In a fast-paced environment where resumes are often skimmed before being tossed aside, it is more necessary than ever to ensure yours is well-written and eye-catching. The data entry industry is no exception - in this highly competitive marketplace, writing a compelling resume that stands out from the crowd can be challenging.
In this article, you’ll find tips on creating an outstanding data entry resume even if you don’t have extensive experience and be noticed among hundreds of job seekers who are likely also vying for your dream job.
The Essential Components of a Data Entry Resume
Your data entry CV should be structured in a way that makes it look neat while presenting all the relevant information. You should apply the basics of writing a resume in general, but keep data entry in mind.
When applying for a data entry position, it’s important to tailor your resume to the specific job ad you’re responding to. This means highlighting the skills, experience, and accomplishments that make you the perfect candidate for the role.
These are the must-haves every data entry resume must have:
A Professional Summary
This is your chance to briefly introduce yourself and explain what you can bring to the table as a data entry specialist. The data entry resume summary is your chance to get the recruiter’s attention, so keep it short and to the point but packed with the key features that make you an excellent candidate.
Remember, not everyone has the same strong suit: Yours could be your education, experience, or an unexpected trait that makes you a good fit for the data entry role.
Personal Information
Include your name, email address, and phone number at the top of your CV. You can also add the link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one, especially if you don’t want to include your photo in your data entry resume.
Work Experience
List any data entry work experience and other relevant positions in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Include the names and locations of the previous employers and your job titles.
Hiring managers like to know what a candidate’s previous roles entailed, so your resume should also show the responsibilities and achievements in your previous positions. Write these in bullet points and keep them short.
Skills Section
Your future data entry responsibilities will require you to have certain data entry skills. Some essential hard skills you should include in your data operator resume, provided you have them, are 10-key speed, transcription, and technical skills related to specific data entry software, such as Microsoft Office. In addition, include any other skills that would be valued in any sector.
Not having data entry experience should not deter you from applying for a data entry job, though, as your soft skills may be even more important than hard skills for your data entry resume. Examples of soft skills desirable in this sector include:
- Attention to detail
- Ability to multitask and work under pressure
- Organizational skills
- Efficient time-management
- Research skills
- Communication skills
Education
Include the highest level of education attained. For instance, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you don’t need to list your high school education unless it’s relevant for the data entry job you’re applying for. Be sure to also list relevant coursework or certification related to data entry.
The Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Data Entry Resume
Now that you know what to include in the CV let’s take a look at a few dos and don’ts to help you polish your data entry clerk resume to perfection.
DO: Use Strong Action Verbs
When describing your skills and experience, use strong action verbs that show you actively participated in projects. However, keep in mind that some of these words and phrases, such as “managed” and “was responsible for,” are overused. Here are some alternatives you can use to best highlight your data entry experience:
- Applied
- Compiled
- Distributed
- Improved
- Performed
- Researched
- Typed
DON’T: Lie or Exaggerate About Your Skills or Experience
It goes without saying that you have to be honest on your resume. Not only is it the right thing to do, but lying or exaggerating can backfire, as you likely won’t be able to demonstrate those skills on the job.
Therefore, if you have no experience in data entry, you should write a beginner data entry resume and apply for entry-level data entry jobs. You will find an explanation of how to do this later in this article.
DO: Focus on Accomplishments, Not Just Duties
When listing your previous experience, focus on highlighting your key accomplishments rather than simply listing your job duties. For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for data entry,” you could say, “Successfully completed data entry for up to 1,000 records per day.”
DON’T: Include Irrelevant or Outdated Information
When writing your data entry CV, only include information relevant to the position you’re applying for. Anything else is just taking up valuable space on your resume, making it too crowded and difficult to read.
DO: Use Industry-Specific Language
If you’re applying for a data entry position in a specific industry, such as health care, retail, or finance, be sure to use industry-specific language and terminology in your data entry specialist resume. This will show that you’re familiar with the industry and the required data entry work.
DON’T: Use Unprofessional Language
When writing your data entry resume, avoid using unprofessional language. This includes colloquialisms, abbreviations, and acronyms that the reader might not immediately comprehend. Using more formal language will demonstrate that you’re a committed worker who will take the job seriously.
DO: Use Specific Data To Support Your Claims
When possible, use numbers and data to back up your claims. For example, if you claim to be a fast and accurate typist, consider including your typing speed and accuracy rate on your resume.
Typing speed is measured in keystrokes per hour (KPH) or words per minute (WPM). The average typing speed is 40 WPM, while anything around 70 WPM and above is impressive.
When it comes to accuracy when typing characters or words, a study by Raymond R. Panko has found that the average accuracy rate is 95% to 98%. Be sure to include your accuracy rate, especially if it’s above average.
DON’T: Include Personal Information That’s Not Relevant to the Job
Avoid including personal information on your resume for a data entry clerk that’s irrelevant to the job. This includes your age, marital status, political views, and religious affiliation. These factors don’t have any impact on your ability to do the data entry job.
Not only will you save space for more important information, but this will also prevent discrimination in the first stage of the hiring process, giving you a chance to demonstrate that you’re right for the job.
What To Do if You Have No Data Entry Experience
If you’re looking for a career change and have no data entry experience, you can still embellish your resume and make it appealing to recruiters. Keep in mind that it’s best to apply for entry-level jobs in this case.
So, what should an entry-level data entry resume look like? First, instead of the professional summary, you can write a resume objective for data entry. This brief statement outlines your data entry goals and what you hope to achieve in the role.
It’s also a good idea to focus on transferable skills. These skills are not specific to data entry but can be applied to any job.
Therefore, the jobs that helped you acquire such skills should be included in the work history section of your resume. For example, if you have experience working with numbers and had a job where you had to be fast and accurate when typing on the keyboard, be sure to highlight it in your resume.
Conclusion
Writing a compelling data entry resume is not as challenging as it may seem. Just remember to focus on highlighting your relevant skills and experience while excluding any information that would just take up space without offering any value.
With these tips in mind, you’re sure to create a resume that will impress recruiters and help you get hired for the data entry job that has caught your attention.
