Typing qualifications

millsymuttleylaugh

Hello I'm looking into finding a job in pretty much any line of work at the minute. I've had some experience doing data input and admin so thought this area might be 'easier' to get into than something I'm not experienced with.

Anyway on a lot of the vacancies I've seen that one of the requirements is RSA 1 or 2 or an equivalent. My mum has this qualification and I can type at the same speed as her and at the same accuracy. I can touch type without looking at the keys at quite a high speed.

I have an A Level in ICT and also have the ECDL qualification, would this be good enough to show I can type accurately and efficiently or do I need to go and do a proper typing course?

Thank you

DCFC79

Id say a proper typing course(does the ecdl, a level course cover typing speeds,) , have you looked for jobs in typing and looked at the job description as that could give a clue

millsymuttleylaugh

No neither of them have a specific typing element. Alot of the admin jobs are looking for RSA or equiv - I just don't know what the equiv is

Horace

If the jobs are looking specifically for RSA 1 and 2 then that is what they need - you can take these exams at college usually evening classes.

I have no idea these days what standards RSA 1 and 2 are - when I was starting out RSA was around 30wpm, RSA 2 around 45wpm and RSA 3 - well above that but I don't know if RSA 3 is even offered these days and not many employers ask for it.

The equivalent may be Pitmans.

tsimehC

Horace wrote: »

If the jobs are looking specifically for RSA 1 and 2 then that is what they need - you can take these exams at college usually evening classes.

I have no idea these days what standards RSA 1 and 2 are - when I was starting out RSA was around 30wpm, RSA 2 around 45wpm and RSA 3 - well above that but I don't know if RSA 3 is even offered these days and not many employers ask for it.

The equivalent may be Pitmans.

I type at 50 WPM and I was matched at RSA 3 so you're probably spot on with regards to the typing standards. RSA 3 is a 20 hours study course which I decided not to do as of yet but it's available under long-distance learning iirc.

edit: I had a friend who went for one of those data entry jobs and he did not have the required RSA 2 so they tested him in the job interview. This involved listening to someone speaking and you having to type at a certain speed. You could stop the audio file at any time but you get penalised if you're too slow (my friend did not pass it! xD)

angeltreats

If the jobs you're looking at are through an agency then normally when you register with an agency they will give you a few tests in Word, Excel etc, and also test your typing. I was a legal secretary for about eight years, which is a job where you really need to be able to type at a decent speed (although I'm now trying to change career!) and have never been asked for RSI or any other typing qualifications, but I test at around 105 wpm, which I state on my CV and that seems to be good enough for potential employers.

Most of the colleges probably don't start their courses till September, so in the meantime if I were you I'd try the typing test here to find out your speed and then just put it on your CV, try applying for some of the jobs you've spotted and see if you get anywhere.

donnac2558

They are no longer called RSA but OCR.
I did RSA 1 and 2 back in the 80's. Now what I used to call word processing is infact just part of a course text processing is the other, it is split into two seperate exams. If you complete 4 units in the OCR you receive a diploma.

To be honest they don't even test your speed on the courses. You get 1 hour 45 mins to do each unit. A temp agency will test your speed, but no record is made when doing the exam or even the course.

The exam consisting of typing letters, documents, correcting errors in the documents. Creating a table inputting the information. You can do stage 1, 2 and 3 as in the old RSA. The centre I attend refuses to even consider doing stage 1 as its so basic. You are set on stage 2 course straight away.

I am doing a course at the moment part time. Have completed the word and text parts and now doing business presentation which is power point.

The girl I sit beside in class is Polish and types using two fingers, but she is fast and has completed and passed the exams. She infact only wanted to do the word and text parts and is now on stage 3.

anamenottaken

donnac2558 wrote: »

They are no longer called RSA but OCR.

That's right.
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
(formerly Oxford and Cambridge universities examination boards and the Royal Society of Arts)

angel.cake_2

Just put your typing speed on your CV. If they want to check it, they will give you a typing test.

In 15 years I have never been asked to prove my typing speed with qualifications or a test, except by a couple of agencies but that is only because agencies have their little rules to follow :mad:

Actually, I would avoid agencies at all costs when looking for permanent admin/secretarial work.

SandC

I would say you are fine with your 'equiv' of being able to type to a certain speed, with the required accuracy. They will give you a typing test if they really want to be sure (which they may well do, many people who have not been trained to touch type thing they are quicker and more accurate than they are - not saying you are in this band of people but if they don't check they are taking your word for it).

I have used agencies for all my jobs as a PA since the very first one - I found in my area the better companies to work for use agencies rather than doing the legwork themselves. Of course, another good way is to send your CV off to the HR department of all the companies you might like to work for - you never know if you send it at the right time there may be something suitable - even the bigger companies would rather not pay the agency fee!