Data entry

A data entry sometimes called a typist  is a member of staff employed to type data into a databse using a  keyboard,scanner , or data recorder. The keyboards used can often have specialist keys and multiple colours to help in the task and speed up the work. While requisite skills can vary depending on the nature of the data being entered, few specialized skills are usually required aside from touch typing proficiency with adequate speed and accuracy. The ability to focus for lengthy periods is necessary to eliminate or at least reduce errors. When dealing with sensitive or private information such as medical, financial or military records, a person's character and discretion becomes very relevant as well. Beyond these traits no technical knowledge is generally required and these jobs can even be worked from home.

For a mailing company, data entry clerks might be required to type in reference numbers for items of mail which had failed to reach their destination, so that the relevant addresses could be deleted from the database used to send the mail out. If the company was compiling a database from addresses handwritten on a quesnaris  the person typing those into the database would be a data entry clerk. In a cash office, a data entry clerk might be required to type expenses into a database using numerical codes.