Switching From Medical To Legal Transcription
How many times have you thought to yourself that your medical transcription career may not be the right fit for you? Well, if you’re having this thought, then maybe it’s time to transfer to another field, say, legal transcription. Think it’s crazy? Read on. Although both are of completely different fields, it shouldn’t be a hassle for you to switch careers in transcription—training programs are reasonably priced and only take a couple of months to complete. Besides, you already have the skill sets needed to do half the job and just require additional training for understanding the jargons and technicalities of a legal transcription career. And should your legal transcription training provider not offer on-the-job training or mentorship (which is unlikely), you don’t need to worry as employers provide training for the staff they hire. But before you cross the proverbial bridge, make sure to ask yourself these questions:
- Do you love transcription? Are you simply in a rut and settling for transcription? Is transcription really your interest? Do you have a passion for learning new things and would like to see how you fare on understanding legal jargons and editing legal documents?
- Is your background aligned with legal transcription? You’re in luck if you already have a background in transcription. But if you don’t, consider your existing skills and resources. Bear in mind that employers prefer job applicants who have on-the-job training or transcription experience.
- Have you done your research? Have you made localized searches on the job outlook for medical or legal transcriptionists in your area? Are there a lot of job openings for legal transcriptionists locally and for online work? Have you talked with industry insiders and asked them how they find the job?
- How much information do you know about your training provider? You’ll have no problem with community colleges that offer short courses for transcription, but if you’re taking your training from a company, then be sure to do a background check. Is there a way for you to verify the credentials of the e-learning company? How many positive testimonials have you seen on the internet about the company? Checking with the Better Business Bureau or Attorney General’s office also helps.
Shifting careers is no joke and takes a lot of work. But if you know what to anticipate, at least you can make adjustments beforehand. We hope you find these tips helpful in planning your new career! You can also download our free career guide to know more about your career options.
