Words Per Minute/Note taking

[Wheresmrpenguin]

I've got an interview for a job soon, and I had to confirm my WPM was over 50 and it is essential as I'd be doing note taking, which i've never done before and haven't stated I have. Anyway, last I tested it was around 70 and my skills have gotten better since then, although im a bit rusty from being out of work for about year & half.

So, i've been doing tests and i'm now not hitting the 50 at times! But the tests are reading words off a screen and writing it underneath, but ive been doing better in some tests when i'm not just copying, and basically typing blind so not seeing what I'm typing.

Is anyone a note taker? And got any advice? Aren't you normally listening to conversations and then typing as they talk and not reading off a board and typing the same words? i'm pretty confident doing that so don't understand how I can test this accurately and say I'd be confident in note taking.

You are normally listening and typing yes and I have to tell you, it's even harder than reading off a screen.

Try typing the interviews on Radio 4 as they happen.

@FortunesFave

You are normally listening and typing yes and I have to tell you, it's even harder than reading off a screen.

Try typing the interviews on Radio 4 as they happen.

Thanks, I'll try that. I've been watching videos and then typing the notes alongside and been doing Ok and keep up.

See, I think the reason I'm struggling with the words one, I'm slowing down because I'm watching spaces and spelling too much cos it stops me from typing the next word unless that one is correct and it blocks, where as normally I'd just carry on typing and fix my errors later. Not sure if that's normal either, I'm struggling to find anything that's listening to text.

My job description said that and I applied and have never needed to touch type. Just to reassure you, but not sure if it's the case in your experience.

@JanuaryBones

My job description said that and I applied and have never needed to touch type. Just to reassure you, but not sure if it's the case in your experience.

Part of me is thinking the same, there's a more senior person who I think will be they will be doing it, but I'd be doing it when theyre on holiday. It's bit of a PA job, but my job is like an extra hand.

I touch type. I used to be a PA and did a lot of audio typing, and now I do lots of note taking during meetings for my own purposes. I'm fast, 100+ wpm on a good day, but what does help is just brain dumping as the words come out, ignoring any typos and formatting, and tidying it all up later. My notes tend to be almost a transcript, it's quicker as you're not using brain power to put it into a usable format as you type so you don't have to think about it too much and can concentrate on the meeting itself.

It's almost like muscle memory really.

If you really wanted to practice, the Radio 4 suggestion is a good one.

It depends what they want. I’m a governance offer and take minutes in meetings. I’m also an ex-PA with a copy typing speed of 70wpm and an audio typing speed of 95wpm.

It sounds as though you are trying to take verbatim notes (word for word). The “speed of speech” is between 125-150 wpm and only the very quickest touch typists would be able to hit that - that’s why in courts they use a stenographer who uses a special machine. If they want you to take notes in a meeting then they won’t want verbatim - they will want a summary, where you capture the essentials, and highlights, so, who is present, decisions, actions, and any other important points. Have a look on YouTube - there’s loads of help on how to take notes and minutes, plus simulated meetings to help you practice.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=wAr_t2OsEdc

Great thanks so much so far, this is great advice. I have done an online course which advises pretty much the same, but even after taking the advice I'm not able to assess my wpm.

I am a fast typer and would copy in the same way you've both adviced so I don't think I'd have a problem which is why I believe I'm around the 70 mark.

That YouTube video looks like a great idea too, thankyou! I want to go in and show I've learnt how to do it for this job.

You will ALWAYS be slower typing from the screen that you are typing onto. The only way to speed it up is to hide what you've just typed so that your eyes don't stray down there.

If you used to type at 70 it shouldn't take you long to get the speed up. Good luck!!!

@ClaryFairchild

You will ALWAYS be slower typing from the screen that you are typing onto. The only way to speed it up is to hide what you've just typed so that your eyes don't stray down there.

If you used to type at 70 it shouldn't take you long to get the speed up. Good luck!!!

Yes, this is exactly what i'm doing! The less i think of what i'm typing the easier it is. As soon as I spot i've made a spelling mistake my eyes just lock on it up and down until i get it right and it slows me down for a few seconds. It's like my eyes just lock on the errors! I've done some more tests, and i'm up to about 65 now which is good.

Been doing the practice video ones as suggested and oh my they're so hard