Returning to work: how to refresh your computer and keyboard skills
If you are returning to work after a career break, start by checking what the jobs you want actually ask for, then refresh the everyday skills employers take for granted: confident keyboard use, email, word processing and basic spreadsheets. In England there are free options if you need them, from the Essential Digital Skills entitlement to local adult education and Skills Bootcamps. Alongside any course, two weeks of short daily keyboard practice can rebuild speed and accuracy before applications and admin typing tests. This guide is for adults in the UK coming back to work after caring, parenting, illness, redundancy or time abroad.
What do office and admin jobs expect from returners?
The National Careers Service job profiles are a reliable place to see what a role really involves. Its admin assistant profile, for example, describes writing letters, emails and reports, keeping data records and filing systems, and supporting meetings, and it lists word processing among the relevant courses. Neighbouring profiles, such as personal or executive assistant, show how expectations rise with the role.
In practice, most office jobs quietly assume that you can:
- type accurately without hunting for keys, including numbers, capitals and punctuation;
- write and organise email, including attachments, folders and calendar invitations;
- create and edit documents with basic formatting;
- enter and check data in a spreadsheet;
- use video calls and shared online documents.
Some roles go further and state a typing speed, especially data entry and legal or medical secretarial work. Only the advert you are applying for tells you whether a number is required, so read it carefully. Our guide to the admin typing test in the UK explains what agencies and employers usually test.
As for the gap itself, try not to worry about it. The National Careers Service advice on explaining gaps in your work history is reassuring: a gap is not a problem in itself, but you should be ready to explain it honestly and focus on the transferable skills you gained, including volunteering or courses. The same service suggests updating digital skills that may have dated during a break, and you can speak to a careers adviser free on 0800 100 900 or by webchat.
Are there free courses to refresh computer skills?
You do not have to pay to get back up to speed, and you may not need a formal course at all. The options below apply in England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own adult learning arrangements, so check locally.
If you are 19 or over and a provider assesses you as not having essential digital skills, you can usually take an Essential Digital Skills qualification fully funded under a legal entitlement. Our guide to Essential Digital Skills and typing explains who qualifies and what the courses cover. If you mainly want confidence rather than a qualification, your council's adult and community learning service and local colleges often run short IT and office courses, in person or online, and the National Careers Service has a course search to find them.
Skills Bootcamps are a different kind of option. They are free courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over living in England, and successful learners are offered a job interview or employment support at the end; if you are employed, your employer may be asked to contribute. They focus on in-demand sectors such as digital, construction, logistics and engineering, so they are not general office refreshers and suit you best if you already know the direction you want. The government lists Skills Bootcamp delivery areas and contacts by region.
Eligibility and availability vary by area and change over time, so always check with the provider. If you are claiming benefits, ask your Jobcentre work coach what local support is available before you enrol.
How can you refresh your keyboard skills in two weeks?
This plan assumes you used a computer before your break but feel rusty, or never learned to type without looking. Allow 15 to 20 minutes a day, because short, regular sessions work better than an occasional long one.
| Days | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline | Take a 1-minute and a 3-minute typing test. Write down net words per minute and accuracy. |
| 1–3 | Finger placement | Rest your fingers on the home row (A S D F, J K L ;), find the ridges on F and J, and practise without looking down. |
| 4–7 | Full keyboard | Work through the top and bottom rows with short exercises. Keep accuracy above 95%, even if that means slowing down. |
| 8–10 | Numbers and symbols | Practise the number row, the @ sign, pound signs, dates and postcodes, which appear constantly in admin work. |
| 11–12 | Real tasks | Type a short formal email, a letter and a list of names and addresses into a spreadsheet. Learn the shortcuts for copy, paste, undo and saving. |
| 13 | Stamina | Take a 5-minute test to check you can hold speed and accuracy for longer. |
| 14 | Review | Repeat the day 1 tests and compare. Note your best recent, repeatable result. |
Check your posture every day as you go: sit back, keep your wrists relaxed and the screen at eye level. If you are starting from scratch, take the steps more slowly and follow a structured course through the keyboard rather than jumping ahead. Two weeks is a refresh, not a finish line, so keep practising for ten minutes a day while you apply.
How should you show typing and computer skills on your CV?
Put a typing speed on your CV only when the job asks for it or clearly depends on it, and state it with context, such as "Typing: 45 wpm net, 97% accuracy (5-minute test, October 2026)". Use a result you can repeat, because many employers test you at interview. Our guide to typing speed on a UK CV explains net and gross speed and how to word it.
Beyond the number, use the skills section to show recent, concrete activity. List any courses you completed during or after your break, with dates, and the software you use confidently, such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and video calls. Practical evidence counts too: volunteering, a school or community committee, or running a household budget all show skills in use. Being specific and recent tells employers that your skills are current, which is usually their main concern after a break.
How do you prepare for an admin typing test?
Recruitment agencies and some employers set short typing or data entry tests. They usually measure speed and accuracy over a few minutes, sometimes by copy typing from a document or entering figures. Practise in the same format: timed, from a printed or on-screen source, and without stopping to perfect every word. Take a free typing test at 1, 3 or 5 minutes to see where you stand, and use the admin typing test guide above for a fuller preparation plan.
Where Kluppy fits
Kluppy is one option for the keyboard part of your return. It runs in the browser, including on Chromebooks, with nothing to install and no ads. The typing test and typing exercises are free without signing up. A free account, with no card needed, covers the finger-placement level and levels 1 to 7 of the free typing course, which is enough for the two-week plan. Paid plans from level 8 add AI-generated exercises built from your own errors; paid plans for individuals in pounds are coming soon in the UK, and the UK pricing page shows what is available today. If you want a record of a result to mention in an application, the typing speed certificate is a verifiable record of a test taken on Kluppy; it is not a qualification.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free return to work skills course?
Often, yes. In England, eligible adults can study Essential Digital Skills qualifications free, local adult education services often run free or low-cost short courses, and Skills Bootcamps are free for eligible adults aged 19 and over. Check eligibility with each provider, as it depends on your circumstances and where you live.
How long does it take to get my typing speed back?
If you could touch type before your break, a week or two of daily practice is often enough to feel comfortable again. If you have always looked at the keys, expect a few weeks of practice before touch typing overtakes your old speed.
Do I need a qualification to show computer skills?
Not usually. Many admin employers care more about what you can do, which they may test directly. A course can help if you need structure or want something recent to list, but practical evidence and a solid typing test result often matter as much.
Should I mention my career break on my CV?
The National Careers Service suggests stating briefly why you took time off and focusing on the skills you gained. Keep it short and positive, and be ready to talk about the break at interview.