You hear some reporters complain a lot and bemoan the changes in our profession. I think that's self-defeating, let alone irresponsibly discouraging to other reporters. Instead of that negative attitude, I think it really helps the individual as well as the field in general for us to focus on positive changes we can make. Here are some things that have helped me over the years, and I hope they help you too.
- Improve yourself. Find your weaknesses and strengthen them.
If you've had agencies get after you with emails because you're late to turn something in/late to show up, that's a weakness. Work on disciplining yourself to make sure you finish your have-tos before spending time on your want-tos/leave extra early to allow a good time cushion.
If you don't recognize/understand what you're hearing on the job (and it's not due to a matter of accent or acoustics), that's a weakness. Read Time Magazine each week to build your vocabulary and increase your cultural knowledge base. Look up each word and reference you don't know. (Credit for this idea goes to my great CR school English teacher, Steve Burris.)
If you feel like you're often scrambling to keep up or, God forbid!, are actually dropping, that's a weakness. Increase your skill level by actually taking the time to practice at home. Then take the extra step and test for additional certification. Those letters behind your name say a lot about you to potential employers.
If you feel awkward marketing yourself to different agencies, that's a weakness. Read self-improvement books on assertiveness and/or sign up for workshops. You want to be strong but not unreasonable. Also read books on interpersonal communication to help you be more effective in your calls and emails. You want to be focused and pleasant but not overly casual or personal.
- Network. Develop contacts that can lead to increased work.
Other reporters are the best source for information. They can tell you what type of work/pay is offered by which agencies and how those agencies treat their reporters. Getting this type of information from reporters within your own market can be difficult. Reporters sometimes want to keep to themselves the scoop on great agencies so they won't have to share the work. Therefore, try for reporters outside your market, asking them who they like so you can then hopefully work for that agency when they have work in your market.
To meet reporters outside your market, visit forums. Google “court reporting forums”and visit them all. Read lots of different posts. Don't let your decisions be governed by what seems to be the prevailing opinion on just one forum. Read posts from the different authors and decide for yourself. Ask questions, privately if that's more comfortable.
Videographers are another wonderful referral source. With video being an extra expense to a deposition, videographers are most often assigned to more lucrative cases. More lucrative cases can mean greater job security for you. Videographers can tell you which agencies seem to have the most of those cases, and they can also tell you how those agencies pay and treat their reporters.
- Be Service-Oriented. I hear a lot of reporters talking as if they feel we are these sacred beings. I personally really disagree with that. I understand we have a duty, and believe me, I take it seriously. But I don't want our duty to get in the way of the reality that we are a service provider, and we do need to provide good service to keep our customers happy.
Part of that means listening to our customers and what they want. We don't want to let them dictate to us to the point that we either compromise the record or stop making a good living, but we do need to listen.
These things MAY seem like extra work that is too hard, but believe me, they DO pay off. You will feel more confident at your job, you will be getting more calls for work, and you will be helping the court reporting field instead of complaining about it and discouraging others.
Best wishes to you in going out there and being positive and proactive!
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