General Office Clerk
A General Office Clerk is a professional who provides essential administrative and clerical support within various organizational settings, such as business offices, hospitals, and government agencies. Their responsibilities typically encompass a range of tasks, including data entry, filing, answering phones, preparing invoices and payroll, and managing correspondence. The role is often suited for individuals who prefer structured office environments and enjoy tasks that require organization and attention to detail. While a high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement, additional training can enhance job prospects and advancement opportunities.
General office clerks may work full-time or part-time and often collaborate with other clerical staff, adapting to the specific needs of their workplace. The profession is facing a projected decline in employment opportunities, highlighting the importance of versatility and strong communication skills in securing a position. Career advancement can lead to roles such as administrative assistant or secretary, reflecting an escalation in responsibility and complexity of tasks. Overall, the role of a General Office Clerk is vital to the smooth operation of many organizations, making them key players in the business environment.
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Subject Terms
General Office Clerk
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration, Marketing, Sales & Service
Interests: Clerical work, typing, filing, computer work, multitasking
Earnings (Yearly Median): $40,480 per year $19.46 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -7% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Short-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. General office clerks provide generalized administrative and clerical support to their employers. They typically perform a wide range of administrative tasks, including data entry, filing, proofreading, inventory, answering the telephone, preparing invoices and bills, making copies, preparing payroll, and preparing faxes and mailings. General office clerks often work alongside file clerks, payroll clerks, and information clerks in personnel or accounting departments.
Work Environment. General office clerks work in business offices, hospitals, insurance companies, government agencies, and educational institutions. Depending on the employer and particular job specification, a general office clerk may work as a full-time member of a clerical work team or as a term-of-project contractor. General office clerks generally work forty-hour weeks, but overtime may be necessary during periods of increased business. Part-time work is also typical in this occupation.
Occupation Interest. This occupation may be desirable to those who prefer office work yet have little formal education and those who need flexible schedules. Individuals attracted to the general office clerk occupation are organized and detail-oriented. Successful general office clerks are adaptable, dependable, responsible, and manage their time effectively. Strong social and communication skills can also be valuable, especially in team settings. General office clerks should enjoy clerical work and have a background in typing, filing, and basic computer use.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The size and type of work environment determine the duties given to a general office clerk. In large businesses, such as hospitals or multinational corporations, a general office clerk may exclusively perform specialized and repetitive tasks, such as filing patient or client records or answering the telephone. In a small business, such as a corner store or local dry cleaning shop, a general office clerk will likely be responsible for all or some of the administrative and clerical tasks needed to run the business. These operations-related tasks may include placing orders, maintaining inventory, billing and interacting with customers, bookkeeping and recording payroll, fielding phone calls, managing facilities, entering data into computer systems, filing records, proofreading documents, making copies, sorting mail, setting schedules, and preparing faxes and mailings. Those employed by learning institutions may also participate in discussions of work teams, workflows, dynamics, and best practices.
The general office clerk’s work experience also influences the type and amount of office work assigned. Experienced senior office clerks often work in supervisory roles, overseeing payroll and training new clerical hires. In contrast, inexperienced junior general office clerks may be assigned entry-level tasks like filing and taking phone messages. General office clerks of all experience and skill levels use computers, calculators, photocopying machines, word processing software, fax machines, scanners, and postal machines.
Many general office clerks advance to related administrative positions, such as administrative assistant or secretary, that typically have more responsibilities.
Administrative Clerks. Administrative clerks compile and keep records of business transactions and office activities.
Automobile Contract Clerks. Automobile contract clerks verify car sales contracts, calculating fees with tables and calculators.
Claims Clerks. Claims clerks process claims on insurance policies, preparing and making reports as needed.
Ward Clerks. Ward clerks prepare and compile records in hospital nursing units and perform other tasks.
Career Guidance Technicians. Career guidance technicians collect and organize source materials and help others to obtain materials.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. General office clerks work in various businesses and organizations' bright, pleasant office environments. Their work requires sitting at a desk and using computers or other office machines for long periods each day.
Plant Environment. General office clerks working in plant or manufacturing environments provide administrative and clerical support to the business. Although a general office clerk’s office in a plant environment is often kept separate from production lines, they may experience physical risks from production fumes, noise, or plant accidents.
Human Environment. Depending on assignment and organization, a general office clerk’s human environment may be social and collaborative or isolated. General office clerks may interact with colleagues (such as file and payroll clerks), customers, and supervisors.
Technological Environment. General office clerks use computers, internet communication tools, accounting software, word processing software, spreadsheets, adding machines, fax machines, photocopying machines, scanners, telephones, and postal machines to complete their work. Some tasks, such as proofreading, may be assisted by artificial intelligence (AI).
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in becoming general office clerks should prepare by building good study habits. Typing and bookkeeping classes can provide a strong foundation for work as a general office clerk or college-level study in the field. Interested high school students may benefit from administrative internships or part-time clerical work with local businesses. High school students may find employment as general office clerks directly following graduation.
Postsecondary. A high school diploma or its equivalent is the minimum education required for general office clerks; however, formal postsecondary training increases a candidate’s opportunities for employment and advancement in the field. Postsecondary students interested in becoming general office clerks should earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in secretarial science, bookkeeping, or general business. English, mathematics, and business classes may be helpful in future work. Students can gain work experience and potential advantage in future job searches by securing administrative internships, work-study positions, or part-time clerical employment with local businesses.
Related Occupations
− Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk
Bibliography
"General Office Clerks." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/general-office-clerks.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 43-9061 Office Clerks, General." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/Oes/current/oes439061.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.