Data Entry Resume Guide (With Examples)

When you’re applying for jobs, it can be tempting to use a generic ‘one size fits all’ resume to attach to every application.

But this often means you’re omitting some points that could be highly relevant to a particular job, and including information that has no bearing on the position you’re applying for.

By carefully tailoring each application to the specific industry, you’ll be more likely to have a resume that stands out and showcases skills, qualifications and experience pertinent to the job.

While creating bespoke resumes for different industries will take a little time, it can certainly help you to secure a job more quickly, and so it could save you time in the long run.

Our Top 9 Data Entry Resume Tips

Today we’re looking at tips to help you with creating a resume that focuses on job applications within the data entry field.

This is a competitive industry, so it’s vital that your resume highlights all your related skills.

Data entry jobs tend to draw in a large volume of applicants. Our research shows that 150 – 400 applicants per role is not unusual!

The employer tasked with choosing the right person for the job may initially only glance at each application, so yours needs to be impressive enough to be shortlisted for a more thorough inspection. Follow our top tips to fine-tune your resume to ensure it’s perfect for a data entry job application.

Use a professional layout

Data entry is all about efficiency and quality.

This is not the time to add floral flourishes to your resume or use an arty font.

Follow a standard layout or use a template. You’ll find plenty of resume templates available online. Pick one that looks smart and stylish and don’t be tempted to stray too far from the standard guidelines for a resume.

Be sure to add all your contact details too. You’d be surprised how many people send in their resume and forget to put their telephone number or contact email address on it!

Be sure to list all relevant qualifications

Qualifications give an overall impression of your capabilities and level of education.

List your academic achievements, and don’t forget any other data entry certifications or courses you may have completed.

Even if a course was just a day long, there’s no reason why you can’t add it to your resume if it’s related to the job you’re applying to.

For example, a short course in advanced spreadsheet formulae would certainly stand out to someone looking to employ a data entry specialist.

Don’t forget to mention all your key skills

Include your skills, without being too verbose.

Think about all the jobs you’ve ever done and the skills you’ve picked up along the way that could be of benefit to you in a data entry position.

It could be your excellent time management or eye for detail, or your many years’ experience of using a particular software package.

If it’s relevant, then it should be in there.

If you’re unsure what skills are relevant, check out our guide here.

Include the software packages and platforms you’re familiar with

Leading on from your skills, don’t forget to list any programs you’ve used that are popular within the data entry sphere.

An employer will be pleased to know that you won’t need training, even if it’s the commonly used packages such as Microsoft Office or Google Sheets.

You may have experience of using a CRM platform, or data analysis tools.

Your specific areas of knowledge may or may not be relevant to each position you apply for, but they do at least show that you are capable of learning and using a wide range of software solutions.

List any and all relevant work experience

Experience is so important when it comes to securing a data entry position.

So be sure to list all the experience you’ve obtained.

Don’t just list your long-term permanent positions, think back to any data entry work you’ve completed.

It could be volunteer work for a charity, or perhaps you created a database for a personal hobby or to help out a friend or relative with a small business.

It all counts, regardless of whether or not the work was paid or how long it took. It’s all experience, and it all looks great on your resume.

Keep it concise

Long resumes are often disregarded, simply because someone can’t be bothered to read it all to pick out the key points.

If the first page of your resume doesn’t get beyond your contact details, your educational qualifications, and some blurb about your hobbies and interests, then it’s quite possible that no one will even turn the page and see the wealth of industry-relevant experience you have.

Keep it short and keep it to the point.

Don’t go too far off-topic

When you’re adding points to your resume, ask yourself “Is it relevant?.”

Many people add a little background information to their resume. This can be a nice touch. It gives the potential employer a little insight into the person behind the qualifications and experience, but it’s important not to take this too far.

Don’t waste valuable resume space on information that is not beneficial.

Tell a potential employer that you are an avid mountaineer, and you volunteer at a homeless shelter can make you stand out and highlight that you’re both active and caring.

Telling them the name of your wife and the ages of your children is just not important at this stage.

It doesn’t add anything to your resume. 

Stick to the truth

When you really want a particular job, it can be tempting to exaggerate your skills, but this can so often backfire.

If you stick to the truth, then you can’t go wrong.

Of course, you don’t need to disclose everything. For example, if you once failed a course and had to retake it, no one needs to know that.

But don’t add qualifications to your resume that you don’t actually have or profess to have experience of particular software that you haven’t ever used.

One common exaggeration is typing speed. Just be honest. Even if your resume gets you through to the next level, you could well be tested at the interview stage and if you’ve said you type at 90wpm with 100% accuracy, it will soon become apparent that this was a fabrication, and the job may go to someone who was honest about their typing speed in the first place.

One tip we have is that it is still desirable to list certifications that you are currently studying towards. So although you might not have your data entry certification, you can always enroll in a certification such as those offered here at the Data Entry Institute, then add onto your resume “Currently studying towards my data entry certification from the Data Entry Institute”.

Although you haven’t finished the course, it shows self-motivation and enthusiasm towards excelling in this career.

Proofread and get a second opinion

Now this is by far our most important tip.

A perfectly written resume is incredibly important when you’re applying for any job, but when it’s a data entry position you’re going for, it is vital.

One tiny mistake could result in your application being instantly tossed in the bin.

An employer is looking to hire someone with impeccable attention to detail and advanced spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.

If you have an error on your resume, you’ve failed before you’ve even begun.

So read it over a dozen times, run your spellchecker, and give your resume to someone else to take a look at, preferably several people.

You could even hire a professional proofreader to check it out for you. If it gets you the job, it will have been money well spent.

Data Entry Resume Examples

We provide many data entry resume examples and sample as part of our free downloads on our data entry resources page. Head there to get the latest versions and downloads.

Your data entry resume should be split into some key sections:

• Your contact details
• Professional Summary
• List of your skills
• Your Professional Experience (see notes below on entry-level roles, or what to do if you have no experience)
• education
• Certifications
• References

For the contact details section, all you need is your full name, address, phone number, and email address

Your professional summary should be about 3 to 4 sentences giving a very brief overview of your career and education. An example professional summary is “I am a highly organized and detail-oriented Data Entry Clerk with over 5 years of experience in accurately inputting, managing, and maintaining data. I’m proficient in various data management systems and software. I thrive when multitasking and delivering high-quality work within tight deadlines.“

For the professional experience section list each relevant role you’ve had previously, the company the role was at, and the start and end dates (e.g ABC Corporation, Anytown, USA, January 2019 – Present). Then, in bullet point form, list your achievements while in this role. Some sample achievements could be:

• Inputed, update, and maintained data in the company database with a high degree of accuracy.
• Verified and corrected data discrepancies.
• Managed and organized a large volume of data files.
• Generated reports and performed data analysis as required.
• Collaborated with team members to ensure efficient and accurate data processing.
• Assisted with special projects and assignments as needed.
• Provided administrative support to other departments as required.

After your professional experience section we have two simple sections: Education and Certifications. List your relevant history here, including your data entry certification. As noted previously, if you have just signed up for the data entry certification course we offer, still add it to your resume! Simply write “Currently studying towards my data entry certification from the Data Entry Institute”.

For the final References section, you can either add two names of previous employers and their phone numbers, or write “Available upon request.”.

Writing a Data Entry Resume With No Experience

When you have no experience in data entry, but still need to apply for jobs, things can get challenging.

But, that’s not to say you can’t get a data entry job. Everyone starts somewhere.

To start with, we have a free data entry resume sample designed for people with no experience in our resources section – go and grab that.

You can still create a compelling resume by highlighting your relevant skills, education, and any transferable experience you have. Here’s how you can structure your resume:

• Your contact details
• Professional Summary
• List of your skills
• Education
• Relevant Coursework or Projects
• Volunteer Experience
• Internships (if applicable)
• Certifications
• References

You’ll see we added the coursework or projects section:

• Coursework: List any relevant coursework, such as computer science, information technology, or business administration.
• Projects: Describe any school or personal projects that involved data entry, data management, or using computer software.

For the Volunteer Experience section you can add experience such as:

• Assisted with administrative tasks, including data entry and record keeping.
• Managed and organized digital files and documents.
• Collaborated with team members to ensure accurate and efficient data processing.

And for the Internships section you could add notes such as:

• Gained experience in data entry by assisting with various administrative tasks.
• Utilized Microsoft Excel to manage and analyze data.
• Learned the importance of accuracy and attention to detail in data management.

You’ll note that a lot of this can be achieved without an actual prior career in data entry. Coursework experience can come from any online or in person course you have taken in the past. As part of the assignments in our Professional Data Entry Course we ask you to do some hands-on data entry work, which you can use as experience!

Specific Tips for Entry Level Data Entry Resumes

As an entry level candidate, you might wonder how to stand out in a field where experience often seems like the primary qualifier.

Fortunately, there are specific strategies you can use to create a resume that highlights your strengths, even if you lack direct experience in data entry.

From emphasizing your typing speed and software proficiency to leveraging transferable skills and volunteer experience, these tips will help you build a resume that catches the eye of potential employers…

Highlight Your Typing Speed and Accuracy

Clearly state your words per minute (WPM) typing speed and accuracy percentage. Employers value fast and accurate typists in data entry roles. Check your WPM on one of the many free typing test websites.

Emphasize Software Proficiency

Highlight your proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Access) and any data entry or database management software.

Showcase Attention to Detail

Emphasize your ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail in all tasks. Mention any experience where meticulous attention to detail was crucial.

Include Relevant Coursework or Certifications

List any coursework related to data management, information technology, or business administration. Include certifications like Certified Data Entry Expert (CDEE).

Leverage Transferable Skills

Mention skills such as organization, time management, problem-solving, and confidentiality, which are valuable in data entry roles.

Add Volunteer or Internship Experience

Include any volunteer work or internships where you performed administrative tasks, managed data, or used relevant software. Describe your responsibilities and achievements.

Quantify Your Achievements

Where possible, quantify your achievements (e.g., “Entered 100 records per day with 99% accuracy”). This provides concrete evidence of your capabilities.

Create a Professional Summary

Write a brief professional summary at the top of your resume that highlights your enthusiasm, skills, and what you can bring to the role.

Use Keywords from the Job Description

Use keywords and phrases from the job description. This helps your resume pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and shows that you are a good fit for the position.

Proofread Thoroughly

Proofread your resume multiple times to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Consider asking someone else to review it as well. Attention to detail is critical in data entry.