Almost every organization needs clerical workers. No matter what a company sells or what services they provide, there is always a need for someone to keep records, sort through mail, answer phone calls, and compile reports for management.
While clerical work usually doesn’t require extensive education, it’s not a job that just anyone can do. Below, we discuss what clerical work is and how to determine whether it’s a good fit for you.
WHAT IS CLERICAL WORK?
Clerical work is a career field that includes a variety of related office jobs. While these jobs may involve slightly different duties, they have a few things in common: they all require a combination of people, computer, and organization skills, and the office can’t function well without them.
One of the most common clerical roles in the U.S. is administrative assistant. This role usually requires a combination of answering phones, organizing files, scheduling appointments and meetings, keeping records, and performing bookkeeping tasks.
Other common job titles include office manager, virtual assistant, information clerk, receptionist, and executive assistant.
QUIZ: SHOULD YOU BE A CLERICAL WORKER?
Not everyone has the right skills or personality to be an excellent clerical worker. Ask yourself the questions below and keep track of your answers to find out if clerical work would be a good career for you!
1. DO YOU HAVE GOOD VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS, BOTH IN PERSON AND ON THE PHONE?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
2. DO YOU HAVE GOOD WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
3. CAN YOU TYPE QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
4. CAN YOU ACCURATELY COMPLETE DATA ENTRY TASKS?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
5. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE SOFTWARE?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
6. CAN YOU USE (OR LEARN TO USE) ADVANCED SOFTWARE SUCH AS ACCOUNTING OR PAYROLL SOFTWARE?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
7. CAN YOU OPERATE (OR LEARN TO OPERATE) OFFICE MACHINES SUCH AS PHOTOCOPIERS, SCANNERS, AND VOICE MAIL SYSTEMS?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
8. CAN YOU FOLLOW MODERATELY COMPLEX PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
9. ARE YOU GOOD AT ORGANIZATION AND SORTING THROUGH FILES?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
10. ARE YOU GOOD AT TIME MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
11. DO YOU PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DETAILS?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
12. ARE YOU DEPENDABLE?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
13. CAN YOU MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND CUSTOMERS?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
14. ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK IN AN OFFICE FOR 8 HOURS A DAY?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
15. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A CAREER THAT TYPICALLY PAYS $12-24 PER HOUR, DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND EXPERIENCE?
A: Yes
B: Somewhat
C: No
Now tally up the number of A’s, B’s, and C’s in your answers. If you answered mostly A’s with a few B’s, you would likely make an excellent clerical worker!
To get a clearer picture of your current clerical skills level or practice for an assessment, you may want to take a clerical skills practice test. You may also want to check out our tips for getting your first clerical job.
LOOKING FOR A CLERICAL JOB? APPLY WITH LG TODAY!
LG Resources is a national staffing agency specializing in the clerical, logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing industries. We believe jobs can change lives, and we love helping hardworking people find roles that match their skills and talents. If you are looking for a clerical job, apply with us today.
