Stage 1 – Application file (NCW Speech-to-text Editor)

Please complete the application document by following the instructions in Stage 1 within seven days maximum of receiving the email with this link. It is useful to complete the application transcript using a foot pedal and both suitable speakers and headphones to ensure the highest quality of work possible. We do not recommend the purchase of any transcription equipment yet as transcription work does not suit everybody. If you have speakers, plug your headphones into them as this gives a clearer sound than playing the recording out loud through the speakers on your computer. 

The purpose of our assessment is to gauge your abilities and skillset. In the drop down below (titled “NCW Transcript Editor Application File and Corresponding Audio”) you will find a .zip file. This should be downloaded onto your computer and the contents extracted. Inside the .zip file are two files:

• TTAVIQ A001.2 TRANSCRIPT EDITOR APPLICATION SOUNDFILE (this is a digital soundfile)
• TTAVIQ D001.3 TRANSCRIPT EDITOR APPLICATION – TO BE COMPLETED (this is a Word document with a speech-to-text generated transcript which has been partially edited already)

Save both files in your My Documents before trying to open them. We find that For The Record player is a good program to use for transcribing recordings as you can control the recording with ‘Hot Keys’ and/or a foot pedal– a free download can be found at https://fortherecord.com/our-solutions/ftr-player/

Whilst the recording is playing you need to follow the document (the Word document) on your monitor.  Only the beginning of the document has already been edited to the correct layout and correct speech.  The remainder of the speech-to-text generated text has not been edited – this is for you to complete on the same document in the same format to demonstrate that you are able to produce an accurate and high-quality verbatim transcript. This editing exercise makes up the application process.

Once you have completed the application document and are confident that it is accurate and free of errors, save the document as your name followed by “NCW EDITOR APPLICATION DOCUMENT”, i.e. “POLLY JONES NCW EDITOR APPLICATION DOCUMENT”. Please upload the completed transcript via the upload link below within seven days of receiving the email with this link.

Whilst we aim to get application documents checked within a few days of receipt, in busy periods or during staff leave this could take up to 10 working days.

Once your application transcript has been checked, if you have shown you are able to produce accurate, verbatim documents, you will be offered to undertake a training period with us where you will be editing ‘real’ files.  This training period is paid but you will continue to be assessed on the quality of the work produced before a final decision is made on whether you will be taken on as a member of the speech-to-text editing team.

A summary of the recruitment and training process can be viewed on the Stages of Application document. The pay rate for NCW editing starts from 80p per minute of recording, plus discretionary bonuses when training has been successfully completed – these rates are fully documented in documents released in Stage 2.

We look forward to receiving your completed document.

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