Always read the email. You could be missing something important.

I get upwards of 50 emails a day from independent contractors looking to “break into” the transcription world, or from seasoned transcriptionists looking for extra work.

I welcome them all. I am always looking for new talent to assist with the projects I have to handle. I also enjoy watching newbies to CLK learn and grow into their skill through hands-on experience and reviewing information provided with any necessary edits on their work. Over the years, I can almost always tell if they are someone who will love the work as much as I do.

I can tell because they are the ones who have read the email…I can’t be the only business that has these issues, but I can only speak for myself, so here it goes…

For every 10 that make contact with me asking for information…yes, they make contact with me…five actually read the email replies I send to them, but only one will follow directions.

Yes, in all fairness, I admit my emails are long and very detailed, but only because it saves us both time. I want them to know what they are getting themselves into being a vendor for CLK before I take time out of my schedule to set them up and begin working with them.

IF they read it and reply that they understand what I am looking for as their client, that they understand they are an IC and what that means, and that they understand the tools necessary to provide me quality service, I then spend time setting them up, preparing for the time I will spend working with them on the first assignment, and then setting up the proofing team to work with them.

How do I know they do not read the replies? Simple.

I send two emails. One with all the information about my company and what I expect from my ICs. I ask them simply to “reply to me that you understand and have done your due diligence into what it means to be an independent contractor with CLK, and that you can begin setup within three days from the date you reply to this email.”

I also ask for professional courtesy of a declination reply if they have decided, after their due diligence, that this is not for them – but that is a whole other blog post…

Again, 10 will reply that they are “ready to go” sometimes the same day, sometimes a week later. When I receive the reply to that first email, I send a second email with the setup information needed to begin accepting assignments and again ask them to make sure they can, at the very least, complete setup and get me the documentation I need within three days…

Now here is how I know who reads my emails.

Out of every ten ICs sent that second email, five may actually be ready for setup within three days. another 5 never come on for setup but will come back to me weeks later and wonder why I don’t have a spot for them.

Out of the five who complete setup within the three days, two will never come on for an assignment and I will have wasted at least a day on my side of the setup process. Three will come on for an assignment; one of which will never communicate with me and never return the assignment, one will complete the first assignment and then need to take a week or two away for personal reasons, and one ends up a star.

Now anyone who does transcription understands it is a time sensitive and detail oriented job. If you can’t follow the directions for the setup you asked for, how am I to have faith you will follow any other instructions for my assignments?

And if you can’t offer me the timeliness of setup so you can actually accept assignments, how am I to trust you will meet my much faster turn around times for the assignments you requested?

And as an independent contractor, if you can’t offer your client quality and availability, why would I assign any projects to you?

I write this now because it is a new year. I am hoping that I won’t be called names (yes, very unprofessional names from those wishing to be called professionals) because I could not wait for someone to want an assignment. I needed to move on to someone who will take an assignment. CLK is growing and I want the ICs working with me to grow as well.

CLK has a base of 143 ICs available at different times, different days throughout the year. Through great communication, we work together so that everyone is happy. Of course I always look for great talent. ICs do not need to have a  regular schedule, and sometimes it seems like I never have enough ICs available, even when all are on. But it takes communication and great scheduling on everyone’s part.

And yes, I am a client. The CLK team consists of independent contractors and employees who have a marvelous work ethic for their own “business” and they take pride in the work they do for CLK. Together, we do remarkable things for CLK clients.

And those who make it as an IC at CLK,  who showed their client, me, that they truly wanted to be part of the team, did so simply by having read the emails with the information they asked to receive.

If you are interested in accepting assignments as an IC for CLK Transcription, tell me a little about yourself in an email to transcription@clktranscription.com. I will get that first email out to you when time permits. (I do not do resumes. I am not hiring you as an employee. You are truly an IC with CLK.)

If you are in need of outstanding transcription services, we are always accepting new clients and projects. Our standard TAT is within 24 to 36 hours in most cases.  We offer discounts to UPOD, ASJA, AHJC, NASW, FLX, APH, SEJ, SPJ journalists. For more information, email carollee@clktranscription.com.

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