On the Move: How Allison Became Location Independent with Transcription

You know the problem with most jobs?

You can’t take them with you if you move to another state or if you want to travel.

And they’re often not very flexible if you need to work from home some days.

So if you need that kind of flexibility in your life, you need to find a job you can take with you wherever you go. The kind of job that’ll allow you to work around your family’s schedule.

After relocating several times in the past few years, Allison was looking for a job that could move with her. She also needed a job that would allow her to work at home. With transcription, she found the flexibility she needed.

Keep reading to hear more about Allison’s story!

Q: Welcome to the blog, Allison! Can you tell us a little about your background? What did your life look like before TA?

I have done a variety of jobs, from fast food to blog writing. The majority of my experience has been in office work and being an assistant in the real estate industry.

Q: When did you start doing transcription, and what made you decide to learn it?

My family has relocated several times in the past few years due to my husband's job, so I was looking for work that could move with me. Also, I have been a stay-at-home mom for three years, and I wanted to try to continue being at home since I have a toddler and childcare is expensive. Plus, I homeschool my 14-year-old stepdaughter, so working at home is almost a necessity. I was led to transcription by doing some research and finding that there is work out there if you have the proper training and the marketing know-how. Transcription uses skills I already have, so it was a natural fit for me.

Q: Building on skills you already have is a great way to jumpstart your business! What was the most challenging part of getting started?

The most challenging part of getting started was making the commitment to a specific time frame each day in which to do my work. I am awful with making that happen, especially when I'm self-employed.

Q: Being consistent can be really difficult, but if you keep plugging away, it’ll eventually become a habit. What have been the most valuable things you learned during the course?

Training with Transcribe Anywhere has been a very positive experience. I felt the knowledge in the course was thorough, and the assigned file work for the course was a good assortment of audio qualities, accents, and subject matters. By the time I graduated, I had confidence that I could handle almost any file the real world could throw at me. 

The best part of the course was knowing that help was always available. The Facebook group is wonderful at providing answers to even the most basic of questions. And they are always friendly. Plus, the instructors are excellent at answering any of the tough questions in a courteous and thorough manner. I felt I could ask anything and someone would be more than happy to help.

Q: The Facebook group is my favorite part of the course too. We all love to see each other succeed! How long did it take you to find your first client? How many clients do you have now?

I don't have any clients yet. I've been working for an online company as an independent contractor.

Q: How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

I began working in September and have recouped 3/4 of the cost. I started working another part-time job in October, so I've been too busy to take files lately. My income on a part-time basis was about $250 per month. It was tough to spend a lot of time working because I have kids.

Q: It’s all about creating a schedule that works for you and your family. What advice would you give anyone thinking about becoming a transcriptionist? Is it worth the money for training?

If you are thinking of becoming a transcriptionist, know that it can take a little bit to make steady money. While there is work out there, the pay isn't always great. So if you are serious and want to get higher-dollar clients, you will need to spend some time marketing yourself. Familiarize yourself with social media platforms and create a good profile. Then, keep at it. It may take time to pay off, but it is worth it.

Q: What do you think it takes to be a GOOD transcriptionist? How about a GREAT one?

To be a good transcriptionist, you need listening skills, typing skills, grammar skills, and the time to dedicate to work. To be a great transcriptionist, you need a thirst for doing things the right way, a willingness to market yourself, and a great deal of self-discipline on top of the skills I already mentioned.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a transcriptionist? What about your least favorite?

My favorite thing about being a transcriptionist is the ability to work from home. I have been a stay-at-home mom for three years and needed to be able to be here for my toddler. My least favorite thing about this work is that it can sometimes be boring. When you are working on some types of files, they just aren't fun to listen to. Sometimes, you have to take a file because you need the work, and that can be tough.

Q: I hear ya! Sometimes the files are a snoozefest, but other times they’re fascinating! What does a typical day look like for you? Anything else you’d like to share?

My typical day has changed a lot lately. But when I was doing more files, I would get up around 6:30 and work on a file for that day. Usually, I had accepted it the night before and was on a time schedule. After I finished the file, I would go about taking care of my kids and home. Then, after the toddler went to bed, I would look for another file for the next day.

Working from home has allowed me to help the family financially while still being here for my kids and caring for my home. Taking the time to learn this new skill has given me such confidence, and I take pride in knowing that I have a marketable skill.

Our Take

Well said, Allison! Having a marketable skill means you can earn money no matter where you are. And location independent jobs like transcription mean you can pull up stakes several times and still have money coming in.

Your Turn

Want to find work you can take with you wherever you go or schedule around your family commitments? Check out our free mini-course to learn how you can get the flexibility you need.