Office Clerks, General

What the job really is

Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-9061
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Train other staff members to perform work activities, such as using computer applications.
• Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials.
• Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
• Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
• Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
• Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
• Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
• Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
• Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
• Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
• Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments.
• Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign, Facebook, Google Docs, Google Workspace software, Henry Schein Dentrix, Intuit QuickBooks, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
• File Clerks
• Receptionists and Information Clerks
• Administrative Services Managers
• Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
• Correspondence Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Office Clerks, General — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.