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How To Hire A Data Entry Clerk

Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Data Entry Clerk hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.

Data Entry Clerk Recruitment Guide

What does a Data Entry Clerk do?

A Data Entry Clerk is responsible for entering data from different sources, usually in paper formats, to an electronic format, in a computer system, for processing and management. They can do this manually by typing the information, or by scanning the documents.

Day to day tasks of a Data Entry Clerk

Skills assessment

Data Entry Clerk definition

A Data Entry Clerk’s primary responsibility is to provide administrative support, specifically entering data from a hard copy source to the digital system or database. Because of this, a Data Entry Clerk should have excellent typing skills–they can type fast and accurately.

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HIRING PROCESS

Data Entry Clerk Hiring Process

Step 1: Understand the role
Step 2: Source Applicants
Step 3: Skills Assessment
Step 4: Interview
Step 5: Hire

Build the Ideal Candidate Profile​

To find the best person for the role, you need to understand what the role involves. You can complete this with the hiring manager to define the role, its contribution, and the skills needed.

Write A Job Description Based On Skills

Once you understand the requirements for the role, you’ll need to understand the skills for success. You can then write an effective job description to promote your role.

Selecting The Ideal Candidate

See which applicants have the right skills for the role. Send all your applicants a Vervoe skills assessment from the expert library, or customize one for your organization.

Interview Top Performers

Your skills assessment results will identify top performers. Focus your time on interviewing those that have met or exceeded your requirements. Assessment results will also help guide which skill areas to focus on in the interview.

Making An Offer

Once you assess your candidates against these skills, you’re ready to offer the top performer(s). You should base your offer on the value that the candidate would bring to your team and your business as a whole. It is also important to ensure your compensation and benefits packages are competitive in the industry and help you attract and retain the top talent.
Build the ideal candidate profile

Skills needed for a Data Entry Clerk

A Data Entry Clerk should have excellent typing skills. They should be able to type as many words per minute and do it accurately. They should also be very keen on details as they will be working on a lot of data.

Pro Tip

For entry-level roles, you may receive a good number of applications compared to more senior roles. Ensure that you highlight the skills needed for the role and clearly emphasize the expectations needed from them.

WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS

How to write a Data Entry Clerk job description

Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Data Entry Clerk job description:

Job Title: What position are you hiring for?

Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?

Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization

Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully

Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer

Pro Tip

In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a Data Entry Clerk must have fast typing skills, but it is also nice to be proficient in Excel.

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SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Sample skill tests for a Data Entry Clerk

Create a free account today to access the full assessment and more from our library

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Question 1

Typing

Question Type: Document

Please retype the poem that is on the word doc below, ensuring the correct grammar, spelling, punctuation etc.

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Question 2

Following Directions

Question Type: Text

A prime number is a number that is divisible only by itself and 1 and that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. 

Give a list of prime numbers under 50 without the digit “3”.

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Question 3

Attention to Detail

Question Type: Text

How would you rate your ability to follow directions/instructions both verbally and written? 

Provide an example of when you have implemented this skill.

INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS

How to interview a Data Entry Clerk

Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.

Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.

Making An Offer

How much does it cost to hire a Data Entry Clerk?

The US average for a Data Entry Clerk is $35,321 according to Payscale.com. Glassdoor.com meanwhile reports it at $32,407. The highest salary reported for a Data Entry Clerk is at $125,000, but it depends on the skill, experience, and location. The lowest salary recorded is at $25,000.

Data Entry Clerk Salary United States

Data Entry Clerks’ average salaries in the United States range from $32,000 – 35,000 (USD). The salaries vary depending on the years of experience in the profession, additional skills, and the location.

Data Entry Clerk Salary United Kingdom

Data Entry Clerks’ average salaries in the United Kingdom range from £18,000 – £24,000 (GBP). These figures depend on the years of experience in the field, additional skills, and the location.

Data Entry Clerk Salary Australia

Data Entry Clerks’ average salaries in Australia range from $48,000 – $58,000 (AUD). The salaries usually depend on the year of experience in the profession, additional skills, and the location.