Clerical Job Description

Initially, a person may get less payment and may be appointed at entry-level positions, but after a few years, the person has a chance to get in core administration positions, that are highly paid. A person needs to be patient and work efficiently so that his or her efforts are recognized by the company.

After noticing the dedication and excellency in the job, a person is most likely to get a position of more responsibility and greater rewards. Clerks are basically administrative assistants, and their primary role is to provide administrative support to the company, that helps in the smooth functioning of the company.

Clerical jobs essentially consist of secretarial duties. There are various basic skills required to perform clerical jobs efficiently. Here are some of the important clerical duties and clerical skills that form the primary aspects of the job.

A clerk must be good at business communication skills. He or she must have good verbal and written skills. This is important, because most organizations assign the task of handling the reception counter to clerks.

Many people call to inquire about the company or for some details. So, a receptionist must be able to handle enquirers and work as well as information requests. They have to send and draft professional emails and letters as part of the formal communication of the company. So, they must have good command over language to communicate effectively.

Every industry or every company requires special software that help make their work easy. Some companies have special industry relevant software, and also have software for internal communication. In such cases, a clerk must be able to learn this software fast and must be good at using a particular software.

Many companies provide training to the employees to learn a particular software, whereas, in some companies, it is mandatory for candidates to be efficient in a particular software before applying. A clerk must be good at typing, photocopying, scanning and faxing, as he or she may have to distribute documents in bulk.

Organizations are bound to receive and send various notices, letters, reports, etc., which need to be documented well for future reference. A clerk also must check the documents, correspondence letters, and annual reports, etc., before distributing it, to avoid any errors in the communication process.

A clerk needs to arrange these documents section wise in different files in a logically and comprehensively. It can be manual or computerized documentation. In some companies, managing petty cash is one of the important jobs of a clerk. In such cases, having good accounting software knowledge, data entry skills, and good filing system is very important.

To do this, clerks must have good organizational skills, make contacts with relevant industry people and be ready to comply with last minute demands by the company or executives. For this, they need good problem-solving and prioritizing skills. Clerks maintain a smooth and regular flow of communication and must pay attention to all details to avoid blunders.

For clerical jobs, higher education is not mandatory. Anyone with diploma from a recognized institution or vocational center can apply for them. However, Bachelor's degree in office management is preferred by most companies. Clerks are expected to acquire different skills at some stages in their career, so they must be ready to learn new things on the job.

The annual average salary for a clerk is USD 31,000 and is subject to variation for different organizations according to their job responsibility, work type, and financial condition. Also, the salary may vary according to the experience of the candidate, and may go up to USD 51,000 if you have the latest skills.

In different organizations, there are various names for office assistant duties and clerical positions, such as front desk assistant, receptionist, customer representative executive, etc., but the nature of the job is almost similar.

Generally, only a high school diploma is the basic qualification required for a clerical job. Training for other proficiencies must be provided on the job. From this description, it is clear that clerical jobs form the back bone of the company's administration, and one cannot afford to undermine it's significance.