Anyone out there a scopist?

[Miffy]

I just heard of this profession and it sounds interesting to me, so--of course!--the first place I'm coming for advice is the all-knowing DIS.

Is anyone here a scopist? or do you know someone who does this for a living? I'm trying to figure out (1) if it's a viable means of income and (2) what the best online schools are.

TIA for any info!

 

[donaldandpirates]

Yes, ma'am. I primarily do proofreading, but I also occasionally do scoping.
Are looking at this for a part-time or full-time job? I trained at BeST; the two ladies who run it are absolutely fantastic. Internet Scoping School is also excellent. There is an investment you would have to make for training and software, but it's totally worth it, in my opinion.

 

[Miffy]

donaldandpirates,

Thanks so much for your reply.

Here's my situation (in brief): I haven't been working for the past 10 years or so, but due to changing life circumstances, I want/need to work again. Before I retired, I was a freelance proofreader (publishing, not anything to do with court reporting) and I'd really like to do something else now. I didn't even know scoping existed until 1/2 hour ago!

I'd like something to do part-time, preferably from home. Because of my background as a proofer and a word-processing operator, I think I'd be good at this. But I want to make as sure as possible that after an investment of ~$2,000 in a course and another ~$1,500 in software that I'd be able to find work.

Anything else you could tell me? When you say you're a proofreader, do you mean that you proofread the very material that's scoped?

I guess you can tell I'm completely new to this!

Thanks.

 

[donaldandpirates]

I'll PM you.

 

[Miffy]

Thanks!

 

[HM]

I'm sorry you didn't continue to carry this conversation out on here so the rest of us could see the answer.

 

[robin09]

I'm sorry you didn't continue to carry this conversation out on here so the rest of us could see the answer.

Me too! curious minds, just got curiouser!

 

[Sadie22]

donaldandpirates,

Thanks so much for your reply.

Here's my situation (in brief): I haven't been working for the past 10 years or so, but due to changing life circumstances, I want/need to work again. Before I retired, I was a freelance proofreader (publishing, not anything to do with court reporting) and I'd really like to do something else now. I didn't even know scoping existed until 1/2 hour ago!

I'd like something to do part-time, preferably from home. Because of my background as a proofer and a word-processing operator, I think I'd be good at this. But I want to make as sure as possible that after an investment of ~$2,000 in a course and another ~$1,500 in software that I'd be able to find work.

Anything else you could tell me? When you say you're a proofreader, do you mean that you proofread the very material that's scoped?

I guess you can tell I'm completely new to this!

Thanks.

As a former proofreader and word processing operator, you could perform transcription at home, as I do. There are lots of companies that hire skilled people. You do not need to take a course to be hired by a general transcription company. You would need great headphones, a foot pedal to advance the audio, and may choose to invest in one or two audio players, but there are several free players that work with a pedal.

Check out the forums at wahm.com and workplacelikehome.com for more information about transcription and working at home. Some scopists and court reporters may respond to questions there as well.