Being an excellent data entry clerk (or data entry keyer as this profession is also referred to) is no easy feat. You need to demonstrate superior speed and accuracy when entering and updating data in your company’s database. You also need to exhibit flawless office etiquette at all times and excel at following directions, to name a few of the most important skills you should possess.

There are numerous draw cards this profession offers, including relatively high flexibility and straightforward duties. Many data entry clerks also appreciate the fact that you don’t usually need a college degree to get started. It’s no wonder why a range of different people consider it to be an ideal job.

However, despite all of the benefits, it is unfortunately only going to become increasingly challenging to get a start in this profession, retain your current job, or move to a new data entry clerk position. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for data entry keyers will decline by 23.2% from 2018 to 2028. That’s nearly a one-fifth decline! If you need further proof that this is already in the midst of happening, take a good look at this graph.

With fewer and fewer data entry clerk jobs available, it’s never been more imperative to ensure your data entry clerk resume is up to scratch. Your resume needs to impress recruiters from the get-go as they’re in charge of calling the shots about who makes it to the interview stage - and who they’ll take out of the running.

If you’re ready to secure your place in this profession for many years to come, we’ll teach everything you need to know about creating an unforgettable data entry clerk resume. In this resume writing guide, you’ll discover a range of insider tips including:

• The difference between a good and great data entry clerk resume
• What you need to do to bypass the ATS
• The recommended way to list your education and skills
• How to target your resume to each application
• An innovative tool you can use to streamline the resume making process 

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How to Write a Data Entry Resume That Will Fill Up Your Inbox?

How to format your data entry resume

Are you wondering what the best format is for your data entry resume? The good news is that there’s one that recruiters clearly prefer: Reverse-chronological format. The reason recruiters love it is because it logically organizes your professional experiences from your latest job, followed by all of the jobs that preceded it.

Recruiters also have particular preferences when it comes to your resume layout. Make sure to reflect them in your resume by following our summary of them below:

• • Number of Pages: Only one page - no ifs or buts!
  • Fonts to Use: Simple fonts are best, such as Avenir Next and Arial.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Juvenile-looking or hard-to-read ones such as Pacifico and Holihood Script.
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size.

What makes a great data entry resume?

There are many features, which distinguish a good data entry resume from a great one. To ensure you make a great one, you need to go above and beyond what a recruiter is expecting to see. That means in addition to featuring all of the required resume sections and addressing all of the criteria the recruiter is after, your resume also needs to be written and formatted to a professional standard.

A great data entry resume leaves no doubt in the recruiter’s mind that you boast the perfect combination of skills, training, and professional experiences to smoothly transition into the given position. To really make an impact, your resume also needs to convey your enthusiasm at the prospect of being hired for the given role. You can do this by taking the proper time and effort required to perfect your resume.

What recruiters will look for

Recruiters are looking for a data entry clerk who knows all of the ins and outs of data entry. An ideal data entry clerk is simultaneously efficient, accurate, and organized. They also need to demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and proactiveness in order to both detect and resolve any inaccuracies in the data they are in charge of inputting. The way a recruiter will determine whether you’re such a candidate, who is both genuinely skilled and highly-experienced in the field - or if you’re one who is just all talk - is by carefully analyzing your resume.

When you think about it, your resume is the main means at your disposal to connect with a recruiter when you apply for a job. After all, they will be primarily basing their decision about your worthiness to proceed to the interview stage, on the quality of your resume.

This is why we can’t stress enough how vital it is that your resume not only looks attractive, but also contains all of the components a recruiter is seeking. You need to guarantee that everything on the one page you have to work within strongly communicates your suitability.

How to get your resume past ATS

If you thought you only needed to get the nod of approval from recruiters to score an interview, think again. You also need to get your resume past ATS, which stands for Applicant Tracking Software. ATS has been warmly welcomed by most HR departments as it makes recruiters’ jobs exponentially easier. This technology is designed to instantly reject candidates’ applications if they don’t feature specific keywords. By implication, recruiters using ATS no longer need to go through every single resume themselves.

So how exactly do you get your resume past ATS? You need to incorporate the keywords the recruiter has added to the job ad, into your resume. Needless to say, the keywords you include must be relevant to your professional experiences and skills.

How do you detect keywords in a job ad? In most cases, they will be nouns representing specific capabilities and skills a recruiter is looking for in a data entry clerk. They may also  represent the programs and resources an ideal candidate will need to have experience using.

When you’re piecing together your resume, you should try to find as many opportunities as possible to naturally incorporate these keywords into each section. Of course, you will need to be able to back up whatever you state in your resume, so don’t be tempted to bend the truth.

It’s also important not to keyword stuff as this will be seen as an attempt to ‘game the system’. Keyword stuffing describes the practice of adding keywords into your resume in an unnatural way. For example, adding a keyword to a sentence even though it doesn’t make sense contextually to do so, or repeatedly using the same keyword unnecessarily.

A recruiter will immediately reject your resume if they catch you doing either of these things, so don’t jeopardise your application by taking the risk.

Which soft and hard skills to mention and how to do it correctly

Whether you’re a veteran data entry clerk or recently qualified, the chances are that you have a near-endless list of hard and soft skills. There may be a temptation to write a list as long as your arm. However, keep in mind that the “Skills” section of your resume is relatively short. For that reason, you need to be selective about the skills you include.

Before you get started, be certain to consider which skills are most appropriate for the specific role you’re applying for. You should reflect back on the job advert and align your resume with the skills requested there. For instance, you may find that the recruiter is specifically looking for someone with technical ability in a certain area.

If this is the case, you should include a handful of skills, demonstrating your understanding of certain data programs. When highlighting these skills, it’s important to be specific. For example:

• QuickBooks experience

• 5+ years working with QuickBooks, managing 20+ customers 

Naturally, you should include both hard and soft skills on your resume. Hard (or technical) skills tend to be career-specific and often include using specific programs and processes. On the other hand, soft skills are more generic and can be applied to a variety of roles. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you only need hard skills. To be a well-rounded candidate, you should possess both hard and soft skills in tandem.

As an example of why this is important, consider a data entry clerk, who can swiftly process data and analyze it, but lacks basic communication skills and has poor interpersonal skills. While the candidate may be able to take care of their core job responsibilities, there’s simply no way that they will be a collaborative worker or fit in with the company culture.

When it comes to writing your data entry clerk resume, here are some of the hard and soft skills that you may need to include:

Hard skills

• Advanced math and analytical statistics 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel functions
• System administration 
• Data mining and data QA
• MySQL databases 
• QuickBooks 
• 10 Key 
• 80+ WPM typing speed 
• Order processing 
• CRM understanding

Soft skills 

• Time management 
• Great communication 
• Attention to detail 
• Critical thinking 
• Risk management 
• Interpersonal skills 
• Confidentiality 
• Collaboration 
• Organization 
• Report generation

As we’ve previously mentioned, you should not overload the “Skills” section of your resume. Instead, pick out roughly 6 to 8 crucial skills to highlight. Again, you should switch these around, depending on the specific role you’re applying for. When writing your work history sections or talking about your professional achievements, be sure to reiterate these skills.

Pro tip: Lead with your most relevant skills in each appropriate section. For instance, you might include technical/hard skills, such as MYSQL databases toward the top of your resume. Recruiters should be able to see what systems you can use at a quick glance!

How to list your education correctly

When it comes to landing a data entry clerk role, you only need a high school diploma. However, you should use the education section of your resume to highlight any additional achievements you gained during this period. Needless to say, the education section of any resume tends to be relatively short. Ensure that you include the following core details:

1. Your high school or institute
2. The year you graduated
3. Which diplomas you received
4. Any additional certification
5. Any additional notable achievements

It’s simple enough. However, you would be surprised at how many candidates get this core part of their resume wrong from the offset! If you’re unsure of which information you should be including, take a look at the following examples. We’ve indicated what you shouldn’t do in red, and what to aim for in green:

• St. James High School (2010) 

Atlanta, GA

• St. James High School (2010) 

Atlanta, Ga

• High school diploma
• Received touch-typing certificate 
• Commended for note-taking abilities

Certified Data Entry Clerk (2013) 

Online Diploma

In some instances, you may have a university degree, rather than only a high school diploma. If that’s the case, you should ensure that you highlight it on your resume. When you’ve continued to further education, you don’t need to include your high school achievements anymore. However, whether you choose to do so is up to you.

If you’ve received certifications as a data entry clerk, you should definitely include this information as part of your resume. You can either put this nugget in your education section or, if you choose to include one, as part of your “Additional Certifications” section. Demonstrating that you have trained specifically for this given career will be a deciding factor in landing roles.

Pro tip: Don’t panic if you don’t have additional certificates or diplomas! If you lack professional experience in this field, highlight your school achievements instead. For example, you may choose to include any praise you received from your teachers or awards you won.

How to write a resume objective or summary and examples of both

First things first, let’s take a moment to discuss the difference between a resume objective and a resume summary. An objective covers your professional goals and aspirations, while a summary briefly outlines your experience and achievements. Your resume does not need both of these sections; you should choose the most applicable to your level. 

Data Entry Clerk Resume Objective 

If you’re new to the world of data entry, you’ll need to include a 2-4 sentence resume objective. Since you will lack much of the experience that other candidates boast, you can use this section to express your enthusiasm for the industry and outline your ambition. You can also slide in a few of the skills you have picked up during your education.

Here’s a quick look at what to do and what not to do in this section:

• Recent high school graduate seeking a full-time data entry clerk role. A hard-working and dedicated worker with a high level of accuracy. Skilled at data input and taking direction. Basic working knowledge of CRM systems and fast typer.

• Recent graduate seeking an entry-level data entry clerk position that will support a fulfilling career in data analysis. Skills include 80 WPM touch-typing, an understanding of CRM systems, and critical thinking. Previous experience of working with a small business and streamlining order processing by 23%. 

The first resume objective example here makes a couple of major mistakes. By simply stating that they are seeking a full-time role, the candidate has missed an opportunity to speak about their long-term aspirations. Moreover, when it comes to briefly outlining skills, the objective is vague and undersells the candidate’s talents. As a golden rule, remember to prove anything that you state with certificates, experience, or statistics.

Conversely, the second example includes the same information in a better format. The candidate is up-front about needing an entry-level position, but quickly points out that they boast long-term aspirations within this sector. Plus, rather than merely stating the skills that they have, the candidate uses finer details to back up their points. For example, they state that they can type at 80 words per minute, which is specific and impressive. 

Data Entry Clerk Resume Summary

If you’re an old hat at data entry, you should avoid including a resume objective and instead opt for a resume summary. This is a 2-4 sentence outline of your experience, achievements, and why you are the best candidate for this role. You should pepper this section with some of your ‘best moments as a data clerk’ and any particular talents that you can bring to the position. In short, it’s your time to show off your triumphs to date.

Here are two examples; one you should avoid doing and one you should aim for:

• Experienced data entry clerk with knowledge of CRM systems, fast typing, and data processing. Great at taking direction and understanding new systems. Critical thinker and hard worker. Good communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Data entry clerk with 5+ years experience. Seeking to streamline order processing systems and improve efficiency, as evidenced by 98.7% accuracy in previous positions. Experience working in the commercial sector. Skills include 80 WPM touch-typing, MYSQL database knowledge, and excellent communication. 

The first resume summary example covers the basic information that a recruiter will need to understand. However, it lacks evidence to support any of the details given. When outlining how much experience you have, you should always include details of the sector in which you have worked and how many years you have been active for. Additionally, when highlighting skills, such as accuracy, it is helpful to include statistics.

Of course, the second summary example is much clearer in highlighting the candidate’s experience and covering their skill set. Each skill includes supporting evidence, which would in turn entice recruiters to learn more about the candidate. Crucially, the candidate also mentions the specific programs that they are proficient in using for the role.

How to target your resume for each application

Once you’ve built a stellar resume, there’s the temptation to save it and use it for every position you apply for. Sure, doing so is the easy option, but it’s not necessarily the way to land your next role.

When recruiters look over your resume, they are searching for specific traits and skills, i.e. those that align with the role at hand. While there may be a lot of crossover between data entry clerk roles, no two positions are the same. For that reason, it’s savvy to spend some time tailoring your resume for each new application.

When you first read a job description, take the time to consider how your experience and skill set naturally aligns with it. You should pick out key phrases from the advert and adapt your existing resume to suit them.

For example, let’s say that a recruiter publishes an advert for a data entry clerk and includes the following criteria in the description:

• Must help streamline current order processing 
• Must have a proven track record

Since the description is clear about what’s expected, you should make a point of your skills in this area. There are a couple of ways in which you can achieve that. Highlight how you have previously made processing orders faster and use exact examples. It’s not great to simply state that you made improvements, if you can’t quantify them somehow. Extra points if you have a reference to support any of the claims you make here.

Next, you should see how your previous work experience connects with the current role being advertised. For this aspect of the process, take a look at the duties outlined in the job description. For instance, the advert may state the following:

• Preparing source data for computer 
• Purging data for duplications 

In simple terms, these duties mean organizing information and ensuring that it is not duplicated when you input it into the system. Consider whether you had to manage the same tasks in a previous role and, if so, give examples. You may tweak your work experience to include details of how you ‘organized source data ahead of input’ or ‘prepared source data before inputting’.

Try to align your data entry clerk resume as closely as possible with the job description. Wherever you can, draw comparisons between the two, and highlight them clearly. Recruiters spend a matter of seconds reviewing resumes. That means that the information you provide has to be concise and straight to the point. Cut the waffle as much as you can!

Finally, pick out keywords from the job ad and use them in your resume. Using the same language as the recruiter allows them to instantly see you are qualified for the role. It will also ensure you bypass the ATS - a crucial consideration we discussed in further detail towards the beginning of this guide.

How to make your resume stand out from the crowd

Success is all in the details. Following our guide will help you write a great data entry clerk resume, but how can you ensure it stands out? Taking a little extra time to make your resume a cut above the rest is a no-brainer. Here are three expert tips to try now:

Avoid overcrowding your resume

Let’s face it, you’re all about data and information. However, when it comes to writing a winning resume, you need to keep things lean and get straight to the point. As an extra tip, you should leave space between sections, so that they appear clearer. Including white space on your resume means that it will be easier to read. You want to make things as easy as possible for the recruiter. When they glance at your document, they should quickly see the key pieces of information.

Cut back on the jargon 

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that the recruiter understands the realms of data clerk entry. They may not! In some cases, companies get third-party agencies to find the perfect candidates. While the recruiter will know the keywords and programs in the sector, they may not be familiar with all the jargon. Avoid using complex industry terms and opt for clear, concise language that conveys your skills.

Proofread (and then proofread again!)

Spelling and grammatical errors are the fastest way to ruin your chances of landing an interview. When you’ve written your resume, it’s time to proofread it. Be aware of common mistakes, such as using “they’re” (i.e. they are) when you mean ‘there’ (as in “over there”). You can also use software designed to spot these errors to go through your resume with a fine tooth comb. Grammarly is one such program, that’s helpful and free to use.

3. How ResumeBuild.com’s Resume Builder Tool Makes Creating Your Resume Simple

You already spend hours typing away on your computer for the job. So it’s no wonder that the prospect of coming home, opening a MS Word document or Google Docs, and working on your resume isn’t appealing in the slightest.

While you, no doubt, have the typing skills that would help you make your resume, that doesn’t negate the fact that it's still going to take a considerable amount of time to format and write everything from scratch. That’s why so many people just like you have turned to Resumebuild’s easy-to-use resume builder tool to dramatically speed up the resume making process.

Instead of trying to configure margins, headings, and everything in between, you can rely on our resume builder to do so for you. All you need to do is select any of our custom-made resume templates, which particularly catches your eye, and then make your way through the 5 resume sections. Our builder will keep you on track by making it crystal clear what information you need to provide. To give you an extra helping hand, it even comes pre-loaded with numerous pre-written examples that you can use as-is or edit to your liking. 

We’ve truly revolutionized the traditionally cumbersome process of making a resume into one that takes just minutes. If you have a few to spare, you have all you need to start making your unique data entry clerk resume.