Transcription interview questions and answers

Cover your education, your listening and typing strengths and why you like detailed work. Example: "I completed my BA this year. I type fast and accurately, I have a good ear for English because I watch a lot of lectures and interviews, and I like work where getting every detail right is the whole point. Transcription combines all of that."

Give tested figures and note that accuracy is what transcription clients grade. Example: "I type about 55 words per minute at 98 percent accuracy. In transcription I would rather slow down and get every word right than rush, because clients review for errors, not speed."

Describe a method: replay, slow down, use headphones, use context, and mark what you truly cannot hear. Example: "I would replay the section at slower speed with headphones, use the context of the sentence to confirm the word, and if it is still not clear I would mark it as [inaudible 02:14] according to the style guide rather than guess."

Verbatim includes every um, uh, repeat and false start; clean verbatim removes fillers and stutters but keeps the meaning. Example: "If the speaker says 'I, um, I think we should, uh, go,' verbatim keeps all of it, while clean verbatim gives 'I think we should go.' I would always follow the client's instruction on which one they want."

Show patience and a method. Example: "I listen to the first minute without typing to get used to the speaker's rhythm and pronunciation. Then I use context and repeated words to confirm what I hear. I have practised with lectures from different countries to get used to a range of accents."

Name any you have tried, including free ones, and mention foot pedals or shortcuts if you know them. Example: "I have used Express Scribe and oTranscribe for practice, with keyboard shortcuts for pause and rewind. I know a foot pedal speeds up the work and I am happy to use one if the job needs it."

Explain that you research the spelling, use the client's glossary and context, and flag doubts. Example: "I would look up the term online or in the glossary provided, check it against the context, and if two spellings are possible I would note it for the reviewer. For a medical file I would use a standard medical dictionary."

Describe a two-pass method. Example: "After typing, I play the audio again while reading the transcript to catch missed words, then I do a final read for spelling, punctuation and speaker labels without the audio. This usually catches the small errors I missed while listening."

Show you know the common formats. Example: "Yes. I can add timestamps at set intervals or at each speaker change, in the format the client wants, such as [00:05:12], and label speakers as Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 or by name when the client gives names."

Mention secure storage, no sharing, and deleting files after delivery if asked. Example: "I would keep the files only on the platform or in the folder the client provides, never share or discuss their content, and delete local copies once the job is accepted if the client requires it."

Show that you communicate early. Example: "I would estimate the extra time after the first few minutes of audio and tell the client immediately if I expect to miss the deadline, rather than at the last minute. In my college project I did the same with my guide and we adjusted the plan without any problem."

Emphasise accuracy, grammar, patience and a reliable setup, with a proof. Example: "I have strong grammar, I type accurately, and I am patient enough to replay a sentence ten times to get it right. I proofread my department's magazine for two years and the printer never found an error."

Clients ask because audio quality on your end matters. Example: "I have a laptop, a good pair of over-ear headphones, a quiet room and a stable internet connection, plus a mobile hotspot as backup."

Be honest; many beginners report that one audio hour takes four to six hours of work. Example: "As a beginner I would plan for about one to one and a half audio hours per day with full checking, and increase as I get faster. I would rather commit to less and deliver clean work than promise more and miss it."

Ask about the style guide, the usual audio types and how work is reviewed. Example: "Could you share the style guide before the test, and what kind of audio does the team mostly handle, interviews, lectures or meetings?"