WHAT IS TYPING WORTH?
The answer to this questions is how fast you can type, what you’re typing, and what else you do besides typing. Basic typing would be considered ‘data entry’ and this is considered an entry level skill level. You won’t make much money by just copying something and typing it into a computer system.
However, if you can add just a few extra skills to your typing skills, you can double or triple your salary.
HOW TO QUICKLY UPGRADE YOUR TYPING TO AN ADVANCED SKILL:
One rank up from data entry is secretarial. So if you can develop telephone
skills and a workable message system, you can move into a secretarial job with very little additional education. This would require the ability to take messages, keep a running log of them, and deliver them to whoever needs to receive them.
Often there could be an additional task or two that you will need to perform based on whatever business you enter, but it’s nothing that you will need extra training for.
Once you have experience in secretarial, you can climb up to administrative assistant and even up to legal assistant and that is where you will double and/or triple your salary.
FOUR OF THE MAIN JOB AREAS WHERE TYPING IS A STAPLE:
1. Data Entry:
- Accurately entering and updating data into databases and information systems
- Maintaining data quality and consistency (checking errors)
- Verifying and correcting data errors
- Following data entry procedures and guidelines. Each office has their own procedures,
- Working efficiently to meet deadlines. For this you will need a good tickler system.
- May involve using specific data entry software such as Word or Google Sheets, or even one unique to the business you will be working with
2. Secretarial:
- Providing scheduling and calendar management for executives or teams
- Answering phones, taking messages, and directing calls
- Composing and formatting business letters, emails, and reports. Often this will entail listening to audiotapes and typing from them.
- Proofreading and editing documents
- Managing travel arrangements — nothing you can’t learn from watching about 10 YouTube videos
- Preparing presentations and meeting materials. This could entail using PowerPoint or some other software. This would not be expected in an entry level position.
- Maintaining office supplies and equipment.
3. Administrative Assistant:
- Providing general administrative support to a department or executive. Be sure to see my next blog post about analyzing the job you just got!
- Managing calendars and scheduling appointments.
- Composing and formatting business documents
- Answering phones and emails
- Organizing and maintaining filing systems
- Preparing presentations and meeting materials
- Booking travel and making arrangements
- Performing research and compiling reports
- May involve social media management or light bookkeeping tasks
4. Legal Assistant:
Assisting lawyers with legal research and case preparation. This would require a bit of additional study from an administrative job, but nothing you can’t self-study.- Drafting legal documents (e.g., motions, letters, pleadings)
- Managing and organizing legal files and documents
- Scheduling appointments and meetings with clients and attorneys
- Communicating with clients and court personnel
- Preparing legal correspondence
- Maintaining confidentiality of client information
- May involve legal research databases and online court filing systems
QUICKEST UPGRADE IN A TESTING FIELD:
You can test out your a new position by becoming a ‘virtual assistant’ on Fiverr.com. This way you can test out and get basic experience in doing many of the tasks you will need to do in a secretarial and/or administrative assistant job.