For Robert Wilcox, RPR, a freelancer from Townsend, Del., court reporting wasn’t his first career choice, but it ultimately became the perfect fit. After earning a degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland and navigating the challenges of the job market, Wilcox found his way to a profession that had always been close to home. Below, he shares how his father’s influence, a pivotal career decision, and how his commitment to certification shaped his journey into the field.
JCR | How did you learn about the career of court reporting?
RW | My father was a court reporter. I actually am one of the few court reporters that I know who attended a four-year university. While I gave it little weight as a career path, my business and finance advisor at Mount Saint Mary’s University gave me some poor advice: Never follow your parents’ career. I never argued with him, although I should have.
I had a very difficult time finding a job straight out of college. I applied for any and all jobs — from selling shoes, like Al Bundy, to making door-to-door sales, to applying with almost every industry in the state of Delaware.
Nothing.
I interviewed at one specific credit card company and was told I was overqualified. It took my girlfriend’s stepfather making a call to a friend of his who was a general manager within this same company to get me another interview with that same person who told me I was overqualified. I was hired. I was advancing rather quickly through this company with excellent personnel reviews. Once I got to the point where I had to begin “kissing” someone’s behind for another promotion, I considered court reporting as the alternative.
JCR | What does NCRA membership mean to you?
RW | Certification. I left the aforementioned job to work at my father’s firm, doing everything but court reporting. I had to be a certified court reporter to work for my father’s firm. You were only allowed three strikes at the RPR to work there. I did not know this at the time. I had taken the RPR twice before I even graduated from school, passing everything but the Q&A, where I wasn’t even in the 225-wpm class yet. So my last shot I had to pass or find work elsewhere. That was quite a stressful test.
JCR | Why did you renew early this year?
RW | I am not a fan of debt. Jesus Christ canceled my debt at the cross. The world says it may be wise to hold onto your funds and grow interest and make your payments close to their due date. I don’t like living like the world does. He is my source.
My favorite artist, Geoff Moore, wrote a song called “Only a Fool” with these lyrics:
“The way of the world may, it may look wise,
The way of the truth is to realize,
Wisdom will only come through
To those who are only the fool.”
Robert Wilcox, RPR, is a freelancer from Townsend, Del. He can be reached at stenomachine@gmail.com.
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