So you’d like to work in data entry? You’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover everything you need to know to put you on the right track to a rewarding career in data entry…
Are you suited to data entry work?
Perhaps the first thing to consider, is whether or not you’re the right fit for data entry.
There’s no point in pursuing a career in data entry if it’s not the right match for your skills or personality.
There are plenty of other options out there, and data entry certainly isn’t for everyone.
Can you answer yes to the majority of these questions?
If so, you could be well suited to data entry. If not, perhaps you should be looking at some different options for your next job.
- Are you confident using a computer and commonly used software?
- Do you have good typing skills?
- Are you happy working alone?
- Do you have good time management skills?
- Are you self-motivated?
- Can you cope with repetitive tasks?
- Do you have a great eye for detail?
The benefits of data entry
If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to most of the above questions, then data entry is certainly a career worth looking into.
Data entry is easily accessible as most positions in the industry do not require specific qualifications or advanced skills… but a data entry certification will fast-track your career and help you get a foot in the door.
Many data entry jobs can be completed remotely at home, and the hours are often flexible, making it a great job to fit around other commitments, or to take on as a second job to boost your income.
While each task you undertake may be repetitive, on the whole, the work tends to be varied and can be very rewarding.
A competitive industry
However, it’s also worth bearing in mind that the benefits we’ve outlined above do make data entry work very attractive to a wide range of people, and so competition for these positions can be high.
You’ll need to make sure your resume and cover letter are outstanding, and it will be very helpful to have some relevant skills and experience under your belt.
So let’s take a look at how to have the best chance of scoring your dream data entry job…
Fine-tune your typing skills
While all data entry jobs will differ in some way, some abilities will be beneficial to many tasks, and being a fast, and accurate typist is certainly one of these vital data entry skills.
Being able to type quickly will help you to meet deadlines, and if you are paid per task, rather than per hour, you’ll be able to earn more.
However, being able to type quickly will not bring you success in the data entry industry if you are making errors because you’re hurrying!
Accuracy in data entry is paramount. One single slip of the finger, and you could record an important telephone number incorrectly, or change the amount of money a customer owes to a business. Small mistakes can have huge consequences in the world of data entry.
So it’s very important to increase your typing speed, while also maintaining a high level of accuracy.
You’ll find plenty of online tutorials and tests to help you calculate your current speed and accuracy scores, and then you can work on improving them.
The more you type, the better you’ll get, so this is an easy skill to improve in your spare time.
Become familiar with data entry software
Most businesses don’t want to reinvent the wheel, they usually won’t want to spend a fortune developing their own software, so they will utilize what is already on the market.
This means that you can make a good guess at the types of software you’ll be asked to use when working in data entry.
Get a head start by familiarizing yourself with all the most commonly used software such as popular spreadsheets, databases and word processing programs such as those offered by Microsoft and Google.
This will enable you to dive straight into the work when you secure a data entry position, without having to learn anything new.
Get experience
Employers don’t like to waste time on training or having to explain things over and over again.
If you can show you have previous data entry experience, you’re proving you’re capable of fulfilling your role in this industry.
Data entry work often needs to be completed quickly, and sometimes at short notice. If your potential employer believes you’ll be quick off the mark, you could gain the job over someone who has not worked in this field before.
If you don’t have any prior data entry experience, you shouldn’t find it too hard to find some work in this area if you’re not too particular about what you do, the pay rate and the length of the contract.
Remember, you’re doing this to add to your resume, anything else is a bonus.
Try looking for short-term work that will have less applicants, or volunteer your data entry services to local small businesses or charitable organizations. Just a few hours of work could make all the difference to your resume.
Be on the ball with your applications
Don’t sleep on your applications. If you see a job you fancy, apply for it immediately.
A lot of data entry jobs are short-term and urgent. Data entry employers often require someone quickly, who can get started right away.
If you wait, the job could well have gone to someone else.
So have a good resume at the ready, and put your application in ASAP.
It certainly pays to set up alerts on the job sites you’re registered with or check the listings regularly.
Send out the perfect resume and cover letter
Data entry jobs typically get a lot of applicants.
When there are hundreds of other people after the job you want, you need to make sure you don’t hinder your chances with mistakes in your resume or cover letter.
A tailored cover letter will improve your chances, and make sure it’s not too wordy, yet still highlights all your relevant skills and experience.
It’s also vital that there are no mistakes at all, in either your resume or the accompanying cover letter.
As we’ve already mentioned, attention to detail and accuracy are imperative for data entry work, and so even the tiniest error in your resume could mean the difference between securing the position and rejection.
Double and triple-check everything you send, and have someone else read over it too. A fresh pair of eyes can often pick out small problems you’ve overlooked.
