(3 minute read)

How touch typing can benefit your employees

Almost every employer, given the choice, would prefer to hire an employee that can type quickly and accurately.

Touch typing (a technique where an individual types with all their fingers and thumbs, without looking at the keyboard), is considered to be an essential skill for workers in many professions, from telemarketing to design. We are now expected to be our own secretaries and maintain our own admin. Typing at speed, at an above-average word per minute will save countless hours of timeat the keyboard, improve efficiency and allow you to multi-task. Additionally, the reduction in work pressure allows for an increased competitive edge amongst colleagues.

In this modern digital age, typing slowly and/or with just two fingers is unacceptable. With computers now allowed in exams (subject to access arrangements), it is only a matter of time before all learning, university and professional, are computer-based.

Many recruitment agencies now insist on a typing test prior to interview, as corporations realise the benefits of their employees being work-ready and understand how this fundamental but key skill promotes efficiency and productivity.

Devoting just a few hours a day to learn the skill of touch typing can reap huge rewards. Just like learning to drive, where we take lessons and then a proficiency test, we should apply the same principles when learning to type. With KAZ, it takes just 90 minutes to learn the a-z keys, plus practice time. You can practice on exercises within the course, as well as on emails, essays and work presentations.

Benefits of touch typing for employees

Time management

Organisations look for employees that are motivated and able to make effective use of their time during working hours. As a touch typist, productivity is naturally increased and so assignments are delivered in a shorter timeframe. This in itself can remove the intense pressure of ‘extra work’ and by saving working hours, your firm can stay ahead of the competition, irrespective of profession, as ultimately productivity matters. This basic yet crucial tech skill is probably more valuable in terms of return on investment than any other course you are likely to take. Whilst we can all ‘type’, only 30% of the workforce can type effectively, using all fingers and at a speed greater than the average of between 18-35wpm.

Concentration power

Keyboarding also improves concentration levels on all computer-based tasks. When touch typing, skills are learned, cognitive mental development is enhanced and you develop the ability to ‘think type’. Simply put, what you think, ‘appears’ on the screen in front of you. Subconscious touch typing does not extract mental energy, it leaves the mind free to process other thoughts and ideas.

Professional status

Typing ‘efficiently’ significantly enhances your professional image. When you touch type at high speed and with accuracy, you naturally appear more confident and more in control. Remember, a professional image is crucial for your career prospects and excellent typing abilities will stand you apart from your colleagues.

Mental health & well-being

An additional benefit of learning to touch type correctly is the knowledge gained (sitting with good posture and the correct positioning of hands, wrists and fingers at the keyboard). If you suffer from stiffness of the shoulders, neck, hand or wrists, or suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) or RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), touch typing will help reduce or eliminate these symptoms and conditions. Observing these simple ergonomics will protect you from these and other complications - an invaluable benefit from learning touch typing

Touch typing - an essential element for the development of other skills

Touch typing is a skill that is widely recognised in the marketplace (business, education and lifestyle sectors). It helps when learning other computer/keyboard-based skills, such as coding and importantly, contributes to your own personal development (CPD/CE). With practice, speed and accuracy develop, allowing you to outperform in all aspects of computer use and communication.

To sum up…

Touch typing improves your academic performance and widens the scope for future opportunities in the professional sector. As an employee, you can improve efficiency, productivity, the ability to multi-task and time management, whilst protecting your mental health and well-being.

Image © kaz-type.com

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... and also recommended by Which? magazine.

‘To get the maximum benefits from a keyboard, you need to be able to touch - type. Learning how to do this is made easier by programs such as KAZ (Keyboard A–Z), which claims to deliver benefits in just 90 minutes. KAZ has Corporate, Adult, Junior and Dyslexia editions...Touch-typing really does save you time… and you are never too old to learn.’  (Which? Magazine - February 2020)