While significantly challenging, administrative work is also very rewarding. This is perhaps why many people are delving into administrative job positions like data entry clerks.
In the US, over 157,380 individuals are employed as data entry keyers or clerks in 2022.
The demand for this position is still quite high, as many companies are always hiring for it, or outsourcing to agencies and freelancers.
What is a data entry clerk?
Data entry clerks work in a wide range of industries, often in entry-level positions supervised by a senior administrator or manager.
Some of the responsibilities of data entry clerks include entering and maintaining accurate and up-to-date information into computer systems.
They utilize data processing software and spreadsheets to input, review, and verify various types of data, such as customer information, purchase orders, invoices, and inventory records.
These individuals are also primarily responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the data being entered. They review the information provided, cross-check data for errors or discrepancies, and make necessary adjustments.
Attention to detail is thus a crucial requirement in this profession, as any inaccuracies can lead to significant consequences and affect the overall efficiency and productivity of an organization.
How to become a data entry clerk online
Working remotely allows data entry clerks to benefit from flexible schedules so long as they meet deadlines and deliver quality output.
This flexibility makes remote data entry clerk roles attractive to those seeking work-life balance or those with specific circumstances that make it difficult for them to work in an office setting.
However, to succeed in this remote profession, you must possess excellent organizational and time management skills. You need to be able to prioritize tasks, and manage workload, all while meeting deadlines without direct supervision.
Being self-motivated and disciplined is thus vital when working remotely, as remote workers often face more distractions.
This is especially true for data entry clerks, as their jobs require concentration to achieve precision.
How to become more effective as a data entry clerk
Here are a few tips to make your work easier:
Be familiar with industry-related jargon
Having a solid understanding of industry-specific terminologies plays a vital role in job performance.
You want to review any job or company-specific jargon, whether it be of software they use or specific terms and acronyms developed within the company.
These terms provide you with the necessary context to accurately interpret and process information, thus helping comprehend the meaning behind the data you’re handling, ensuring accuracy and facilitating seamless workflow.
This familiarization will also allow you to communicate effectively with other professionals in the industry, minimizing any misunderstandings and streamlining the data entry process.
Have a keen eye for detail
You do need strong attention to detail to maintain data accuracy. The slightest mistake, such as a typographical error or a misplaced decimal point, could have significant consequences.
Inaccurate data could lead to incorrect analyses, flawed decision-making, and potentially costly mistakes for companies.
Being more attentive to detail can come in the form of double or triple-checking any data entries and having a checklist of things to review before inputting certain data.
While this is a skill that cannot be mastered in a single sitting, being diligent with the work will build certain detail-specific habits naturally over time.
Practice your typing skills and speed
One of the factors that heavily impact the productivity of data entry clerks is their ability to type accurately and quickly. Increased speed saves valuable time and enables you to handle larger volumes of data within strict deadlines.
Of course, typing speed should not compensate for accuracy, which is exactly why practicing and enhancing the skill is necessary to balance the two.
Developing fundamental typing skills such as familiarity with the keyboard plus learning and applying for proper typing positions can make quite a difference.
This is a great hard skill to perfect. Timing drills are great to help you gauge your efficiency.
Setting up a PayPal account for your remote data entry clerk job?
Be sure to check out our article on PayPal jail and how you can avoid restricted access to your funds as a new account.
