the advancements toward your primary objective. Keep the timeline flexible; life happens, and you need to be ready for changes and setbacks. You’ll also want to plan for the expense of training and the time dedicated to coursework and study and be sure that you have enough money to cover bills and expenses during this time.

5. Evaluation

Evaluate and change the timeline and your goals as you progress in your career development. A winning career plan is a document that evolves as it organizes your changing ideas into new career goals and steps to achieve those goals.

Conclusion

Consider transcription as a career choice for a steady income and a range of career options. Many transcription jobs can be done from home, so if you need to be at home, then transcription as a career choice could fit your career plan

Beth Worthy is the Director of Operations at GMR Transcription, Inc., an Orange County, California, based company that has been providing accurate and affordable Transcription Services of all types for many years. GMR Transcription also provides myriad Digital Transcription Services, specializing in audio transcription, video transcription, and voice transcription.