9 Data Entry Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

If you’ve applied for a position in data entry and made it to the interviewing phase, congratulations.

You understand the ins and outs of a data entry career, so your next move is to be prepared for the kinds of data entry interview questions you may be asked and be ready with answers that help you get the job.

Employers hiring for data entry jobs often look for qualities and qualifications that can vary depending on the industry and the specific job opening.

That said, studying up on data entry interview questions and answers like the ones below may help build your confidence going into the job interview. So, let’s get started!

Note:

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Data Entry Job Interview Questions: Common Types

Below are sample data entry interview questions, broken down by 4 categories (competency and functional, behavioral, situational, and questions for the employer).

— Competency and Functional Data Entry Interview Questions

The goal here is for hiring managers to assess how well you would perform the basic duties of the job. In many cases, the employer may want you to expand on the skills listed on your resume or have you go beyond what’s on paper.

1. How fast and accurate are your keyboarding or typing skills?

Inputting data is a core duty of working in data entry. Be prepared to describe your typing speed and accuracy—even better, back them up with skills tests results like those offered by FlexJobs.

2. What transferable skills would you bring to this job?

If you haven’t worked in data entry before, talk about any past job experiences that may relate to the job you’re seeking. For example, a job where you performed administrative office duties and logged in or recorded data could be a great example of skills that transfer to data entry.

3. What data entry software or programs are you familiar with?

Past experience or training working with commonly used data entry platforms can go a long way toward landing the job. In addition to widely used Microsoft programs, many employers use their own software programs, but any past experience you have with any program can be a boon to your application.

Explore flexible and remote data entry jobs here!

— Behavioral Data Entry Interview Questions

In this category, employers may ask about the skills you would bring to specific scenarios, likely as a way to assess soft or intangible skills and qualifications.

1. What would you do if you weren’t able to keep up with the assigned workload?

Especially if you work at home, communicating with your supervisor and team members can be key. Your answer to this question might focus on your communication skills, and how you would reach out to a boss or colleague for help with an unreasonable workload.

2. How would you handle a missed deadline?

Most data entry positions involve hard-and-fast deadlines for entering information into a database or system. This is another communications-focused question that you could answer by emphasizing your skills at setting internal or “imaginary deadlines” for yourself to boost your productivity.

3. What would you do if you didn’t understand the data you’ve been asked to handle or input?

An employer may want to know that you wouldn’t hesitate to follow up with questions about an assignment you didn’t understand, rather than letting an important deadline pass or doing the work incorrectly.

Explore flexible and remote data entry jobs here!

— Situational Data Entry Interview Questions

1. Are you able to work independently?

If you’re looking for a remote data entry job, employers will want to know that you have what it takes to work from home. Emphasize qualities like your time management skills, your dedicated home office, and your ability to be more productive working from home.

2. Can you describe a past job challenge and how you handled it?

If this question comes up, have an anecdote in mind from a past career-related challenge (not a personal one), that shows how you engineered a successful outcome.

3. How is your home office or workspace adapted (or adaptable) to a data entry job?

Many employers have their own systems in place to check whether your equipment (computer, phone, Wi-Fi speed, etc.) are up to date for the job. Any additional details you can offer describing how your workspace setup is quiet, relatively distraction-free, and ready to go can reassure a potential employer.

Explore flexible and remote data entry jobs here!

— Questions for the Employer

It’s almost inevitable at the end of an interview: the employer may ask if you have any questions for them. For a data entry job, here are a few specific questions to ask of your potential employer:

1. Work Schedule

What are the specific time commitments of the job you’re applying for (hours per day/week, weekend work, etc.)?

2. Company Culture

What is it like to work at Company X? What do you like or dislike about working for Company X? Be sure to carefully analyze company culture.

3. General Questions About Their Data Entry Jobs

Are there other types of data entry jobs at your company besides the one I’m applying for?

4. Opportunities for Advancement

What are the opportunities for promotion and what kind of training do you offer to support career advancement?

5. Their Commitment to Work Flexibility

How committed is your company to flexible work options like working from home or flexible schedules?

Explore flexible and remote data entry jobs here!

Related Job Interview Questions

• 30 Common Interview Questions, Tips, and Example Answers
• How to Answer “Are You Currently Interviewing Elsewhere?”
• How to Answer “What Motivates You?” (Examples)
• Second-Round Interview Questions to Expect from Employers and Why
• Top Situational Interview Questions and Example Answers
• Use the STAR Method to Shine in Your Interview

Acing Your Data Entry Interview

It may seem like a lot to keep in mind, but having a strategic approach could help you perfect the interviews and, ultimately, land the job. Looking for inspiration for your data entry job search? Check out our data entry success stories from FlexJobs members who landed great jobs in the data entry field.