Computer technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of modern society. The majority of records are now stored electronically, eliminating the need to manage stacks upon stacks of paper documents and navigate cumbersome file cabinets. Typist jobs require highly skilled individuals to ensure that electronic records, data, and other important information are accurately stored and organized. Administrative office buildings, medical clinics and hospitals, legal courts, and call centers for deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens are just a few of the industries and employment settings where typist jobs are available. Most typists work on-site at their employers’ offices, but some can work from home and provide freelance data entry services.
Administrative branches and offices of all types of businesses have a large number of typist positions. Typists may be required to transcribe meetings and conferences, as well as take dictation and write memos for the office. Many typists also input customer account information into spreadsheets and electronic forms. Other common administrative tasks that skilled professionals take on include answering phones and gathering information for their superiors.
Many skilled typists work in hospitals and other medical offices, where they perform a variety of word processing and data entry tasks. Medical typists can code diagnoses and fill out specialized forms with vital patient information. Patients’ files and payment histories are commonly organized, and information for insurance companies is prepared.
To transcribe court hearings and other official legal proceedings, court systems employ specialized typists known as stenographers or court reporters. Many court reporters use stenotype machines, which are similar to typewriters, to quickly record information. Single keystrokes on stenotype machines allow court reporters to form syllables, words, and entire phrases.
Telephone relay centers and television broadcasting stations are two other places to look for typist jobs. Relay center typists transcribe phone conversations verbatim for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Closed captioning for live and recorded television programs is provided by typists hired by television stations.
Most typist jobs require people to have a high school diploma and demonstrate typing and computer skills. Many aspiring typists take computer and information processing courses at community colleges or universities to improve their skills and increase their chances of finding work. Some employers, particularly hospitals and companies that deal with sensitive information, prefer to hire people who have gone to college and have worked as typists for several years. To prove their mastery of stenotype machines, court reporters must be licensed in their specific state or country, as well as obtain certification from a nationally recognized organization.