Job type

Typist

£14k - £24k

Typical salary

37 – 40

Hours per week

Typists use a computer to produce letters, reports and other documents.

More info

  • Produce documents for organisations using a computer
  • You'll need to be a fast, accurate typist with excellent grammar, spelling and punctuation skills
  • Progress into office management or operations management roles

As a typist your work might include copy typing (working from hand-written notes), audio typing (typing while listening to spoken notes on audio tape), shorthand typing (taking notes in shorthand and typing up the information later).

DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES

  • Work with spreadsheets and databases
  • Answer the telephone
  • Handle enquiries
  • Use office equipment like photocopiers and franking machines
  • Deal with post and emails
  • File documents

DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT

You'll usually work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. Part-time and temporary work are also widely available.

You'll need

There are no set requirements, but employers will expect you to have IT skills, a good standard of English grammar, spelling and punctuation, accuracy and attention to detail, and efficient time management for meeting deadlines.

You may be able to get experience through temporary work in an office. Some employers may prefer you to have a recognised qualification in business administration, or, alternatively, you could do an intermediate apprenticeship in business and administration.

CAREER PROSPECTS

With experience and training, you could become a personal assistant, executive assistant, or office manager. You could also become self-employed.