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Data Entry

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Data Entry

Data Entry Career Details

Data entry clerks are responsible for updating, maintaining and retrieving information held on computer systems. They also work with information which is being transferred from paper-based records onto computerised systems. Examples of work include: entering personal details of new sales clients; entering details of adverts on a classified page in a newspaper; and transferring paper-based survey results for a market research company.

Information entered onto a computer system can be text or numerical, and is normally held on spreadsheets or databases. The software packages used may be generic, or they could be specially designed for a company's specific requirements.

Data entry clerks are employed across a range of sectors, including sales and marketing, banking, medical administration and education. The role is often combined with the job of customer service assistant and call centre operator. For details about these roles, see these profiles in the Retail Sales and Customer Service family.

Working Environment

Data entry clerks work full- and part-time, with more and more companies offering flexible working patterns. Full-time posts are normally 35-40 hours a week. Some companies operate shift systems.

The job is normally office-based.

Data Entry Related Skills

As a data entry clerk, you should:
  • be computer literate
  • be able to work to deadlines
  • be able to work on own your initiative
  • have good numeracy and literacy skills
  • be aware of data confidentiality issues
  • be able to work quickly, accurately and pay attention to detail
  • be aware of health and safety issues around long-term computer use.
Where roles are part of a customer service job, additional attributes such as telephony skills will be required.

Data Entry Career Opportunities

Employment prospects are very good as many companies rely on computerised information storage and retrieval systems.

With experience, you may be able to move into a supervisory position, overseeing a team of clerks. There may be opportunities to train and mentor new recruits in the particular data entry systems being used.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Data Entry related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Data Entry? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Data Entry? Take a look at Training Data Entry courses, Adult learning Data Entry courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.