To think that typing tests are useless and frustrating!?

[Jellyeggz]

I am interviewing for a job that I know I will be perfect for (the hiring manager even told me so!) - I have all the right skills and useful experience but a standard test that they require all employees to do is a typing one.

Any wpm test I have used before tells me I do between 50-55wpm but the one they require done is giving me an average of 43 wpm as it is not sentences but just a random mish mash of letters, numbers and punctuation for lines and lines.

I don't see how this is a true reflection of someone's typing speed - I will never be typing strings of random letters and punctuation - only ever actual sentences of real words!

Sorry, maybe tiredness is making me unduly frustrated but I am ready to pull my hair out - I type all day, every day in my current job - I am more than competent - most people are these days - typing tests just seem archaic to me. Grrrr.

That sounds like a crap test. But everyone will get a slower speed on it not just you!

I've given quite a few typing tests to prospective employees and never one like this! Tbh loads of people now have very very low typing speeds so I wouldn't worry too much about the wpm you are getting as that would probably be averaged above for that kind of test.

Can I ask what the role is? Have a look for an online typing tutor to bring your speed up, you'll not regret it if the job is typing heavy.

Try to relax before you do it, maybe play some of the typing games first. 40-50 words per minute is pretty average for a non-typist but computer user so please try not to stress or your fingers will hit every other key wrong!

Good luck!

Depends on the job - lots of data entry requires you to be able to input strings of gibberish accurately - and if that’s what they need that’s what they should test. It’ll be the same for everyone.

Hi all - it’s actually just a PA role so absolutely no strings of gibberish involved - so wound up right now, I think I just need to go to bed!

Thanks for your words of encouragement!

Hey! Not ‘just’ a PA role! I wouldn’t be able to do the job of half the PA’s in the company I work for. I think they keep the company afloat as without them the board wouldn’t meet or have half the reports they need!
Best of luck to you and hope you get it! ☺️

Test may well be designed to tes accuracy and attention to detail rather than speed. Be confident in yourself and your skills/ experience and try not to worry about it.

Thanks porkpie - you’re right!

I hope I do too - I’m just super stressed out by it all at the minute - I have had a hectic few weeks - packing up and deciding to leave a job I was comfortable in and move to a different country alone (but that’s a whole other story!) at less than a weeks notice - I need a holiday!