Touch typing computer training integral to job success

09:29 15th May 2009

The ability to touch type is a hugely important skill which could help job-seekers stand out from the crowd in the current economic climate, according to an expert body.

Keith Wymer of Pitman Training, a training provider that focuses on administration and secretarial work, said that prospective secretaries and personal assistants should be aiming for a typing speed of 70 words per minute (wpm), while even IT professionals should target 45 wpm.

People could pursue IT training to improve their typing speed and help them develop the skills necessary to give them the edge on rivals as unemployment rises in the UK.

Mr Wymer said: "In terms of jobs, especially now the jobs market's tight, if you can't type at a reasonable speed for the type of jobs you're going after, then the agency won't even look at you."

He added that many employment agencies now have typing tests to gauge individual skills and computer training could help get past this initial hurdle.

The growth of average earnings has fallen in recent months, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics.