New York Court Reporters Blog

CCourt reporting and the role of court reporters is undergoing a chance. In my long career in court reporting, I have seen many changes in the way court reporters produce their transcripts and the new court reporting technologies have also brought new products. The change in court reporting technology over the past decade has been enormous. However, another huge change in our industry which is in sync with the society we live in is the large number of reporters not getting the amount of work they would like. For most of my career, there has been a tremendous shortage of court reporters.

For the first time, there are more court reporters than jobs. This, of course, is tied to the general state of the economy. Court reporters need to be at the top of the game because for the first time in years they are actually competing for work. I have many reporters who have been with me for many years and are therefore very experienced. However, I don’t think they have realized that their environment has changed with the economy. There is now lots more competition for their jobs. When a court reporting firm owner has to make a decision who to give a deposition to, it is now not based on workload but on who gets to the depo on time and who gets their work in on time.

The world is changing and the rules are changing in every business it is the team players who are the most valuable. It is a change back to some old work ethics which have been lost in these boom years which no longer exist for any of us.

Many court reporters have interviewed with my court reporting agency. Many recent graduates, court reporters, have never had to interview for a position. Interviewing for a court reporter’s position involve the same principles as with any other type of position.

If I were looking to distinguish myself from the crowd, and I was fortunate enough to land an interview, there are certain basic rules for any type of interview, including a court reporter. Bring a resume. Even if you do not have any court reporting experience, you do have life experiences. Put down all the things you do and all your interests. You never know which one will relate to your interviewer.

Show genuine interest in the interviewer. In an interview, it is important to strike some sort of rapport, common ground, to make you more interesting. Sharing mutual interests is one thing. Look around the office. Most people have pictures, trophies, plants, that relate to a particular interest. Something that will give you a little more insight into the person who you are sitting across the table from. Ask what the trophy or certificate is for. Showing interest in another person really works wonders.

Show interest in the company. Check out their website and mentally or physically come with questions based on research you have done about the company. I know I would be very impressed if somebody sitting across the table knew something about our court reporting firm. It rarely, if ever, happens. But when it does, it sure does make a difference and gives me an incentive to want to look closer at the person sitting across the table from me.

Many court reporters have been interviewed by my court reporting agency over the years. My court reporting firm interviews a few aspiring court reporters a month even in these rough times. As a court reporting company owner, I try to always have at least one new reporter who I can train and get going in a career in court reporting. It personally allows me to give back to a profession, court reporting, which has given so much to me. And, of course, I end up with a great staff court reporter. Every court reporting agency has default statements and some short easy depositions to get a new court reporter going. With some hands-on help, you would be surprised how quickly you can get a reporter up and going.

When I interview a court reporter, my main interest is somebody who will work with our court reporting firm. However, if I don’t think there is a good fit, I will always give them information where to go. I hear all the time how the court reporting agencies are turning a deaf ear to new court reporters. They are the future of our profession and they need some help now. Court reporting has been very good to many of us, and now is the time to reach out, give of your time and yourself, and help a new court reporter get started.