Typists help to maintain the flow of written communication needed in offices and businesses by making typewritten copies from written, printed, or recorded material.  

JOB DUTIES

Typists may:

Type letters, reports, stencils, and forms  

Address envelopes  

Verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills  

Collate reports  

Proofread all completed work for spelling, grammar & neatness  

Transcribe from dictation equipment  

Operate duplicating machines  

Fill out forms  

Answer phones and take messages  

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Typists may specialize in these areas:

203.582-066 TYPISTS help to maintain the flow of written communication needed in offices by making typewritten copies from written, printed, or recorded material.  

203.362-010 CLERK-TYPISTS generally type most of the time. They also perform related clerical duties such as filing, sorting and distributing mail, and answering telephones.  

203.382-026 VARITYPE OPERATORS type on electrically powered machines equipped with changeable type styles to produce master copies that are used to reproduce final copies having a printed appearance.  

203.582-078 NOTEREADERS operate a typewriter to transcribe stenotyped notes of court proceedings, following standard formats for the type of material transcribed. They also proofread the typed copy to identify and correct errors, verify the format, and make copies of the typed documents.  

209.382-010 CONTINUITY CLERKS type a descriptive record of motion picture scenes, including dialogue, and such details as wardrobe, hairdress, and on-scene entrances and exits of actors and actresses to aid the editing and assembling of the complete film.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

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WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Typists may work alone or with other Typists in a typing "pool". Typists generally work in clean, well lighted, and well-ventilated offices. Typists frequently work in air-conditioned offices. They usually work 35 to 40 hours per week. Typists who work more than 40 hours usually receive overtime pay or have time off during the week.  

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a routine, organized nature  

• Activities involving machines, processes, or methods in your work  

• Activities involving business contact with people  

You Should Be Able To:

• Follow specific instructions  

• Work within precise limits or standards of accuracy  

• Repeat activities or tasks of short duration  

• Rate information by personal judgment or measurable standards  

• See details and recognize errors in written or typed materials  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You have a sixty line report to fit on a piece of paper that is 8 1/2 x 11. How would you figure your margins to make the whole report fit on one sheet of paper?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Business letters and memorandums and check for grammar and spelling. Below is a sample of a business letter with grammar and spelling errors.  

"Enclosed are a application which you will need to fill out and return before August 8, 1995 thank you for you're interest in working for the brown agency?"  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Write a letter to Mrs. Collins, using semiblock form, expressing our sincere apologies for the confusion in scheduling her appointment.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You need to be able to think about the best way to communicate in writing. Many times a supervisor or clerical staff will ask you to draft a letter giving you only the general idea of what the letter should say. You need to be able to appropriately relay the general idea the best way possible considering what tones, feelings, and attitudes you want the letter to express. 

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: A High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1300 ENGLISH , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

009 SECRETARIAL & RELATED PROGRAMS

This program prepares students to record and transcribe communications, to provide administrative support, and to abstract, classify, and file information. Word processing skills are an integral part of the program. Advanced secretarial students, who complete their instructional activities before the end of the year, may enroll in other vocational programs to acquire additional skills. Skills could be acquired, for example, in a graphic arts program for such occupations as forms designer, keyboard operator, keyliner, offset press operator, and proofreader.  

The following courses may be required for completion of this program:

010 BUSINESS SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY

Approved programs in the Business Services and Technology are a combination of programs in accounting and computing, business data processing, and secretarial programs. The "cluster" provides students with access to acquiring an employable skill for an occupation within the broad field of business and office. Courses in other business and office programs may be required for completion of this program.  

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

138 GENERAL OFFICE CLERK TRAINING

Programs in General Office Clerk Training are designed for the individuals who wish to learn the basic clerical skills needed for employment in the various office settings. The programs will prepare students to perform such duties as duplicating data, compiling records and reports, tabulating and posting data in record books, sorting and filing correspondence and records, handling mail, and operating office machines.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

158 SECRETARIAL STUDIES

Programs in Secretarial Studies provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment in many types of office settings and at many skill levels including management. Individuals who teach Secretarial studies at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALISTS

The military must keep accurate information for planning and managing its operations. Written and automated records are kept on equipment, funds, personnel, supplies, and all other aspects of the military activity. Administrative support specialists record information, type reports, and maintain files to assist in the operation of military offices.  

What They Do

Administrative support specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:  

• Type letters, reports, requisition (order) forms, and official orders  

• Proofread written material for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors  

• Organize and maintain files and publications  

• Order office supplies  

• Greet and direct office visitors  

• Sort and deliver mail to office workers  

• Schedule training and leave for unit personnel  

• Answer phones and provide general information  

• Take dictation and make notes of meetings using shorthand or stenotype machines  

Work Environment

Administrative support specialists work in office settings, both on land and aboard ships.  

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include English, math, shorthand, and typing. Helpful attributes include:  

• Interest in keeping organized and accurate records  

• Preference for office work  

• Interest in operating typewriters, word processors, and other office machines  

• Ability to organize and plan  

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian administrative support specialists work in most business, government, and legal offices. They perform duties similar to military administrative support specialists and are called clerk typists, secretaries, general office clerks, administrative assistants, or office managers.  

Training Provided

Job training consists of 6 to 10 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in various office functions. Course content typically includes:  

• English grammar, spelling and punctuation  

• Typing and clerical skills  

• Setting up and maintaining filing and publication systems  

• Preparing forms and correspondence in military style  

Further training occurs on the job.

Opportunities

The military has about 47,200 administrative support specialists. On average, the services need about 3,600 new specialists each year. After job training, specialists develop their skills under close supervision. As they gain experience specialists are assigned more difficult tasks and work more independently. In time, they may supervise and eventually manage an office. With experience and additional training, they may become secretaries, legal technicians, personnel specialists or enter related fields.    

E-Learning Courses and Programs 

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Employers require applicants to take a typing test for speed and accuracy. A speed of 50 to 60 words per minute is usually required. Some firms test applicants' spelling, punctuation, filing, and arithmetic abilities.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a Typist employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Typist employer  

community service work with an agency  

Secondary vocational education programs in secretarial and business services and technology, as well as postsecondary general office clerk programs and secretarial studies programs may offer a co-op or work experience opportunities. In addition, summer or part-time work and military service may provide experience in this field.  

Most Typists acquire jobs through direct application to employers. Jobs may be located by consulting newspaper want ads, school placement offices, and local Michigan Works! offices. Typists wishing to find employment in federal, state, or local government are required to take a civil service exam. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:      

Michigan Talent Bank

America's Job Bank 

Classifieds Employment 

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Wages of Typists vary by employer, geographic location, level of the job, and experience. Higher wages are generally paid in urban areas. Typists employed by manufacturing firms, such as those in the auto industry, generally have higher than average earnings.  

Nationally in 2000, Typists had median earnings of $24,388 per year.  The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $29,952 in 2000. Typists hired by the federal government with no previous experience started at $16,015 per year in 2001, and experienced Typists began at $17,474 or $19,616. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  

In Michigan, Typists averaged $23,800 per year, with most earning between $20,400 and $25,100 in early 2001.  

Annual salaries for Typists working for private employers in Michigan were (2000):    

Clerk-Typists employed by Michigan city governments earned from $11,440 to $42,000 per year in early 2001. Those in county agencies earned from $13,728 to $29,066 in 2000. Typist Clerks employed by the State of Michigan in mid 2001 earned from $27,645 to $37,584 per year.  

Most Typists receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; sick leave; and retirement plans. Some may also receive dental insurance, optical care plans, and full or partial reimbursement for educational expenses. Some employers may offer stock purchase/savings plans for salaried employees.  

As beginners increase their skills, they often advance to higher level typing jobs. After learning shorthand, Typists may be promoted to secretary or stenographer. Other Typists may be promoted to a specialized typing job such as varitypist, dictaphone typist, or statistical typist or to a nontyping position, such as calculating and checking clerk. Still others may advance to a supervisory job in a word processing center or to an administrative position.  

Applying directly to employers is the most common method of entering the Typist occupation. 

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 434,600 Typists were employed in 1998. However, a large portion of those workers were employed as word processors. Employment of Typists is expected to decline through the year 2008. About 3.6% of them were self employed. The industry distribution for Typists looked like this:  

Increased productivity resulting from a greater use of word processing equipment and other technology will limit growth. However, employment opportunities are projected for Typists as high replacement needs create a continuing demand for new Typists. Opportunities should be best for highly skilled workers who are familiar with word processing equipment and who can perform other office jobs besides typing.  

There are approximately 15,300 Typists employed in Michigan. Most worked in urban areas. Typists are employed in almost every industry: by schools, colleges, and universities; hospitals; banks; insurance companies and agencies; government agencies; real estate companies; wholesale and retail businesses; and manufacturing companies. Some worked for transportation and utility companies, or other firms.  

Employment of Typists is expected to decline or decrease through the year 2008. An average of 300 annual openings are expected all due to replacement of Typists who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as Typists change jobs or occupations.  

The number of new openings for Typists is expected to be somewhat lower than in the past. This is because duplicating machines, automatic or memory typewriters, and similar equipment are being used for the routine copy work usually done by inexperienced Typists. Part-time opportunities should continue to be excellent as more employers turn to part-time or temporary workers during peak business periods.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below:  

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development