Welcome to my TigerFish review.
TigerFish is one of the many companies you could tie up with for transcription jobs.
These are a great opportunity for people looking to earn a little extra cash on the side or for those who want to work from home while maintaining fairly flexible hours.
In this article we will look at:
- What is TigerFish?
- How does it work?
- Is TigerFish a scam?
- How to apply?
- What are job Requirements?
- What’s the Pay?
- Pros
- Cons
- Alternative to TigerFish
Let’s dive in.
About TigerFish
Being in business since 1989, TigerFish has built a reputation for themself based on their dedication to excellence and attention to detail.
With claims of hiring only the very best transcriptionists and editors, their website holds strongly to meeting the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.
How does it work?
Once a company approaches TigerFish and signs up as a client, they submit their audio files for transcription. TigerFish will then process this order and transfers it to their transcriptionists.
These transcriptionists are independent contractors who freelance with Tigerfish. They are required to complete the assignment and submit it to TigerFish for approval.
Is TigerFish a scam?
TigerFish has been around for over 30 years. Their clients range from government agencies like the DOJ and NASA to multinational conglomerates like Samsung and Google and long-standing educational institutions like NYU and the University of California.
The company’s long list of clients combined with their years of experience in the industry is proof enough that TigerFish is not a scam but a legit firm.
How to Apply?
If you are looking for transcription jobs from home and want to apply to work with TigerFish, you have to fill up the application given on their website. Check out the application form here
- The application process requires you to transcribe the three test files given along with the form. They have also provided the style guide to be followed in the same link. Make sure you adhere to the instructions given in the guide and format your transcript accordingly.
- Once you transcribe the sample audio files, you need to upload the transcript, mention the time you took to transcribe and fill in the rest of your details. These include your correspondence information, your educational history like knowledge of specialized vocabulary and languages known
- They also ask you to mention your schedule requirements such as the amount of time you would be willing to work for as well as the preferred days of the week and time when you would be available.
- They do not entertain any inquiries regarding the status of the application on call. Applications are reviewed periodically and they will approach you when the need arises provided you have been selected.
What are the requirements for working with TigerFish?
Apart from an interest in transcribing, you would need the following to land yourself a job with TigerFish:
- You have to be a US resident who is above 18 years of age.
- A good grasp of the English language.
Additional knowledge of specific job-related vocabulary will be beneficial.
- A decent typing speed.
TigerFish is one of the few companies in the field that offer positions to beginners and do not demand any previous experience. However, you should still be able to type out at least 65 words per minute.
- Attention to detail.
Often, the assignment will require you to edit for clarity along with transcribing the audio file.
- A laptop or PC using Windows OS. Mac is not compatible.
- High-speed internet connection
- Express scribe software (for the test)
In case you get selected, you will need to invest $200 to purchase Start Stop’s Power Play for Windows media
What’s the pay like?
Your payment is determined by the type of assignment. It varies depending on the industry, complexity, and urgency of the task at hand.
TigerFish has not given out any information regarding their rates on their website neither are employee reviews regarding salary available on websites like glassdoor.com and indeed.com.
However, a little digging around on the internet has revealed that the average pay rate is around 5-7 cents per line.
Your typing speed, availability of work and the nature of specific projects can greatly influence your pay rate.
Pros of working with TigerFish
- Join as a fresher
TigerFish is one of the few firms in the transcription industry that does not demand previous work experience from its freelance contractors making it a great option for those trying out a new field or looking to switch careers and wanting a starting point.
- Flexibility
Like most work from home jobs, TigerFish offers you the freedom of choice when you work and for how many hours.
- Eligibility
You do not need specific degrees or certifications. Have a decent typing speed, good writing and listening skills and ability to pay attention to detail and you are good to go.
- Work-at-home Opportunity
A well-established firm in the industry, TigerFish has been around for over three decades and has a long list of clients featuring prominent names from their respective industries.
Working with them would give you very good exposure and experience.
Cons of TigerFish
- Not accredited by BBB (Better Business Bureau)
The fact that a firm that has been around for so long, TigerFish has but not attained accreditation from the BBB is a definite minus.
- Low pay
5-7 cents per line is not a lot. Depending on how fast you can type, you will end up earning around $8-$11 an hour making this a viable option only as a secondary income.
- Huge investment cost
In case you do get selected, you will have to purchase the requisite software which costs a whopping $200. Considering the rate of return, this is a huge sum to shell out.
- Compatibility of Hardware and Software
You would also need to have a PC or laptop with Microsoft Windows Operating system as the software is not supported by Mac.
- Unpredictable nature of work
There can be days when you are swarmed with files and weeks when you have nothing to do. There is no way to control the amount of work you get and there is no surety that you will have work the next week either.
TigerFish, therefore, does not provide a steady stream of income.
Alternatives to TigerFish
Transcription is a very popular option for those seeking work from home opportunities. These are a few firms, other than TigerFish, that you could lookup-
- TranscribeMe
They offer transcription, translation, and data annotation services. They work with market research, consulting, technology and medical industries.
They pay between $15- $22 per audio hour.
- SpeakWrite
Founded in 1997, SpeakWrite specializes in Law Enforcement, legal, Protective service, and Business transcriptions. They prefer applicants with prior experience, especially in the legal field.
Working with them, you can earn between $450 and $3400 a month.
- Speechpad
They provide transcription and captioning services. Entities like Netflix and Amazon approach them for their subtitle requirements.
They pay between $0.25-$1.00 per audio minute for transcription and 0.20-$1.00 per audio minute for captions.
- Quicktate
They transcribe voice messages, memos, letters, legal and medical files. Generally, the audio files are less than 5 min long.
They pay between ¼ -½ cent per word transcribed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tigerfish is a legitimate firm that has been successfully going on for over 30 years. You can find legit transcription jobs to work from home.
TigerFish does not pay a lot. You can make around $8-$10 an hour.
All the above-mentioned companies offer transcription jobs that can be done from home while maintaining flexible hours.
However, they are all not the same. While some of them like SpeakWrite insist on some form of previous experience, others like Tigerfish require none.
Similarly, the pay differs from firm to firm. Some pay by the audio minute or the hour while others pay, depending on words or lines transcribed.
The rates, however, are more or less the same and all of them provide for a good source of supplementary income rather than a primary one.
Whichever one you go for should be based on your existing skillset, experience or lack thereof and your desire to explore different fields.
While TigerFish deals with all sorts of firms, SpeakWrite mainly handles law enforcement and legal fields, Speechpad handles captioning services and Quicktate transcribes smaller audio files like voice messages. Choosing which one to work for should be based on your area of interest.
Monty
Hello, I am Monty and I welcome you to the website. I am the owner of the website and I am here you to guide you find legitimate work-from-home jobs and ways to make money online.