Speaker 1: This audio is used for the transcriber test at GoTranscript.

Speaker 2: The purpose of this test is to see if you were paying attention. We have given you a
lot of information to help you pass this test, but if you don't follow the guidelines, you won't
pass. For example, right at the beginning of this test, I am telling you that this is supposed to be
formatted as a clean verbatim transcript, as opposed to full verbatim.

There are different ways that transcripts are supposed to be formatted depending on whether they
are CV or FV. There are even the sample tests and documents provided, so you can look at them.
Yet we're constantly flummoxed at how many people ignore that information.

Another section of the GoTranscript guideline specifies just exactly, well approximately how
long your paragraphs should be. Are you following that rule? It's pretty easy and yet you'd be
surprised at how many people's tests are just one big, long blob of a paragraph.

There's also a segment of the guidelines that explains how to format tags such as unintelligible
and Inaudible speaker tags and sound events. Some of those tags will be bolded and
timestamped. Others won't be. It's spelled out in the guidelines and if you don't follow those
rules, you won't pass the test.

Punctuation is super important and yet many people submit their tests with all sorts of weird
punctuation marks that are either incorrect, such as commas in the wrong places, or which the
guidelines expressly forbid such as exclamation points. That's right. No matter how enthusiastic
the speaker may sound, you never, ever, ever use an exclamation point.

Numbers are another big reason why people fail our test as well. We have all sorts of information
in the guidelines about which numbers should be spelled out and which one should you use
numerals. For example, if I say two people went into the house, you would spell out that two,
however, let's say the speaker says, I distinctly saw two people go into that house, but later 10
people came out. Do you spell out the two or the 10 in that case? Well, it's in the guidelines. So
look it up. Another big pet peeve I personally have about numbers is that whenever I give a
currency amount, for example, 1500 bucks, a lot of people don't bother putting in a coma.
Sometimes they don't put in the dollar sign either. Yet all of that information is right there on the
guidelines. We've even discussed it in our Facebook group, which you should definitely join if
you can. I know, I know. I keep saying the same thing over and over again, add an item, et
cetera.

But you know what? When I have to look through 2000 plus applications every day, it makes me
sad to see that only a handful of them are even close to acceptable. Damn it. Oh, and for those of
you who didn't appreciate me saying damn just now, it's because there's a rule in the guidelines
about curse words, and I really want you to look it up consonant.

Speaker 1: This audio is used for the transcriber test at GoTranscript.

TEST. 2

Speaker 1: This audio is used for the transcriber test at GoTranscript. 

Speaker 2: I used to work for a company that employed at least 1,500 people just in my
department. Now I think they're up to about 7,500, but even 1,500 seems like a lot to me.
Perhaps that's just because it's post-COVID or at least we hope it is and we're finally getting out
of the house to see other people. It still seems weird to be in large groups like that. Have you
ever gone to a stadium where there're thousands of people all crammed in together? That seems
like something that might happen again, but probably shouldn't. 

Another thing that probably shouldn't happen is that you shouldn't let yourself even try to take
this test without having GoTranscript guidelines bookmarked and ready to check at a moment's
notice. If you try to take it without looking at the formatting or the samples provided, you won't
pass. Even people who've been with us a long time don't do that, and it shows in their work. For
example, in clean verbatim, which this is, you're supposed to avoid starting phrases with
conjunctions rounds. 

The guidelines give an example of one, which I won't post here, because you're really supposed
to look it up for yourself. Also, paragraphs aren't supposed to be longer than 500 symbols,100
words, or three to four lines in the transcription tool. Yet literally hundreds of applicants type this
audio test as one big, long blob of a paragraph. They'll put speaker labels in brackets or on
separate lines by themselves, or they won't italicize film titles like the one I saw on HBO last
week called, Dont Let Go. It's about a cop whose niece is murdered then she starts calling him on
her cellphone. It's really good. You should see it if you can. 

Speaker 3: Hello?

Speaker 2: Plus there's a whole section about numbers and how to format them properly, but
very few of you actually read it apparently since I always put some combination of numbers in
these tests, like 5 and 12, but still hundreds of you won't format that correctly. The nice thing
about that though, is it makes my job a lot easier. 

Speaker 1: This audio is used for the transcriber test at GoTranscript.