Should You Mention Your Typing Skill on Your Resume?

The query, ‘Can I mention my touch typing skill of around 70 WPM on my resume?’, comes up often, especially among young professionals looking to stand out in fields that require efficient and accurate typing. Typing speed is indeed a valuable skill, but its inclusion on your resume should be strategic and relevant to the job you are applying for.

Why Mention Your Typing Skill?

Typing skills, including a touch typing speed of around 70 words per minute (WPM), can be particularly advantageous if you are applying for roles that prioritize typing proficiency. Jobs such as administrative assistants, data entry clerks, transcriptionists, legal secretaries, and customer service representatives often require strong typing abilities. By including your typing speed on your resume, you demonstrate your efficiency and proficiency in handling tasks that involve extensive typing.

How to Incorporate Your Typing Skill on Your Resume

To effectively showcase your typing speed, it is best to place it in a relevant section of your resume, such as the Skills section or the Experience section if it pertains to specific job duties. Here's an example of how you can format this information:

Skill: Touch Typing 70 WPM, proficient in Microsoft Office and data entry tasks.

This format provides clarity and emphasizes your typing skill effectively, making it clear to potential employers that your typing ability is indeed a significant strength.

When and How to Include Your Typing Speed

Should you include your typing speed on your resume? The answer depends on whether the job you are applying for values typing speed and accuracy. If you are targeting a role where speed is crucial, like data entry or transcription, it is prudent to mention your WPM. However, if the job does not involve extensive typing, this skill may not be relevant to include on your resume.

Here are some scenarios where including your 70 WPM skill is highly beneficial:

Data Entry Clerk Transcriptionist Legal Secretary

For less typing-intensive roles, such as warehouse picker or general customer service representative, highlighting typing speed may not be as beneficial unless you have other relevant skills to showcase.

Measuring Your Typing Speed Accurately

When mentioning your typing speed, ensure that it is accurately measured. Tools like Typeracer are preferred, as they simulate real-world typing tasks, including complex words. Sites like monkeytype or 10fastfingers may boost your WPM, but they do not necessarily reflect your accuracy in a professional setting. Typing tests on Typeracer should be your go-to for demonstrating your skill.

For example, if you are aiming for a writing job, your typing speed and accuracy are critical. If you claim to type 120 WPM on monkeytype, but your standard is actually 150 on Typeracer, this may not be beneficial as it can be misleading. Consumers, especially employers, value accuracy as much as speed.

Customize your settings on Typeracer to replicate the professional typing environment as closely as possible. For instance, use a test set to 1,000 words and adjust the speed and type of words to ensure the test mimics your typical work tasks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mentioning your typing skill on your resume can be advantageous, but the relevancy of this information depends on the job you are applying for. If your target job places a high value on typing speed and accuracy, including this information can certainly make you stand out. Always make sure to measure your typing speed accurately and use reliable tools like Typeracer to reflect your true capabilities.