Typing for others is how a typist makes money. People in this field may find a variety of jobs available to them, ranging from secretarial work to transcription. Data entry is another field where a typist might find work. Typists work in offices, stores, and other businesses, while others start their own companies and work from home.
When an individual or business requires a professional-looking document, a professional typist can help. This person usually types quickly and accurately, producing typed documents with few to no errors. A typist often has skills and knowledge that are important in producing professional-looking documents in addition to typing abilities. He may, for example, be well-versed in the formatting requirements for a variety of documents, including business letters, legal forms, and college essays. He may also have legal or medical terminology experience, which opens up the possibility of transcription work.
Typists occasionally assist college students who have written essays but lack the time or desire to type them. In some cases, students’ typing is so slow and prone to errors that hiring a professional is a less aggravating option. When a student hires a typist, he may expect him to create footnotes and citations according to his professor’s specifications.
A typist can type documents while listening to a business, legal, or medical professional dictate in person. A typist may, however, type a document while listening to a recording provided a client or employer. Transcription is the term for this. A typist may also attend meetings or legal proceedings and type what is said there. He may type portions of the proceeding or keep a verbatim record of it.
Companies that require data entry assistance may hire people with good typing skills. A person in this position types data into forms on a computer system or on the internet. A company that processes orders for goods and services, for example, may require data entry assistance. Companies that schedule appointments, make collections calls, or handle complaints may also require such assistance.
Typists may have been in higher demand before computers became commonplace in homes and businesses. Many people nowadays have access to computers and word processing programs, which make it easier to type documents. Typists can still find work among those who find typing their documents too time consuming or simply want error-free documents.