The average adult types somewhere around 40 words per minute. By comparison, a hunt and peck typist can usually max out around 20 wpm, and someone writing with a pen on paper will usually top out at around 15 wpm. Learning to properly touch type can be one of the most important things you learn in 2014.
Why?
Because the world is run by computers. Gone are the days of being able to apply for a job with no typing or computer skills, or just being able to 'get by' with some basic hunt and peck typing. Even a basic cashier's position in a grocery or department store is going to require some basic typing and computer skills. They may not be as stringent as the requirements for say, a programming or secretarial job, but they are still there.Learning to touch type properly may be one of the most important things you ever do. It's proven that touch typists are more efficient as well. Just look at the math.
A touch typist who types 60 words per minute for 60 minutes will type approximately 3600 words, not accounting for breaks or any accuracy discrepancy.
A hunt and peck typist, typing at 20 words per minute for the same amount of time, will only type 1200 words. That is a 66% loss of efficiency.
There is a little section on a resume template that many people overlook: the applicant's words per minute typing speed. Try applying for a few computer or office jobs with a listing of 20 or 30 words per minute. Keep track of how many times your resume is overlooked, passed over, or simply thrown in the trash. With the abundance of free online training tools and games, there is no excuse for anyone over the age of 6 to not learn proper touch typing techniques and skills. It is, without a doubt, the most important skill you can learn to make you valuable in the job market.
