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Clerical aide skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Guillaume de Syon Ph.D.,

Amanda Carpenter

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical clerical aide skills. We ranked the top skills for clerical aides based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.6% of clerical aide resumes contained clerical support as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a clerical aide needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 clerical aide skills for your resume and career

1. Clerical Support

Clerical support performs activities that must be done in every workplace in order to support the company going forward. These duties, which come within the category of clerical support, are typically delegated to entry-level employees since they are simple and easy to learn. Even though clerical duties like printing and filing are easy, they require time and in many instances, other workers are preoccupied with other activities and unable to keep up with all that needs to be accomplished. As a result, many businesses employ clerical support staff who are solely responsible for these duties.

Here's how clerical aides use clerical support:

Provided clerical support to staff, assisted displaced students with completing financial aid application, prepared and maintained billing statements.
Completed general administrative and clerical support as well as prepared letters and documents received and sorted mail upon deliveries.

2. Computer Data Entry

Here's how clerical aides use computer data entry:

Provided computer data entry and data management related services
Worked as support staff for local farm agency Temporary as needed basis Computer data entry

3. Computer Programs

A computer program is a set of instructions that can be executed by a computer to perform an operation or task. Computer programs are devised by computer programmers in a programming language. Everything a computer does is through a computer program.

Here's how clerical aides use computer programs:

Enter, correct and verify data on the computer using Microsoft computer programs to enter manifest, transfer and receiving.
Utilize multiple computer programs to weigh trucks on a scale and print tickets while receiving cash and check payments.

4. Office Equipment

Here's how clerical aides use office equipment:

Operate standard office equipment including personal computers and centralized telephone equipment as needed to perform tasks.
Acquired office equipment and inventory via general purchasing practices.

5. Purchase Orders

Here's how clerical aides use purchase orders:

General organization and upkeep of Department Files* Mail Distribution* Preparation of purchase order receipts
Filed bids and purchase orders using alphabetical and numerical procedures.

6. Inventory Control

Here's how clerical aides use inventory control:

Process records, enter data and prepare reports for the receiving, order processing, shipping and inventory control.
Monitor and assist in inventory control.

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7. Quality Customer Service

Here's how clerical aides use quality customer service:

Assisted with duties of office staff Filed and sorted documents Answered phone calls Provided quality customer service Clubs/Extracurricular Activities
Provided quality customer service to students.

8. Office Machines

An office machine is a mechanical and electronic device that is used to get work done in an organization or establishment, to finish multiple works in a short time, and to enhance productivity. Office machines are essential in running a modern office and range from calculators to printers to computers.

Here's how clerical aides use office machines:

Performed general office duties such as typing, operating office machines, and sorting mail (when needed).
Operated office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, and fax.

9. Word Processing

Here's how clerical aides use word processing:

Performed numerous clerical functions including word processing and data entry.
Performed basic word processing assignments.

10. Front Desk

Here's how clerical aides use front desk:

Sorted and transferred case files in addition to basic front desk duties such as filing, typing, and answering phones
Balanced excellent customer service at the front desk by serving as liaison between external customers and staff.

11. Scheduling Appointments

Scheduling appointments is the practice of finding a free slot with the person(s) you want to meet. The process of scheduling appointments involves finding mutually free time, negotiating follow-ups, sending reminders, and creating new appointments. Scheduling appointments is important to ensure that the timings of consecutive meetings do not clash with each other.

Here's how clerical aides use scheduling appointments:

Performed all basic administrative duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, receiving and distributing mail, and data entry.
Distribute Promotional materials Data entry typing reports, and articles Maintain professional work area Scheduling appointments, meetings

12. Direct Calls

Direct calls are connections established with a previous customer or client, most likely a subscriber.

Here's how clerical aides use direct calls:

Receive callers at office, determine nature of business and direct callers to designated department.
Perform clerical task, answered telephones, direct calls, and took messages.

13. Fax Machines

Here's how clerical aides use fax machines:

Operated paper and toner for photo copiers, fax machines for all Departments.
Operated copy machines, fax machines, scanners, and printers.

14. Transferring Calls

Here's how clerical aides use transferring calls:

Filed paper work, set appointments, stack items, faxing, answering & transferring calls
Communicated with a high volume of clients daily, taking detailed messages and transferring calls.

15. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how clerical aides use payroll:

Review completed payroll ledger with original entry documents to confirm accuracy.
Administered data entry and other forms of record keeping, needed by the payroll and student services departments.

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What skills help Clerical Aides find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young clerical aides need?

Guillaume de Syon Ph.D.

Professor of History, Albright College

The same as the ones they needed before. Employers want a combination of experience as well as writing and reading capacities. There may even be a greater need for decent writing, as the shift to online has affected the workforce. On the positive side, successfully negotiating the pandemic conditions could be considered a sign of adaptability.

What technical skills for a clerical aide stand out to employers?

Amanda Carpenter

Director, California State University Channel Islands

-Data analytics skills are critical technical skills that stand out to employers in today's market. According to NACE (2018), the use of data analytics is projected to have the most significant impact on an organization's operational efficiency and revenue generation.
-Source (NACE): www.naceweb.org

What soft skills should all clerical aides possess?

Brandy Bailey

Career Coach, Ohio University - Lancaster Campus

Soft skills may vary depending on the employer, industry, and personal opinions. My biggest ones are communication skills, adaptability, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural competency, creativity or innovation, and time management.

Do you want to know more?

List of clerical aide skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a clerical aide resume and required skills for a clerical aide to have include:

Clerical Support
Computer Data Entry
Computer Programs
Office Equipment
Purchase Orders
Inventory Control
Quality Customer Service
Office Machines
Word Processing
Front Desk
Scheduling Appointments
Direct Calls
Fax Machines
Transferring Calls

Payroll
Copy Machines
Telephone Calls
Computer System
Database Systems
Clerical Tasks
Library Cards
Office Procedures
Multi-Line Telephone System
PowerPoint
Typewriters
Library Materials
Numerical Order
Voice Mail Systems

Multi-Line Phone System
Administrative Tasks
Facsimile Machines
Route Calls
Clerical Assistance
Patient Charts
Business Transactions
Telephone Inquiries
Office Support
Alphabetical Order
Address Complaints
Mass Mailings
Proofread Data

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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