Closed Captioning
Closed Captioning is a service that converts speech and sounds in videos into text that appears on screen. It helps viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing follow along with TV shows, movies, and online videos. This service is required by law for many types of broadcasts in the United States. Different from subtitles (which just show dialogue), closed captions also describe sound effects, speaker identification, and music. The "closed" part means viewers can turn these captions on or off, unlike "open captions" which are always visible.
Examples in Resumes
Created accurate Closed Captioning for live news broadcasts
Managed Closed Caption quality control for streaming content
Developed CC workflows for multi-language programming
Supervised team of Closed Captioning specialists for major network shows
Typical job title: "Closed Captioning Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Closed Captioning Specialists
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you manage a team of captioners working on multiple live broadcasts?
Expected Answer: Look for answers about scheduling, quality monitoring, backup systems, and handling technical issues. They should mention training new staff and maintaining consistency across different shows.
Q: What experience do you have with caption encoding systems and broadcast delay management?
Expected Answer: Should discuss different captioning systems, managing broadcast delays, and troubleshooting common technical problems while maintaining accuracy.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure caption accuracy during fast-paced programming?
Expected Answer: Should explain techniques for maintaining accuracy while keeping up with quick dialogue, including preparation methods and shorthand systems.
Q: What's your process for researching specialized terminology before a broadcast?
Expected Answer: Should describe how they prepare for shows with technical terms, names, or foreign words, including research methods and building word libraries.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the difference between closed captions and subtitles?
Expected Answer: Should explain that closed captions include sound effects and speaker identification for deaf viewers, while subtitles typically only show spoken dialogue.
Q: What typing speed can you maintain accurately?
Expected Answer: Should mention their words-per-minute typing speed and accuracy rate, with understanding that professional captioning typically requires at least 180 WPM.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic captioning software operation
- Minimum typing speed of 180 WPM
- Understanding of caption formatting rules
- Basic audio transcription
Mid (2-5 years)
- Live captioning experience
- Multiple captioning software proficiency
- Foreign language captioning
- Technical troubleshooting
Senior (5+ years)
- Team management
- Quality control systems
- Broadcast delay management
- Caption encoding expertise
Red Flags to Watch For
- Typing speed below industry standards
- No knowledge of FCC captioning regulations
- Lack of experience with broadcast software
- Poor attention to detail in writing samples
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