Data entry is a broad term that refers to any occupation that involves entering data into electronic forms. This may include transcription, electronic data processing, and many other tasks. However, while different data entry jobs may have different areas of primary focus, the basic skills required remain the same. Here are 5 core skills for every data entry specialist.
1. Typing
No matter what your specific role, data entry specialists must be able to input a great deal of data very quickly. You’ll need to type at least 50 words per minute for most jobs, while some employers require a typing speed of 70 words per minute.
2. Software Expertise
To be successful in data entry, you should be comfortable with a variety of word processing, spreadsheet, and database tools. You should also be able to learn new systems quickly, as many companies use proprietary software packages.
3. Research and Data Collection
Although research is not a core part of most data entry specialists’ job duties, you may be expected to do some preliminary research and data collection. Depending on where you work, this could vary from market research to gathering the results of scientific experiments. This means that you should understand where to find relevant data, how to analyze it, and how to compile it.
4. Organization and Time Management
A good data entry specialist has expert level time management skills, easily planning, prioritizing, and achieving each day’s work goals. It’s also very important to keep the data organized throughout each step, from collection through input and analysis. Disorganized data is useless, and it could cause all sorts of problems for your employer.
5. Attention to Detail
As a data entry specialist, you’ll be expected to strongly focus on your tasks and strive to minimize errors. Attention to detail, including the ability to spot datasets that don’t look right and diagnose the problems with them, is key.
Data entry specialists work across many different fields. But they all share some common skills. Focus on the abilities detailed above, and you will be primed for success.
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