If you’ve ever filled out a customer comment card at a store or a restaurant, there’s a good chance that a data entry clerk somewhere in the world was paid to read your submission and enter your responses into a database or spreadsheet so it could be shared electronically. Think it’s something you could do? Keep reading, because it’s a job that many companies are hiring for right now and the best part: Most people who do data entry work from home.
What do data entry work-from-home jobs entail?
If you look at the job descriptions of data entry positions, such as data entry clerks, data entry specialists, data entry operators, data transcribers and data collections operators, they all seem very similar. All four require candidates to type information — like meeting notes, phone call transcriptions or survey responses — into various data repositories such as databases, spreadsheets and documents.
What skills do I need for work-from-home data entry jobs?
You need to be able to use a computer and have good typing skills. The faster you can type, the more data entry work you will get done — and the more money you’ll make. You’ll also need good multitasking skills since you may be working on a number of different projects at once.
Margaret Lilani, VP of talent solutions at freelance site Upwork, says there are a few other skills that can help you succeed, such as organizational skills, time management, problem solving and communication, and it’s a job that requires you to keep evolving and learning.
“As with most professional skills, practice is important. Data entry is reliant on speed and accuracy of typing. Professionals should look to familiarize themselves with software, whether it be Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets or other database management systems. Upskilling [expanding your skill set, say, by taking classes or watching educational YouTube videos] is also important, especially as tech continues to change.
How do I find work-from-home data entry jobs?
You can give yourself a better chance of finding a legitimate job by sticking with reputable, established job posting and freelance sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, Fiverr and Upwork. Facebook postings and jobs you find on Nextdoor.com may not be the best job sources since there’s no barriers to entry or costs for posting on these sites.
How much money can I make doing data entry from home?
According to job site Indeed.com, the average pay for data entry work is $17.86 per hour (work 40 hours a week and that’s more than $37,000 a year). While the range for data entry work goes up to as high as $26.89 per hour (nearly $56,000 a year if you work 40 hours a week!), people who make big money doing data entry typically have experience and specialized skills under their belt, says Lilani.
“Data entry tasks can range from simple to complex and usually involve typing text, entering numerical data, coding information and categorizing data,” she says. “The amount of money a professional can make per job is dependent on what that particular task is. And often more experience, more time on the platform or higher qualifications allow a freelancer to set a higher rate for their work. You’ll see on our platform that data entry specialists on Upwork charge a wide range of rates, with some making more than $50 an hour.”
Red flags when searching for a work-from-home data entry job
Experts say there are some red flags that you should watch out for when looking for a remote data entry position. First, be very skeptical if the job post says you’re going to make “$100,000 a year right from the start.”
You’ll want to make sure that any employers are legitimate. Ads and emails that have misspellings or poor grammar, a lack of formality (you can’t just start working without going through an onboarding process) and any requests for money should set off warning bells, says Scott Blumsack, chief strategy officer at career site Monster.com.
“As with all job listings, candidates should do their due diligence in researching companies and job listings they are interested in to ensure the position they are pursuing is legitimate,” he says.
How to vet a work-from-home data entry job
Blumsack explains that some key question to ask, particularly with work-from-home listings, include:
Does it really seem like the job can be done in a completely remote setting?
Is there an office or contact you can reach easily if needed?
How is training conducted, and what are the tools needed for the position?
Are necessary tools, products or software provided by the company or are you expected to purchase them?
Amber Clayton, senior director of Knowledge Center Operations for the Society of Human Resources Management recommends doing some detective work and researching the job poster and the company they are hiring for as a precaution.
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