Data Entry Career
Information and Job Description
The amount of info organizations must process is continually
increasing. Data entry and information processing workers work
to make sure that information is handled smoothly and
efficiently. These workers allow organizations to keep pace with
continuous and frequent changes representative of the
“Information Age” by typing text, keying in data, operating a
variety of office machines, and carrying out other clerical
duties. Besides the aforementioned jobs held by word processors,
typists, and data entry keyers, workers also carry the title of
electronic data processors, keypunch technicians, and
transcribers.
Word processors and typists normally prepare reports, letters,
mailing labels, and other textual material. Typists make prepare
neat, typed copies of materials authored by other clerical,
professional, or managerial workers. Typists work as entry level
employees, and perform routine tasks like typing headings on
form letters, addressing envelopes, or preparing standard forms
using typewriters or computers. As experience is gained, they
take on more complicated assignments which involve more
independent judgment and more accuracy. Senior typists might
work with extremely technical material, plan and type complex
statistical tables, join and rearrange materials from various
sources, or prepare master copies.
The majority of keyboarding work is performed on word processing
equipment—typically a personal computer or part of a larger
computer system—which has a keyboard, video display monitor, and
printer, which might have “add-on” abilities like optical
character recognition readers. Such equipment is utilized by
word processors in recording, editing, storing, and revising
letters, reports, memos, statistical tables, forms and various
other printed materials. Although this is not as common as it
used to be, some employees work on word processing teams which
carry out transcription and typing responsibilities for many
different departments within the organization.
Word processors and typists might also take on other duties like
taking phone calls, filing, or running copy machines. The job
title of the employees will differ according to the
responsibilities they take on. For instance, a clerk typist will
type, file, sort mail, and answer the phones. Note readers are
responsible for transcribing stenotyped notes of events into
standard forms.
Data entry keyers normally key in lists of items, numbers, or
other data into PC’s or they might finish forms found on the
monitor. They might have to manipulate current data, edit
existing information, or proofread new data entered into the
database to ensure it is accurate. Some examples of data sources
include customers’ personal information, medical records, and
membership lists. Usually, this information is used internally
by a company and may be reformatted before other departments or
customers utilize it.
Keyers use various types of equipment to enter data. Many use a
machine that converts the information they type to magnetic
impulses on tapes or disks for entry into a computer system.
They might work on the preparation of document that must be
printed or published by utilizing data entry composing devices.
A few keyers run online terminals or personal computers. Data
entry keyers are beginning to work more and more with non
keyboard forms of data entry, like scanners or electronically
transmitted files and documents. When new character recognition
systems are being utilized, data entry keyers frequently only
input data that can’t be read by machines. In other firms,
keyers might also run computer peripheral equipment like
printers or tape readers, serve as tape librarians, or carry out
additional clerical tasks.
Career Training and Job Qualifications
Typically high school graduates who have met certain keyboarding
speed standards are hired by companies. More commonly companies
are looking for potential employees that have been trained in
work processing or data entry or have some experience in those
areas. One should be skilled in spelling, punctuation, and
grammar and be familiar with normal office equipment and
procedures.
High schools, community colleges, business schools, temporary
help agencies, or self-teaching aids such as books, tapes, and
internet tutorials can aid in teaching applicants the skills
needed for an occupation in keyboarding such as word processing,
spreadsheet, and database management computer software packages.
For a lot of applicants, employment as data entry and
information processor is their first job coming out high school.
Work in this area can help launch a career into better paying
occupations with added responsibilities. Big firms and
government agencies normally have programs to train employees
and empower them to enhance their skill set and achieve
promotions. Data entry and information processors routinely move
to better administrative positions like secretary,
administrative assistant, or statistical clerk or might become a
supervisor in the word processing or data entry center.
Data Entry and Information Processing Jobs
and Employment Opportunities
Through 2012, total employment of data entry and information
processing workers is expected to fall. However, many openings
will be created each year as workers leave the work force or
transfer to new occupations. Favorable opportunities will exist
for those who have good technical capabilities, specifically
experience with related software programs. To avoid becoming
obsolete, data entry and information processing workers must
constantly enhance their skills. Although data entry and
information processors employment growth rate is sensitive to
improve productivity resulting form organizational restructuring
and the use of new technologies, expected growth varies among
these employees. Employment of word processors and typists is
projected to fall as a result of the increase in PC’s which
enable other employees to carry out work previously done by word
processors and typists. For instance, the majority of
professionals and managers utilize PC’s to perform their own
word processing. However, since technologies relating to data
entry keyers tend to be more expensive to implement, employment
of such employees will decrease less than word processors and
typists.
Employment growth rate seen by data entry keyers will still be
tempered by improved productivity as a variety of new
data-capturing innovations, like bar code scanners, voice
recognition systems, and complicated character recognition
readers become more popular. Such innovations can be utilized in
an array of different business operations, including inventory
tracking, invoicing, and order placement. Additionally, as
telecommunications systems improve and advance, companies will
be able benefit form networks which transmit data
electronically. Using such networks will facilitate the
automatic input of more data into the computers, meaning there
will be less of a need for data entry keyers.
Beyond improvements in technology, employment of data entry and
information processing employees will be harmed by the trend of
businesses contracting out their work. In some cases, companies
have completely eliminated in house positions and turned to
temporary employment services to fulfill their needs. A few
bigger data entry and information processing companies are
employing more foreign workers outside the U.S. at cheaper
rates. As international trade barriers are reduced and
telecommunications technology continues to advance, this shift
of work will result in limited demand for data entry keyers.
Historical Earnings Information
In 2002, the average annual wages of word processors and typists
were $26,730. The middle 50 percent made anywhere from $21,540
to $32,950. The bottom 10 percent made less than $17,750, while
the top 10 percent made upwards of $40,450 a year. As always,
salaries of these workers differ according to the industry and
geographic location.
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