What does a Home Typist do?

Home typists are professionals who prepare documents for employers or clients while remaining at home. In times past, a home typist would function with the use of a typewriter. Today, it is much more common for home typist work to be accomplished using a computer, word processing or database software, and an Internet connection. For people with strong typing skills, it is possible to build a stable client base and make a decent living without having to go to an office or other work setting.

There are a number of different home typist jobs available today. One of the most common has to do with the preparation of transcripts. Home typists who are trained as transcriptionists generally work from audio recordings of meetings such as quarterly financial or investor conferences, board of director meetings, or any other gathering where there is a need to prepare and maintain a written transcript of the event. It is not unusual for the home typist to be granted online access to the recording, particularly if the meeting took place via a web conference or audio conference call that was recorded live.

In addition to transcripts, a home typist may also function as a data entry operator. With this application, the at-home typist is granted access to a client database, trained on how to enter the data properly, and is issued assignments on a daily or weekly basis. Because the home job typist works as an independent contractor, the owner of the database can save expenses on wages and benefits by outsourcing this key function. In return, the home typist gains a client who becomes a steady source of revenue.

While the idea of functioning as a home typist is appealing to many people, not everyone can be successful with this kind of work. Along with the need to be proficient and fast with typing, it is also necessary to be able to complete assignments in a timely manner, establish and maintain a schedule each working day, and avoid the trap of putting off work in order to accomplish other tasks around the home. A home typist also must constantly be on the lookout for new clients and opportunities, since many assignments may be one time projects or extended projects that will only last for a few months.

A competent typist can usually begin by working on a part-time basis while still maintaining a full-time job. As the demand for his or her services increases, it may be possible to begin working from home full-time. However, many home typists prefer to keep a day job and use home typing assignments to augment their income.