Why Data Entry and Excel Skills Tests Are Critical for So Many New Hires

It is an ugly fact, but it is true — job seekers often misrepresent, overstate, or just plain lie on their resumes. According to Indeed.com, over 40% of resumes have false information and approximately three out of every four employers have found lies on candidates’ resumes. You simply cannot take a person’s word at face value, even on a document as important and personal as a resume. As the old Russian proverb says, “Trust, but verify.” Pre-employment testing is a good example of this philosophy in action. Employers trust candidates enough to give them the opportunity to prove their abilities, and testing proves what they can do or cannot do.

Employers who use pre-employment skills tests are better able to focus on candidates who are most likely to be successful working for their companies. Pre-employment skills testing saves them time, money, and energy, and enables human resources (HR) and hiring managers to focus on core business projects instead of sorting through tons of resumes for job applicants who are not qualified.

Pre-employment testing is completely objective because all job applicants are judged equally. All candidates for a particular job are required to answer the same questions in the same order. They all have the same opportunity to be hired because it virtually eliminates the chance of bias or discrimination interfering in the process. Pre-employment skills tests are objective and fair because they do not take into account any extraneous factors, such as race, gender, or disability. A candidate cannot charm their way out of a low skills test score and an interviewer cannot overlook knowledge gaps based on who the job applicants know or where they went to school.

Why Do People Need Data Entry Skills?

Sometimes it seems that computers do everything for us. However, there are still tasks that have to be done by people, and data entry is one of them. Data entry refers to the act of information being entered into databases. There are a number of ways the information can be entered, but whatever method is used and whatever data is entered, it involves the same skills and abilities.

• Attention to detail and accuracy: Data entry professionals should be detail-oriented because it is important that the information they are entering is accurate.
• The ability to type quickly: Data entry requires a lot of typing, and often 10-key as well. The best candidates for the job must be able to enter information quickly and with minimal errors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: Anyone who is involved in data entry must be able to understand and share instructions as well as document their work. Also, data entry professionals often work with others as part of a team, so excellent communication skills are important.
• Strong basic computer skills: Data entry professionals do not need to be technology experts, but they must be confident in using computers and have experience using computer applications, especially Excel.
• Time management skills: Data entry is, by definition, a time-sensitive function. The most successful candidates should be able to prioritize and complete their work quickly and accurately.
• Concentration and focus: To complete work on time and with minimal errors, a data entry professional must be able to focus and concentrate on the job and ignore distractions from co-workers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality: Depending on the company, much of the information data entry professionals work with could contain sensitive, even confidential data. A data entry professional must value and respect the sensitive nature of their work and be committed to maintaining confidentiality. 

Pre-Employment Skills Tests for Data Entry Professionals

Data entry professionals have a distinctive skill set that can be identified through pre-employment testing. A data entry skills test should cover the following areas:

• Typing and 10-key entry: Data entry professionals must be able to type quickly with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excel skills tests and other basic computer skills tests: Good Excel proficiency is an absolute requirement for data entry professionals. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate that they have good, basic computer knowledge.
• Communication skills: Data entry professionals must have strong written and verbal communication skills so they can understand instructions and be able to accurately convey those instructions to teammates.

Why You Need Data Entry Skills Tests

When information is not entered correctly, orders are incorrect, items are shipped to the wrong addresses, and invoice amounts are inaccurate. It takes time and resources to correct these problems, and errors could even harm a relationship with a long-standing customer.

By using pre-employment assessments such as Data Entry Skills Tests, Excel Skills Tests, and other Basic Computer Skills Tests, you can evaluate applicants’ knowledge and experience and determine the likelihood that they will be successful at your company.

Learn how Data Entry, Excel, and Basic Computer Skills Tests can help you hire top-quality data entry professionals. Request a demo today.