As our company’s former hiring manager, I’ve sifted through thousands of resumes and completed countless phone interviews. Hiring for a remote or work-at-home independent contractor position is challenging in that it is harder to get a “read” on a candidate and their working style. Plus there are typically a lot more responses to a job post. I have discovered how to quickly sort the okay from the stellar, and based on my experience compiled this list of what I believe to be the most important transcription employment do’s and don’ts.
Transcription Employment Do’s and Don’ts
Do – Follow Directions
On a recent hire we got a flood of responses – way more than normal, and so many that we turned our employment ad off after only 8 hours.
How did I sort through the hundreds of applicants? I had posted in the employment ad directions on how to apply: go to our website, fill out an application form there, and put in the comments section three things – your desired line rate, your hours and days of availability and your experience with radiology transcription.
Over 50% of the applications didn’t follow these directions, and thus didn’t make the cut. So the take away would be make sure you read a job posting completely and follow all directions.
Do – Respond Promptly
Responding quickly to a job ad or any subsequent follow up from the hiring manager is key. The first resumes that came in always got the most attention from me, because the truth is the most qualified applicants that answer first to the ad will get the position. Once we’ve found a qualified applicant, we stop looking, and there are many qualified transcriptionists today looking for work.
Also, I typically sent follow up questions to a potential applicant, and some people would take two weeks to a month to respond. By that time, the job is filled.
Don’t – Use Poor Spelling or Punctuation in your Communication – EVER
This goes for email especially. Yes, it is a less formal communication method in general, but if you are applying for a job (especially a transcription job, where good spelling and grammar are vital in handling all industries like legal, law enforcement, academia, etc.), make sure all of your correspondence is perfect and that you proofread any email prior to sending.
Don’t – Annoy the Hiring Manager
All of our company job ads specify “No Phone Calls, Please.” And yet every time we place an ad one to two people call the office. I recognize their persistence, yet their inability to follow directions is still a red flag. And also there is a reason we have a no call policy – not because we don’t want to talk to you (eventually), but because typically we are on the phone most of the day with clients and calls from applicants will interrupt our work flow.
So if an ad says no phone calls, don’t call them. You might think you’re showing persistence – the hiring manager will think otherwise.
Do – Follow Up
That being said, it doesn’t hurt to send a note to the hiring manager after an interview saying thank you, or a note if you haven’t heard from them in a couple days after sending your resume. That does show me a persistence and desire for a job, which is a big plus. Please make sure you know all the ins and outs of becoming a transcriptionist if you have little or no experience.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver Colorado based transcription company that provides fast, accurate and affordable transcription services for individuals, government agencies, and companies of all sizes.
