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A question about data entry skills-sm - OlderMT

Posted: Mar 26, 2012

I am looking for work as an Mt and not having any luck. Today, I searched the job service board and found a cool job. It is an IC position with flexible hours and very good pay. It is collecting data for the county/township and entering it into a lap top. They want you to be ableto enter 7000 or more strokes per hour. I meet all the qualifications except this which, of course, is "key" to the job. I know nothing of data entry but I hate to pass on the opportunity. Am I being realistic to think that they would look at me as a possible candidate? Would an experienced MT be able to transition to data entry or is it a totally different ballgame? Thanks.

A question about data entry skills - greyhound mom

[ In Reply To ..]
What have you go to lose. If you don't apply, you may be kicking yourself later on. Data entry is easy. I have done it before. Most of the time, you just enter information into little boxes. If you decide to go for the job and change your mind somewhere along the way, you can always tell them you changed your mind. It may be boring to some people. Good luck. Let us know what happens.

7000 keystrokes in one hour is not much - sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
I did a 3.5 page NP report yesterday that was over 12,000 characters/ keystrokes, granted some of that is with an expander, it took about 45 mins to do (it was 17 minutes long/194 lines). So I would not sweat over 7000. Depending on the data entry it may be super easy, or may take a week or two to get up to speed it if is a bunch of little tasks being entered and not one big thing. I would apply, as the above poster said you have nothing to lose by trying. I would think being an MT would be an advantage, not a disadvantage. Good luck.

7000 keystrokes = 107 lines - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You should be able to do that easily, very easily in fact.

Data entry is simply that - you copy stuff into the program. It's pretty mindless. Apply. Sounds like cake.

What data entry is and why you qualify - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
What do you mean you know nothing of data entry? It is typing . . . parrot typing, to be exact. You just type information ("data") into a computer. If the patient is John Smith, you type that into where the name goes. Same for all the rest of the info. You just type it where it goes.

This requires no specialized education or even particular skill. It is not usually done at breathtaking speeds, which makes sense when you stop to think that it is not highly skilled work. They may want someone with "experience," but I think you qualify--MT is basically a very intense form of data entry. Lots more skill required for MT and a higher requirement for accuracy.

The only question to my mind would be the software. Whether it is a Excel or Access, you can learn to use them in a few minutes. You will only need to enter data into it, not write the application itself.

Collecting data may involve talking to people. Emphasize your skill in understanding spoken data, even that spoken by ESLs. If it is medical data, you are all set.

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