Keyboarding Speed Increases Productivity

Why would an employer care about keyboarding speed and accuracy? Time is money! You get more done the faster you can type on a keyboard.

More than two decades ago, I took my first typing class on a typewriter in high school. This experience paved the way for me to take several computer keyboarding classes in college. My mission—increase my speed and accuracy so that my keyboarding speed would be one of my greatest assets to an employer!

In today’s computerized world, administrative professionals are responsible for creating documents, editing documents, taking minutes, filling out online forms, taking notes and dictation, responding to emails, and creating emails. My day-to-day responsibilities are filled with tasks to complete from a computer, tablet, or cell phone. I am not just responsible for my emails.   I’m also responsible for my executive’s emails.

As an administrative professional, you want your skills to stand out and not be equal to others applying for the same position. Years ago I sat down and made a list of what experience, education, certifications, and skills I could acquire that would help my resume stand out from other resumes. I came up with a list by reading job descriptions for higher paying administrative professional positions. Developing new skills and advancing current skills will allow you to be more competitive when looking for work and be in a better position to negotiate a higher salary.

Keyboarding speed and accuracy is a skill that offers a direct cost savings to the employer and allows for higher productivity in the workplace. Keyboarding is not just a skill for administrative professionals, but a skill that nearly everyone can develop and improve upon.

There is great value in taking a keyboarding class. My keyboarding teachers (Dorothy, Susan, and Dana) introduced me to technique, posture, fingering and reaching drills, typing tests, and document formatting. I will be forever grateful to these three women who helped me develop my keyboarding skill.

If your keyboarding speed isn’t where you would like it to be, consider taking an online or college keyboarding class today to improve your speed and accuracy. The number of words you type per minute once placed on your resume can be impressive to a potential employer!