How to Become a Data Entry Specialist
Many organizations require a huge amount of data to be organized and stored digitally. This is where the data collection specialists come in. The data collection professionals are responsible for converting data into a digital format to ensure smooth and efficient information processing.
In this article, we have covered all aspects of the career path so that you can learn more about the professional role. Let’s take a look.
Why Choose a Career in Data Entry?
Data collection is not a new profession and has been around for a long time. However, as the demands of more and more companies to digitize data have increased, so has the demand for the job role. The gig economy boom and increasing corporate outsourcing of back office jobs have contributed to increased job opportunities in the data entry industry.
Data entry professionals work in the administration department of organizations and have little to no customer-facing situations, making them one of the best career options for introverts. In addition to the freedom to work independently, you are free to choose your working hours by choosing to work full-time, part-time or as a freelancer. So you can work internally for the organization or in the comfort of your own home.
In addition, entering the data entry industry is not difficult and does not require high qualifications or extensive training. Nonetheless, being a data entry specialist will open the doors for you to work in various industries including healthcare, IT, banking & finance, logistics and more.
What does a data collection specialist do?
As previously mentioned, data entry specialists are responsible for entering data in a digital format into a database or dataset using applications. Also, there’s more to the part than just entering the data. The job also involves transforming raw input data into valuable information using various methods including calculations, sorting and more.
The following are the duties of a data entry specialist:
- Gathering information to enter.
- Ensuring the accuracy of the data.
- Organize and maintain data in documents or spreadsheets.
- Keep the data current and error-free.
- Storage of a data backup.
- Generate reports based on collected data for information analysis.
- Ensuring data integrity and security.
In addition, your responsibilities depend on the organization you work for. In large organizations, you may need to perform simple data entry operations and handle the rest of the tasks like gathering information and creating reports for the team.
On the other hand, work for startups and medium-sized organizations can require working on everything from gathering information to entering data to creating information analytics.
Salary of a data collection specialist
As a data collection specialist, you can be paid in a variety of ways depending on the nature of your job. If you are a full-time data entry specialist, you will receive a fixed monthly salary. Conversely, if you choose to work part-time or freelance, you may be paid per word, words typed per minute, or hours invested in a specific project, depending on the client.
According to Payscale, the average salary for a data entry specialist is approximately $40,157 per year, or $15.92 per hour. In addition, most organizations pay by the speed and accuracy of input. The higher your data entry speed and accuracy, the more you will be paid.
How to get a data entry specialist job
Being a data entry specialist comes with many benefits, including the freedom to work from anywhere and flexible working hours. Additionally, the job is a great career choice for making a decent amount of money and is less stressful due to its lower complexity compared to other professions today.
If this sounds like a career path you might want to pursue, here are some tips to help you land a data entry specialist job:
1. Pursue an education
As a rule, the job does not require higher qualifications. Most employers look for a high school diploma or equivalent for the position. However, some large organizations may prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree.
2. Improve your typing skills
As a data entry specialist, your main part of your role is to enter data into a computer. You need good typing speed with more attention to detail and accuracy. Try these best websites to learn or practice faster touch typing on computers. It would be best if you could attain a typing speed of at least 35 words per minute for the professional role.
Additionally, you can improve your written communication skills to succeed in the industry. Practice grammar with the best English grammar apps to improve your language skills.
3. Gain expertise in Microsoft Excel
As a data entry professional, you spend most of your time storing data in spreadsheets and documents. Most employers are looking for candidates who are proficient with Microsoft Excel. Online courses allow you to easily learn the skills required for any job. We’ve put together some free Excel training sites and courses to help you become a spreadsheet master.
Additionally, brushing up on your Microsoft Office skills will help you advance in your professional role in the industry. Here are some online tutorials, videos, and courses to help you learn Microsoft Office.
4. Get an internship or part-time job for industry experience
Finally, gain hands-on experience as a data entry specialist by applying for jobs and internships. You can apply for part-time jobs or freelance work during your apprenticeship. Here are some of the best job search websites to apply for data entry jobs whether full time or part time.
In addition, it is important to note that the data entry industry is full of job scams. It is important to research the company you are applying to and make sure it is a genuine employer.
Discover a new career path as a Data Entry Specialist
There are many benefits to being a data entry specialist and it is an easy career path. You can choose whether you want to work full-time or according to your time flexibility.
While you can focus on your education or career choice, you can earn extra income by pursuing a part-time data entry job. Improve your typing skills and educate yourself with online courses to increase your earning potential in the industry.