General Clerical Job Description
General clerical workers can be found in all industry sectors from government and education to hospitals and small business. They are often referred to as general office clerks, office assistants, clerical assistants or administrative clerks, and depending on their primary job duties, they may also have more specific titles such as file clerk, data entry clerk or mail clerk.
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Duties
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Typical job duties include basic clerical tasks such as sorting and routing mail, answering phones, operating basic office equipment (such as photocopiers and fax machines), filing documents and records, typing letters and memos, entering data on a computer, ordering office supplies, taking inventory and other clerical tasks. The specific list of duties can vary immensely and therefore ultimately depends on the type of employer and the exact needs of the job. For example, a clerical worker in a medical office would perform very different tasks from a worker in a school or a large corporation.
Requirements
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Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent, general knowledge of office and clerical procedures, and basic computer skills. Many vocational schools and community colleges offer general business certificate programs and training, which typically include courses in basic office practices, typing, business applications (such as word processing and spreadsheet software), communication and other related subjects.
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Advancement
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General clerical employees can advance into positions such as senior office clerks or assistants, administrative assistants, secretaries, receptionists, customer service representatives, office managers and clerical supervisors. With additional training, advancement into more specialized positions is possible (for example, medical office assistant, legal secretary, executive secretary, human resources assistant, court clerk, sales assistant and project coordinator).
Salary
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In 2008, the national annual median wage for general office clerks was $25,320. Salaries vary depending on the industry and location. For example, the median annual wage in California was $28,000, while in Alabama it was $19,900. Higher-paying industries include local government, education, health care and social assistance.
Job Outlook
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for general clerical workers are expected to grow faster than average at approximately 12 percent between 2008 and 2018. However, this is only true for certain types of office workers. With more employers turning to new technology to automate their office and consolidate administrative-related tasks, the demand for workers who only perform a single function (for example, typists) is rapidly decreasing. Consequently, employers now need more well-rounded office workers who have good computer skills, can handle multiple tasks and responsibilities, and are able to keep up with the constantly changing needs of their employer.
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References
- Photo Credit Office image by 6922Designer from Fotolia.com
