Working From Home

Many people have asked me what I do, how I came about doing it, and how they can do it for themselves.  I have typed it up so many times that I thought it would be easier to blog about it!

WHAT I DO:

Last October I took a job working as a legal transscriptionist.  I am a private contractor.  I get paid for the amount of work I do and have the freedom to say I want more or less work.  I have to cover my own benefits and taxes and I'm still learning the process of all of that.  When I am assigned work I am given a due date of when the file is due back.  They upload an audio file to a secure server.  I then go in and download the file and type everything I hear.  The main account I work on is Worker's Comp Cases.  That can be pretty interesting!  No case is ever the same which keeps things fun.  It allows me to work when I can, which is usually when everyone is sleeping.

HOW DID I GET INTO TRANSCRIPTION?

I have been looking for a job that is home based for years.  There are MANY scams out there and finding one that is legit was hard.  After doing some research I found an on-line school that had a four month class for medical transcription.  I applied with the U. S. Career Institute and began the course.  It says you can get your degree in as little as four months.  That being said, you can work at your own pace.  There are no due dates.  You submit the assignments as you get them done.  It could take a few months or a few years depending on how much time you can devote.  I completed the course in June of 2010 and began applying for medical transcription jobs.  This part was not easy.  I am not going to lie, it is hard to find someone willing to take on a newby.  Most people wants years of experience but no one is willing to give you the chance to get that experience.  I applied with what feels like hundreds of companies and found that there were still many scams out there.  Some people wanted me to pay them in order to get the job.  You must be very careful and do your research!!  Try going to Google and typing in a companies named followed by the word "scam".  If something pops up instantly you know to avoid that company!  Anyway, I was losing hope that I would find a job.  I had tested with several employers but never heard back from any of them.  Then in October I received an email that my company was looking for someone to work on the legal side.  I had applied with them months prior and they finally had something come open.  They told me that I could move over to medical if anything came open.  After discussing the terms of the job I went for it.  I must say, I actually think I like the legal side better!

HOW MUCH DO I MAKE?

Well I don't really want to talk specifics.  Pay depends on several factors.  Who you work for, how much they pay per line or page, and how much you work.  There is potential to make a lot of money.  I work on several different accounts.  Some pay by the line and some pay per page.  Some companies pay by the audio minute.

THE DOWN SIDE

Working from home is great but can also be a huge challenge.  There are so many distractions and so many things I would much rather be doing.  It is not for everyone!
I hope that I have answered some of your questions. If you have more please leave them in the comment section or send me a message!