General Office Clerk

Career Overview

General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.

Education

General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. Courses in using computer applications, such as word processing and spreadsheet software, may be helpful for those who aren’t already familiar with them.

Future Outlook

Employment of general office clerks is projected to decline 5 percent from 2019 to 2029. Some office clerks will be needed to handle administrative duties in certain industries, such as healthcare and social assistance, but the increasing use of technology that automates document preparation tasks will result in fewer general office clerks needed to perform the work.

Work Environment

Although general office clerks are employed in nearly every industry, many work in schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices. Some work part time.

Recommended High School Courses

Math
Writing
Communication
Computer Applications

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Operate office equipment.
Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
Respond to customer problems or complaints.
Collect deposits, payments or fees.
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
Prepare cash for deposit or disbursement.
Send information, materials or documentation.
Maintain inventory records.
Compile data or documentation.
File documents or records.
Distribute incoming mail.
Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
Sort mail.
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy.
Check data for recording errors.
Prepare employee work schedules.
Schedule appointments.
Supervise clerical or administrative personnel.
Record information from meetings or other formal proceedings.
Transcribe spoken or written information.
Monitor inventories of products or materials.
Provide information to coworkers.
Train personnel.
Make travel, accommodations, or entertainment arrangements for others.
Maintain office equipment in proper operating condition.

Schools

Potential Scholarships

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$20,320.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$32,740.00 /yr

High End:

$53,180.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.