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Scopist

Job Title and Job Description

Scopist

I transcribe steno for court reporters. I love that every word I?ve ever heard will be used sometime. I love that I work at home - or more often, out on the road, since I can work anywhere.

What are some related career opportunities and job titles in your company or in your career area?

I?m not sure - I never knew this job existed until I took a correspondence course. I guess proofreaders, medical transcribers, court reporters and captionists.

What education or training did you have to prepare for this career?

I read voraciously and have a great vocabulary and spelling. I can type 100+ words a minute. Then a correspondence course to learn steno, medical vocabulary (although I taught medical vocabulary in my previous life as a hospital administrator), and transcript preparation. Although not necessary, I have an engineering degree, which makes me valuable on patent cases.

What education or training do you recommend for students today who want to enter this field?

You have to have a great vocabulary; then anyone can do it.

When you were in high school, did you know that you would enter this field?

No... Heck no. Never heard of it.

Skills Profile

Skills UsedRating (5=Most Important thru
1=Not Important)
Comments

Artistic 1-Not Important 
Athletic / Physical 1-Not Important 
Bilingual 2-Less Important2-Less Important 
Computer Technology 3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important 
Coordination / Using Hands, Tools, and Equipment 5-Most Important5-Most Important5-Most Important5-Most Important5-Most ImportantTyping only 
Creative Thinking 1-Not Important 
Interpersonal 1-Not Important 
Investigative / Fact Finding 3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important 
leadership and Supervising 1-Not Important 
Logical Thinking3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important 
Math 1-Not Important 
Mechanical Understanding 1-Not Important 
Sales and Negotiation 1-Not Important 
Scientific and Experimental 1-Not Important 
Social Service / Helping Skills 1-Not Important 
Teaching / Instructing 1-Not Important 
Verbal Communication 3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important3-Somewhat Important 
Understanding Nature, Plants, Animals 1-Not Important 
Understanding Yourself 1-Not Important 
Writing 1-Not Important 
 

Interview By: Linda