For the last few months I've been spending some of my spare time reading about becoming a successful freelance writer. Like everyone else, things can be a little tight money-wise, and I to find a way to bring in just a little bit more money to help with bills or for splurging on the fun things. However, with four and a half years of retail work still fairly fresh in my mind, I decided that I didn't really want to be tied down to a "real job" where I'd have to follow schedules and listen to another boss and deal with more people (aka, I like my free time and don't want to give up my control over it!). So I figured that writing would be the most fun way for me to earn a little extra money without having to give up my beloved free time, and I began searching for jobs.
Lo and behold, I got my first job on Friday. Not a big job, just a little transcription work for a few weeks. But any start is a good start here, right? Not really knowing what transcription entailed, I happily began listening to an audio clip taken from some business meeting in Maine and started typing away. I've found that it's not been the most pleasant work I've ever done, but I'm getting paid to do it and it's keeping me very amused (just wait, you'll see why!) I'm also learning some valuable lessons about communication, which I am going to share with you today.
1.) Gather your thoughts before you speak. The woman leading the meeting was named Cindy. I think she had one too many cups of coffee before the meeting that day. She has a very bad habit of starting to talk and then rephrasing the statement or question. It probably wouldn't be a big deal, but when I have to type EVERYTHING that is said, it's hard to keep up with "Okay, so why don't we -- wait a second, Orono, you were talking about -- why don't you tell us -- I think it would be good to hear from Orono about -- can you tell us what your enrollment process is, Orono?" I don't normally talk to myself, but more than once I said, "Cindy!!! Stop talking and think about it for a second!!
2.) Listen before you speak. There is a man named Bill on this recording. Bill likes to say things like, "I do not understand the question. Why would we call them a new student?" Cindy responds with, "Because they've never attended the University of Maine, Bill." Bill replies, "Oh. I don't think I was listening when you shared that detail." This has happened more than once. Again, I talked to my computer and said, "Bill! Amy just said that Machias doesn't record inquiries!"
3.) If you're going to insert yourself in a conversation, make sure you know what you're talking about. Halfway through the meeting, a man named Roberto suddenly began speaking (via telephone): "Well, I think it is important to provide the financial data as well as the demographic data. Why would you not want financial data?" Cindy was clearly confused and asked him a.)Who are you? and b.) Why does financial data matter in tracking how many students enrolled in the college. After a few seconds of whispered conversation on his end of the line, Roberto sheepishly admitted that while he was from Gorham, one of the campuses involved in the discussion, he did not realize he was talking about student admission trends. He was trying to get in on the cost analysis conference call and dialed the wrong code apparently. I really need to stop admitting that I was talking to the computer again, but even I said, "Wait. Who the heck is Roberto? I don't need one more person talking!"
4.) Speak clearly. One lady was talking so quietly that more than half of the time she was talking, I documented that what she was saying was inaudible. I contacted the person who hired me and mentioned this, and he too had an issue with the transcription. Needless to say he permitted me to write "inaudible" on more than half of what she said. (I didn't talk out loud to her, but I did let my head drop to the table any time I heard her voice!)
5.) Make sure there are no barriers. A wonderful man from Farmington would begin talking, and in the background, all you could hear was horrible static. It didn't bother me that the static was there, but it was amusing to me when Cindy informed him that there was trouble on his end of the line, and before he could respond, Alice from Fort Kent piped up and said, "There's a thunderstorm!" Amidst all my lines about demographic data and enrollment opportunities, in my transcription there was a line which read: "There's a thunderstorm in Farmington! It just passed Fort Kent a half hour ago!" That made me laugh out loud.
6.) If you're the person recording, make sure YOU are not making any noise that would show up in the recording. I have my media player on "slow speed" so that I can type and keep up with what has been said and not have to waste as time replaying a clip. I kept noticing these little noises pop up on occasion. Just a very low, "tick...tick...tick..." I figured it was just background noise. I went back through a clip at normal speed, just to confirm my typing, when I heard an excessive amount of typing and mouse-clicking. Figured out what the mystery noise was! I laughed out loud when the woman recording the session knocked over a microphone. Fifteen seconds of muffled, "What was that?" "I don't see where it went" "Pick it up?" "Are we good to go? Will they be able to hear us?" Priceless.
7.) Don't use filler words. Cindy has a bad habit of saying "okay." Now, most of us say things like, "uh" and "um" when we need a few more seconds to gather our thoughts. Same with most of the people at the meeting. It's actually almost nice, because it gives me a microsecond to catch up with the audio, since I don't have to type the filler words. But Cindy, wonderful Cindy, will say "And...." or "Okaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy" each time she speaks. And that, I have to record.
Well, having completed the first job yesterday afternoon, I received my second job, which was transcribing a two-hour clip from the same people about financial databases (maybe Roberto was in the right place, just on the wrong day!) Can you say, glutton for punishment? But in reality, I did find a job to keep me amused for a day and a half, I learned about several towns in Maine, and I will get to take a nice chunk out of my credit card payment next month, so life is VERY good. Plus, now my work profile will have some jobs listed, which makes me look like less of the newbie that I am and will hopefully inspire confidence with more employers!
Have a wonderful evening everyone. If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a baked potato, cooking in your own skin, just come visit me here in Charleston. It's 95 with a heat index of 102! And on a final note: In less than thirty days, I will be back on native soil. Can't wait!
Like I tell you kids: just come home for Christmas!
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