Court Reporter 

How did you get your current job?
A television advertisement for the school.

What was the application process?
Resume, paper application, and testing.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
I went out and interviewed several firms before choosing the one I am currently with. I advise making a spreadsheet with different questions one wants answered and using it in the interviewing process. I usually did individual interviews. If my questions weren’t answered by the person I initially interviewed with, I spoke to someone higher up the ladder. That usually did happen.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
Where did I go to school. What were my earning expectations. What level of experience did I have.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
I think the particular firm I chose could have given me more training and more explanation of office procedure. There really wasn’t much explanation, and still two years later, I have to ask them questions about how to do something.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Each firm is very different in how they handle training new reporters and the court is different also. The firm I chose was ready to send me out right away, but I asked if I could sit in with a few reporters before I began working solo. It is very scary and nerve racking the first time one reports solo. It is such a great responsibility to be a keeper of the record and stressful. I sat out with different reporters for about two weeks. Then the first few transcripts I turned in, the office would check them and give me corrections or tell me they had a different style of doing something and do it that way, etc.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, as much as it could. There is no substitute for on-the-job training.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
No. I think it had to do with the reporters I sat out with and the courts I interned with. And unfortunately, I didn’t even really know what questions I needed to ask at the time.

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
One must go to a court reporting school, either online or in the classroom. I suggest in the classroom because VERY few people have the discipline to complete an online course.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
An eye for detail. Great English and grammar skills, both spoken and written. Both of those things are necessary to make sure that you produce an excellent transcript. One would need discipline in order just to finish school. The education is very challenging because of the amount of knowledge one needs. Organizational skills are important so make sure that you can manage keeping track of your jobs and any documents and exhibits that one will maintain. I would consider this a high-stress job. One must be able to maintain composure in even the most trying times. Several people may be yelling at one time, and it is the court reporter’s job in a freelance situation to get things under control and maintain the record.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Absolutely. My career is very skill-specific and one cannot learn it without training.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Practice, practice, practice. And I would say don’t be afraid to speak up if you cannot hear or things are getting out of hand to the point where you cannot understand what is being said. Also, I would advise to find a working court reporter whom one can confide in. Do not discuss the challenges, mistakes, and concerns that may exist with the office personnel of the firm where one is contracting. That will only cause them to second guess the reporter and it takes longer for one to prove themself.