The development of punched card data processing in the 1890s generated a demand for numerous people, mostly women, to operate keypunch machines. For the past 30 years, it has been a constant struggle for most companies to assign specific roles to some of their workers, new job roles are created every day to suit the dynamics of certain working environments, however the role of an encoder has not been any different.
In this article, we would be talking about who an Encoder is, his/her job description/function, salary scale, as well as his/her skills and educational requirement.
Who is an Encoder?
An Encoder can also be referred to as a Data Entry professional. So, who is an encoder or what exactly is Data entry?
Employees in the data entry business add, modify and validate electronic data. Many businesses require workers to transcribe meeting notes, enter raw data into databases, and enter sales statistics into electronic forms many times over the course of a working day.
A data entry job includes handling many forms of electronic data and processing equipment used by experts to input and modify data, such as a keyboard. This industry employs a variety of workers, including typists, coders, transcribers, and word processors.
There are a variety of payment alternatives available for jobs in this field. If you resume working in this field, you might be paid by keystrokes per minute, project, keystrokes per word, hourly salary or keystrokes per hour. The payout rate in data entry is typically depending on your typing speed—fast typists are more likely to generate more income in this field.
Now we can say we understand who an Encoder/Data entry is, although we are yet to fully grasp the responsibilities of an Encoder. We would be discussing that next.
Fundamental Responsibilities/Job Description of a Data Entry (Encoder)
Data entry professionals retain records. You’ll most likely be responsible for the following, albeit it depends on their industry you find yourself:
- keeping paper or hard copies of receipts
- Patient forms applications
- Varieties of other documents, as well as typing them into your company’s system.
- In addition to entering data through the keyboard, you’ll need to scan documents and transmit and receive data to various outside parties who demand it.
- You’ll be responsible for keeping backups of the data you submit, either on external servers or on DVDs.
However, these are just the primary responsibilities of a Data Entry. There are some other secondary responsibilities that may be required of you, see some of them below;
Secondary Responsibilities
The distinction between data entry technicians and secretaries might be hazy at times. As needed, you may need to create copies for staff, answer and route phone calls, send emails, and deliver snail mail. Regardless of how monotonous these activities are, they are all important and part of your job description in many office situations.
At this point, we can say we know all that would be expected of an Encoder/Data entry to do in his/her place of work. So, assuming you would like to become an Encoder or hire one, what educational qualifications should one lookout for?
What Qualifications are Required for an Encoder/Data Entry Position?
There are no formal admission requirements, however, some qualifications will be advantageous if you wish to advance. Employers will almost definitely ask whether you have GCSEs, notably in English and Math, or possess any programming skills, for example; the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) and the New Computer Literacy and Information Technology.
Younger job searchers may be able to begin their careers through the apprenticeship scheme. The majority of your training will take place on the job, teaching you how to use software packages or any specialized database technology that your firm employs.
You may also discuss with your company taking one of the specialized data entry and IT courses as part of your professional growth. There are NVQs/SVQs Levels 1–3 in Administration, which contain sections covering retrieval on computer systems and information entry; NVQs/SVQs Levels 1–3 in IT use, and City and Guilds certifications in ICT Fundamentals and Information Technology.
Now we are aware of necessary educational qualifications that may benefit someone looking to pursue a career as an Encoder. We would now have to discuss the skills necessary to survive in this career path.
How to succeed in the field of Encoding/Data Entry
To be a successful data entry clerk, you must have a variety of abilities. Keep in mind that you will need to spend a significant amount of time on your computer in order to master these skills. To succeed in data entry, take note of these steps:
Enhance your linguistic abilities: To work in the data sector, you must be fluent in English. To prepare, practice reading, writing, and proofreading at a high level.
Improve your typing skills: Simply practice typing anything into a writing tool like Word or Pages while timing your typing speed to teach yourself these abilities. Improve your typing speed till it reaches at least 35 words per minute. Consider utilizing a free online typing test to determine your typing speed and finding free online games to help you improve your typing.
Learn to use a computer: To work as a data entry expert, you must be able to utilize computer programs to input and modify electronic data as well as save your work. Look for free online lessons for major computer products like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel on the manufacturer’s website or on video hosting sites. It may also be beneficial to learn how to utilize basic office devices that work in tandem with computers, such as a scanner and printer. There are several free online lessons available to assist you to learn how to properly utilize office equipment.
Improve your interpersonal skills: As a data entry worker, you will need to communicate with your bosses and coworkers while working on data entry tasks. Because customer service is a talent that can be learned, you may utilize the internet’s free resources, such as articles and tutorials, to learn about related abilities. To practice, imagine yourself in a hostile situation with an employer or coworkers and role-play how you would handle these situations.
Assuming you have been reading this article as a result of your interest in this career path, then you have a few tips on how to succeed as an Encoder. Next, we would like to discuss the two types of Encoder/Data entry jobs available to anybody looking to choose this career path or hire an Encoder.
Remote Encoder
As a remote worker in the data entry business, you have the flexibility to work from wherever you choose.
Typically, you may choose your own hours.
Remote employees are unlikely to be paid on an hourly basis, but rather on a project or keystroke basis over a certain length of time. Employers value dependability and job completion among remote employees, so your productivity may be more essential than your employment history.
Working as a remote worker in data entry may allow you to supplement your income while working full-time in another sector or pursuing an academic degree.
In-house
If you operate as an in-house data entry person, you will most likely be compensated on an hourly basis.
Unlike remote employees, you may anticipate perks such as merit incentives, health insurance, and paid time off. Performance-based employment benefits will be dependent on the speed, accuracy, and dependability of your data entry.
Now, let’s get to the juicy part.
How much are Encoders/Data Entry persons paid?
In 2016, the median wage in the United States was between $19,396 and $34,990.
Salary Range of A Encoder in Nigeria 2024
Financial Encoder earnings in Nigeria vary from 99,400 NGN per month (lowest income) to 316,000 NGN per month (highest salary), with an average salary of N203,000. This average monthly wage, include; transportation, housing and other perks. Salary ranges for Financial Encoders vary greatly depending on abilities, experience, gender, and region.
We now have a good idea of what an Encoder should earn in both of these countries. However, are there any benefits to working as an Encoder?
Benefits of working as an Encoder/Data Entry person
The following are some of the benefits of working in data entry:
Jobs are easily accessible. Because many different sorts of businesses require data entry employees, people are frequently able to obtain work.
Opportunities for self-employed workers Because a virtual workforce of independent contractors is much less expensive to manage than an in-house team, and more U.S. firms are outsourcing labour, job possibilities for data entry freelancers are expanding.
Entry hurdles are low. The cost and effort required to learn the skills required for data entry are significantly lower than those required for many other jobs.
Everything that has an advantage definitely has a disadvantage, now let’s mention a few disadvantages of working as an Encoder.
Precautions When Working in Data Entry
While a part-time or full-time career in data entry may provide numerous benefits, there are hazards and deterrents to working in this field. You can profit from being aware of a few difficulties, such as: low wages.
Earning a good income in data entry might be challenging. Consider the following suggestions for dealing with this issue:
Examine job postings to identify the geographic areas and businesses that pay the highest wages for data entry. Concentrate your employment search on these industries and businesses.
Instead of depending only on a data entry job to supplement your income, consider taking on part-time work in the field.
In conclusion, this article provides potential employers and employees of Encoder/Data entry positions, all they need to know as regards the job description and responsibilities, expected monthly salary as well as other important subject matter in order to work efficiently and effectively.
