Audio typing

Dandelion6

I am exploring my employment options and it seems that many of the jobs in my preferred field may require audio typing. I have loads of admin/secretarial experience but I have never had to do this. I am an immigrant and this method is not used where I am from.

Can anyone explain to me exactly what it involves and how I can get trained in doing it (it's not really an option in my current workplace).

Strokesfan

In my experience Audiotyping is typing from a tape recorder and headphones - and the use of a pedal underneath the desk. Your right foot plays the tape and pressing your left foot rewinds so it's not as scary as people think to keep up.

Your english seems quite good from your post so it might be fine for you once you get into it. The Pitman training centres around the county offer modules in Audio Typing as part of some of their secretarial programmes and if you approached them and ask to do just this subject - it might not cost too much.
Then you'd have a certificate to attach to your CV if it's an area that's stopping you from getting work.

Here's the link to Pitman Ireland -
http://www.pitman-training.ie/

I did a course with them but you could probably find something else by doing a search in google about audio typing and the name of your area.

Dandelion6

Thanks - I'll check them out.

Electric

The Pitman course is excellent! Would definitely recommend it. They're a bit pricey but worth it IMO cos it's a recognised name and employers are impressed by it.

Plus Pitman are really flexible about when you do you're course. I was able to do mine in the evenings and during some lunch breaks. And they give you loads of take home material to keep so that if you find you've gone a bit rusty you can brush up on it without having to do another course.

Cathmandooo

I do audio typing most days. We dont have tapes anymore, it's all digital so it might be a case of there being files on your computer that you pick up and play using your foot pedals. It's very straightforward though. I'm sure someone will briefly explain the software to you as I'm sure all software can differ.

I came into my job on the first day and my boss gave me a tape (before we went digital) to type up. I had no idea and had never heard of audio typing. He had no idea how to use it either but I figured it out in no time. So don't worry about it, give yourself a bit of time and you'll become an expert

Dudess

I'm an audio typist. Absolutely fine. The foot pedals make it especially easy. Once you have typing at all you'll be well able for audio typing. The only downfall is people who speak incoherently but you get used to that when you're typing for the same people the whole time. And if there is something that you really can't understand, just put in a question mark - it's not your fault that people insist on mumbling! Most people aren't too bad anyway...

pinkypinky

If you are already in a PA/secretarial type role, I'm not sure you'd need to do a course. I do audio typing all the time, but beyond someone else showing me how to use the machine (which will vary from company to company), I had no training and it is pretty elementary. It might be worth seeing you can try one out before you spend money on a course that you may not need. Best of luck.