If you’re interested in taking on typing from home jobs, you may well be wondering ‘what do I need to be a home typist’? Look no further! Property Typing are here today with tips, tricks and all the details you need on the right equipment for typing from home jobs.
What do I need to be an at-home typist?
Let’s get the most important part of the package out of the way first- you need you. That’s not just any ‘you’, however! There’s a general perception that at-home work is easy, and isn’t ‘real’ work. That’s far from the truth. Don’t confuse the flexibility of working hours with the seriousness of the task. It’s important you approach your typing from home job with as much seriousness and professionality as you would any on-site work. Come prepared to give your best, and with a willingness to work and commit to key deadlines, and you are setting yourself up for success.
Now, to the equipment you need for typing from home jobs. Don’t worry- nothing on the basic list is hard to come by or unreasonable in price tag. The barriers to entry for home typing jobs are refreshingly low- but there are a few basics you simply can’t do without.
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A stable internet connection
Most of your work delivery is going to be digitally based, so it’s critically important that you have reliable, constant access to the internet without repeated disconnects and unstable connection. While even a slower-speed connection should be suitable for typing from home jobs, as you will not be working online once you have received your job and files, the faster your connection the better it will handle larger dictation files and such, and stability is of the imperative.
2. A reliable PC
Your computer is going to be the workhorse of the setup, so when asking what you need to be a home typist, consideration of your machine should be utmost in your mind. Again, you don’t need particularly fancy specs on the PC, and it doesn’t particularly matter whether you opt for a laptop or desktop. Simply make sure it’s up to the job of playing audio files and handling at least the basic word processing programs.
3. A place to work
Just because you are typing from home, it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to need your own workspace. A good, supportive chair and a solid, stable desk or work surface are key to being able to work in comfort. Typing is a job that can easily lead to repetitive stress injuries in the hands and wrists, so if possible give some consideration to basic ergonomics when you set up this space too. Try to make this somewhere quiet and relaxed, where you will not be constantly disturbed by family. This will help you concentrate on your work more easily.
4. A business phone
You will need to be in clear contact with the agency with which you are working throughout the work process, so add a phone to the list of typing from home job equipment. Provided you have basic internet access, can receive and send messages and make the odd call, you’re well set, so this doesn’t have to be an expensive model. You can, of course, use the mobile you already own at first. You may, however, prefer to keep work and home life separate with a different number for your business. The choice is up to you.
With these basics in hand, you have everything you need to start a successful at-home typing career. Of course, there are a few other nifty gadgets that can make your work a little easier. They are, however, not essential to the basic process and you won’t need them immediately.
Taking it a step further
Of course, we’ve covered the very basics of the what you need to be a home typist here- but these do represent the basics only. If you truly want to dedicate yourself to this niche of the profession, there is some other, optional equipment that may make your job considerably easier.
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Headphones
If you mean to specialise in audio dictation work, then a pair of noise-cancelling headphones will prove invaluable to you. This helps to amplify and clear up the audio on files, making life easier for you to hear ever nuance with precision.
2. Foot pedal
You probably only know the foot pedal from musical instruments, but they exist for typing from home jobs as well! As with some sewing machines, the foot pedal is used to forward, rewind and play your audio. This allows you to boost your typing speed and keep your hands free for work. They typically attach to the PC via USB.
3. Specialist software
Whether or not specialist software will make your life easier depends heavily on the exact typing from home job you are doing. With dictation audio, for example, a specialist dictation program can assist greatly in manipulating, controlling and timestamping the audio. Likewise, audio enhancing and conversion software- some quality programs are available free- will also help.
While not necessary to be a home typist, there can be no doubt that investing in some higher-quality, specialist equipment can enhance the experience for you, and help ward off any concerns like repetitive typing stress you may have.
Keen to get started with a typing from home job? Now you know what you need to be an at-home typist, why not get in touch with the team at Property Typing about the opportunities we could have waiting for you?
