Realtime Captioner Onboarding Checklist

Realtime Captioner Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Realtime Captioner starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Media onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Realtime Captioner, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Realtime Captioner onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Realtime Captioner Onboarding Checklist

1. Equipment setup: This task involves setting up the necessary equipment for realtime captioning, such as stenography machines, captioning software, and audio/video monitoring systems. The IT department or a designated technician within the company typically performs this task to ensure that the captioner has all the necessary tools to perform their job effectively.

2. Software training: Realtime captioners need to be proficient in using captioning software to transcribe spoken words into captions. The company’s training department or a designated trainer provides comprehensive training on the specific captioning software used by the company. This training includes learning how to navigate the software, create captions, and utilize various features and shortcuts.

3. Familiarization with company guidelines: Each company may have its own set of guidelines and standards for realtime captioning. These guidelines may include formatting preferences, caption placement, speaker identification, and specific industry terminology. The captioner should receive a detailed orientation on these guidelines, which is typically conducted by a supervisor or a senior captioner.

4. Understanding the company’s target audience: Realtime captioners need to have a clear understanding of the target audience for whom they are providing captions. This may include individuals with hearing impairments, non-native English speakers, or viewers in noisy environments. The captioner should have a meeting with the company’s marketing or content team to gain insights into the target audience’s needs and preferences.

5. Shadowing experienced captioners: To gain practical experience and learn the company’s specific captioning style, new captioners should have the opportunity to shadow experienced captioners. This allows them to observe the workflow, best practices, and techniques used by seasoned professionals. The company may assign a mentor or schedule shadowing sessions with different captioners to provide a well-rounded learning experience.

6. Familiarization with content types: Realtime captioners may be required to caption a wide range of content, including live broadcasts, pre-recorded videos, webinars, or conferences. It is essential for the captioner to familiarize themselves with the different content types they will be working on. This can be achieved through reviewing past captioned content, attending content-specific training sessions, or collaborating with the content team.

7. Quality assurance training: Maintaining high-quality captions is crucial in the field of realtime captioning. The company should provide training on quality assurance processes, which may involve reviewing and editing captions for accuracy, timing, and readability. This training can be conducted by a quality assurance team or a designated supervisor.

8. Communication and collaboration tools: Realtime captioners often need to collaborate with other team members, such as producers, directors, or content creators. The company should provide training on communication and collaboration tools, such as project management software, instant messaging platforms, or video conferencing tools. This training can be conducted by the IT department or a designated trainer.

9. Legal and ethical considerations: Realtime captioners should be aware of legal and ethical considerations related to their occupation. This may include understanding copyright laws, privacy regulations, and adhering to professional codes of conduct. The company’s legal department or a designated compliance officer can provide training and resources on these matters.

10. Ongoing professional development: To stay updated with industry trends, technology advancements, and best practices, realtime captioners should engage in ongoing professional development. The company can facilitate this by providing access to relevant workshops, conferences, webinars, or online courses. The captioner should be encouraged to pursue certifications or memberships in professional organizations related to captioning and media

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Realtime Captioner checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Realtime Captioner up to speed and working well in your Media team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.