Spotlight: How Connie Found a Flexible Career with Transcription

GMR Transcription has set the gold standard when it comes to providing quality transcription and translation services which could not have been possible without our highly skilled transcriptionists. Our dedicated team works together to process and deliver accurate and time-sensitive transcription and translation projects for our clients. 

Today, our Team Spotlight series highlights one of our transcriptionists, Connie Huh. She is an expert transcriptionist who has been transcribing for GMR Transcription for the last 3 years. Learn more about why Connie is such an invaluable resource to GMR Transcription!

1. How long have you worked as a Transcriptionist for GMR Transcription?

I’ve been a transcriptionist with GMR since September of 2017.

2. What's the best transcription-related lesson you’ve learned while working for GMR Transcription?

I think the best lesson I’ve learned as far as transcription is concerned is to not stress out too much if I can’t understand something when I first hear it. Sometimes, it’s best to make a note to come back and listen to it again later with a fresh set of ears. 

3. What do you think it takes to be a good transcriptionist? 

Honestly, patience is needed to be a good transcriptionist. You sit in front of a computer screen typing what people are saying. Every so often you may get audio with content you find interesting. It is imperative to be able to focus on what you are doing, regardless of the topic, so you can turn in a good transcript.

4. How do you manage errors and inaccuracies in the file?

One of the hardest things I have had to learn as a transcriptionist is how to judge whether to mark something inaudible or to trust that I am hearing things accurately. When I am even just a little bit uncertain of what I’m hearing, I will timestamp that area of the transcript, and come back later in a different audio program in order to see if I can clear up what I heard. Something that is not so obvious to me in Express Scribe might sound different if I run it through Audacity.

5. How do you handle heavy workloads and meet deadlines?

I try not to overburden myself to begin with. It is also related to a sense of responsibility. I would rather take less work and be able to spend time on it than take a bunch of work, and then have a coming to Jesus moment if I miss a deadline. More practically, I keep a small paper desk calendar where I mark a red check for each deadline. Last week, I had a day that had nine checkmarks, so I knew I had to pace myself and stay on top of things.

6. How has transcribing for GMR Transcription impacted your life?

I know that an expected answer to this question would be something like I can set my own schedule so I can work from home, help provide for my family, work while getting an education, or something to that effect. While that is all true, I honestly believe that GMR has also taught me how to be more personable. That might be odd to some considering this isn’t an office job where you interact with others face to face on a daily basis, but you really have to develop an ability to handle unexpected situations, which requires a lot of communication when problems arise. Even if I find it embarrassing, when things go wrong, I should be able to speak up about it and ask for help or advice. That is not just something that affects my work as a transcriptionist, but it is an important life lesson as well.

7. What advice would you give anyone thinking about becoming a transcriptionist?

It is not as easy as you may think it is. You are not beholden to a supervisor that visits your cubicle, ala Office Space, so you really have to stay on top of your own assignments and be responsible for yourself. That being said, you are not beholden to a supervisor that visits your cubicle, ala Office Space, and it is a job that offers a lot of freedom.

8. What’s your favorite thing about being a transcriptionist?

I am an introvert, and I can avoid humanity. Jokes aside, if I have my laptop, I can work from wherever my feet happen to take me. 

9. Would are tools that you use and recommend for transcription?

I use Express Scribe to do my base transcript, and if it’s a difficult file, I will run the audio through Audacity. Sometimes, transcription can take you down some strange rabbit holes, so I use DuckDuckGo in incognito mode when I’m researching more esoteric assignments.

10. What do you like most about transcribing for GMR Transcription?

Everyone is so friendly, which feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison to some of the companies I have worked for in the past. I have worked for a few different transcription services, and by far and away, GMR has been the fairest and most open to communication. I feel like if I put in my best effort, even if I make a mistake, they will work with me to figure out a solution.