All employees, from entry-level clerks to senior executives, organize and manage data as part of their jobs. This is why Microsoft Excel® is used by 99.99% of the world’s businesses and public sector organizations.
HR teams use data entry assessment tests to evaluate applicants’ ability to create spreadsheets, including formatting cells (e.g., changing fonts and numbers or changing alignments and borders), using formulas and math calculation functions, and creating reports.
So, when recruiters ask, “Should I use data entry tests for hiring?” we say, “Yes. Definitely!”Their next question is normally, “What is the best data entry assessment test?” The answer to this question is more difficult because organizations have different hiring needs. Read on to learn how to use data entry tests to improve hiring outcomes at your company.
How Can a Data Entry Typing Test Improve Business Performance?
Unsurprisingly, accurate typing and data entry skills are a priority for many hiring teams. If information is incorrect, productivity suffers. Inaccurate manufacturing specifications cost thousands in reworking costs and cause production and shipping delays. Incorrect sales orders are expensive to amend. Shipping documents with the wrong address and instructions delay deliveries and harm customer relationships.
HR teams use typing tests to measure applicants’ speed and accuracy and MS Excel® and data entry tests to evaluate their ability to create and manage spreadsheets. Many job seekers are told that if they learn Excel or improve their skills, they can increase their earning potential by approximately 12% and be qualified for more jobs and careers.
Which Industries Should Use Data Entry Speed Tests for Hiring?
Businesses in every industry should use Excel and data entry assessment tests to recruit top candidates. These are some companies that improved hiring outcomes when they implemented a skills testing solution and began using data entry tests:
Are There Industry-Specific Data Entry Tests Available?
Industries have different requirements. So, a standard typing, Excel, or data entry assessment test might not be the best solution in every case. Top assessment solutions provide clients with access to an assessment library with various Excel, data entry, and long and short typing tests for specific industry sectors, such as the following:
When we show HR leaders this list, they often ask, “How is A 10-key data entry test different than other data entry tests?” We explain that a 10-key data entry test helps hiring teams measure applicants’ speed and accuracy while they perform numerical data entry tasks. A speed score shows the number of keystrokes per hour, and an accuracy score indicates the number of correct fields.
Their next question is usually, “How can a 5-Minute Data Entry Typing Test Assess a Candidate’s Skills?” Recruiters use data entry typing tests to identify qualified candidates and evaluate employees’ average typing speed, keystrokes per minute, and typing accuracy when making promotion and staff development decisions.
Applicants must complete data entry assessment tests in a designated amount of time, such as one minute or five minutes. When they are finished, recruiters can review their results by reviewing three scores: Words per minute (WPM), Errors per minute, and Adjusted words per minute (the difference between WPM and errors).
Organizations also use data entry typing tests to help staff members improve their skills. Some employees must master typing and data entry skills to perform their jobs. Data entry tests help them improve muscle memory and touch-typing abilities (typing without looking at the keyboard).
How is a Keystrokes Per Hour Test Related to Data Entry Success?
Hiring teams use KPH tests to assess typing speed and efficiency and as part of a larger office skills assessment. KPH tests are used to evaluate progress over time or compare people’s typing speeds and typically include a series of words, phrases, or numbers that candidates must type as quickly and accurately as possible.
A timed keystrokes-per-hour (KPH) typing test measures how fast applicants can type. The objective is to see how many keystrokes the person makes in a specific time, which is valuable data for recruiters because adequate typing speed is an essential skill for many clerical and office jobs.
Many companies require applicants to have a minimum typing speed of 40 WPM before they consider them for a job. These are some examples of jobs that require fast and accurate typing and data entry.
What are Three Different Data Entry Skill Levels?
Data entry skill levels differ by company and industry and can be as simple as words typed per minute and how accurate they are. The three main data entry skills recruiters seek are speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Speed and accuracy are two critical skills for data entry staff. Inaccurate data causes more problems than necessitating corrections and rework. It prevents other employees from doing their work because they do not have accurate information. Everyone is human, and mistakes happen. However, minimizing errors and correcting them quickly is critical.
The third essential skill is attention to detail. Data entry operators must be able to type large volumes of material in a short amount of time with minimal typing errors. So, recruiters look for candidates who are focused and detail-oriented.
These are some other factors hiring teams evaluate depending on their industry and the job requirements.
What Are the Pros of Data Entry Assessment Tests?
Studies show that companies that use skill assessment tests in hiring have a 36% higher satisfaction rate with their hiring outcomes. These are some advantages companies see when using data entry assessment tests:
Expedite Applicant Screening
Reviewing hundreds of resumes is inefficient and costly. When applicants complete data entry tests, HR professionals can instantly see which candidates have the required skills and experience.
Customize Assessments
Companies have specific needs, and job requirements differ. Top assessment solutions allow HR leaders to customize existing data entry assessment tests or build their own by selecting questions from multiple skills tests.
Replicate Job Situations
The best way to verify applicants can do a job is to watch them do it. Top assessment solutions allow you to replicate realistic job situations. For example, if you are hiring a data entry operator, you can build an assessment with questions from the eSkill Data Entry Operator and Typing Tests and include Excel questions from the eSkill MS Office simulation.
Minimize Hiring Mistakes
Hiring mistakes are expensive and hurt productivity and staff morale. Using data entry tests helps HR teams minimize the risk of hiring mistakes because they can immediately identify qualified candidates and weed out those without the required experience.
What Are the Cons of Data Entry Assessment Tests?
Around 56% of businesses use skill assessment tests to evaluate job applicants’ skills, knowledge, and abilities. However, many have reservations about using skills tests, including data entry assessment tests, in their hiring process. These are a few of the reasons:
Incomplete View of Candidates
Some recruiters feel that data entry tests do not provide all the information hiring teams need to make a decision. They are correct. Hiring teams should consider a candidate’s entire background, including work history, education, and relevant accomplishments. Top assessment solutions address this by allowing HR teams to customize assessments.
Potential for Bias and Discrimination
Some business leaders are worried that data entry assessment tests will introduce bias into their hiring and lead to discrimination. They are right to be concerned because 79% of HR professionals agree that unconscious bias can compromise even well-planned hiring processes.
Top solutions address this by only providing data entry tests that subject matter experts have tested, reviewed, and validated. In fact, assessments actually help businesses minimize unconscious bias because the focus is on candidates’ skills and abilities. According to SHRM, using assessments helps organizations improve hiring diversity.
High Cost and Lack of Resources
Some business leaders wonder how much time they will need to invest before data entry tests produce meaningful results. They ask whether allocating these resources to other aspects of hiring would make more sense.
They are surprised to learn that industry-leading solutions are so easy to deploy that most clients have them up and running within an hour or two.
They must also consider the cost of traditional hiring. With an assessment solution, the HR team does not have to waste hours manually screening resumes. They simply sort candidates by reviewing their data entry assessment test scores.
They can be confident that the information is accurate. As most HR professionals can attest, they cannot rely on the information on applicants’ resumes or what they say during interviews because over 85% of candidates lie on their resumes and exaggerate their experience during interviews.
Get Started with Data Entry Assessment Tests
Organizations use leading skills testing solutions like the eSkill Talent Assessment Platform to test data entry skills. Assessment solutions provide the measurable data businesses need to evaluate candidates accurately, efficiently, and fairly.
Do you want to learn how data entry assessment tests can help you recruit the best candidates and improve hiring outcomes? Contact eSkill to request a demo.