How Fast Do You Type?

As an office PA, you’re going to do a lot of typing. Like, a lot. Emails, lunch reports, wrap reports, production reports, call sheets. (Those last two aren’t technically your responsibility, but trust me, you’re going to have to modify them, anyway.)

Typing fast gives you an advantage, as long as it’s accurate. Double check whatever it is that you’re typing is correct before you turn it in. You don’t get points for handing over an incorrect production report.

That being said, faster is better than slower, which is why I always tell people to put their typing speed in the “skills” section of their resume. Like speaking multiple languages, it’s one more way to stand out from the crowd.

One caveat: only put your typing speed if you actually type quickly. The average person can type about 40 words per minute. 50WPM isn’t that impressive; 70WPM is. If you don’t know how fast you type, there are plenty of free resources on the internet to test yourself.