What does a General Clerk do?
General clerks are responsible for a variety of miscellaneous and administrative tasks within an organization. These include answering and transferring calls, sorting and delivering incoming emails, and scheduling appointments. They are also responsible for providing information to clients and staff members, preparing and processing bills and office documents, and performing data entry tasks. General clerks are often employed in almost all industries. This position typically requires a high school diploma and basic knowledge of computer applications such as spreadsheet software and word processing.
General clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real general clerk resumes:
- Excel, beginners & PowerPoint, beginners.
- Have knowledge of CPRS navigation and ICD-9 codes.
- Engage in transactions involving cash where constant math and arithmetic occurs.
- Utilize PowerPoint to communicate daily, weekly contest, and training material.
- Close money bags daily using math and also logic (when necessary).
- Assist the 2010 CFC group with their video presentations to galvanize employee donations throughout entire FSA.
- Include were A/R, typing letters for management and taking orders over the phone and from walk-in customers.
- Establish if patient requires a referral from eligibility prior to being seen in the clinic from research in CPRS.
- Work with equipment like fryers and slicers, and use store intercoms to announce special promotions and weekly specials.
- Cut meat, clean slicers, make deli subs, help customers find anything they need in the deli section
- Represent FSA at local and national outreach events to share FAFSA news with parents, students, and school counselors.
- Perform custodial duties such as sweeping, dusting, mopping, cleaning windows and lavatories, and removing snow and ice.
- Demonstrate appropriate verbal/behavior responses to situations in which potential risk/danger exist for staff and patients.
- Complete and rout receiving reports for replacement inventory items and special order items for individual patients.
- Authorize to verify veteran's medical records to ensure veterans get their medical benefits.
General clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of General Clerks are proficient in Customer Service, Data Entry, and Office Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of General Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 12%
Provided customer service, administrative and clerical support to military department managers in a professional, courteous and timely manner.
- Data Entry, 10%
Operated office machinery including data entry terminal, personal computer, copier, telephone and other office machinery as necessary.
- Office Procedures, 6%
Interpret office procedure documentation and implement procedures with minimum supervision.
- Veterans, 6%
Organized and maintained a large filing system of retired or deceased inactive medical records of military veterans.
- Office Equipment, 5%
Perform administrative office duties including maintaining office equipment and files.
- Citizenship, 5%
Verified financial and citizenship information/documentation.
Common skills that a general clerk uses to do their job include "customer service," "data entry," and "office procedures." You can find details on the most important general clerk responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a general clerk to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "general office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public." Additionally, a general clerk resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "do data entry in access for reason code changes and keep the record of the fax/email sent to the customers. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling general clerk duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "general office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills." According to a general clerk resume, here's how general clerks can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "recorded and input workers time and details on assigned job as a data entry clerk for dpw. "
Organizational skills. This is an important skill for general clerks to perform their duties. For an example of how general clerk responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "general office clerks file and retrieve records." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a general clerk: "organized workstation to reflect the high cleanliness and organizational standards. ".
The three companies that hire the most general clerks are:
- Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation28 general clerks jobs
- Chenega20 general clerks jobs
- DHL19 general clerks jobs
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Compare different general clerks
General clerk vs. Clerk typist
A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients. A clerk-typist must show excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially with handling various typing tasks under strict deadlines and minimal supervision. They also respond and take calls from clients and customers, assisting with their inquiries and concerns.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, general clerk responsibilities require skills like "veterans," "citizenship," "math," and "security clearance." Meanwhile a typical clerk typist has skills in areas such as "payroll," "input data," "scheduling appointments," and "purchase orders." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Clerks typist really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $32,312. Comparatively, general clerks tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $32,575.clerks typist tend to reach similar levels of education than general clerks. In fact, clerks typist are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.General clerk vs. Front office clerk
A front office clerk performs various administrative and secretarial duties, including welcoming and greeting clients and visitors, answering telephone calls, and managing the office budget. You will be responsible for monitoring, organizing, and forwarding emails and maintaining files and records. Other duties include following company policies and procedures, organizing transportation for guests, and handling and resolving guest complaints. In addition, you will also be responsible for invoicing and billing guests for their stay and used services.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, general clerk responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "office procedures," "veterans," "citizenship," and "math." Meanwhile, a front office clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "patients," "check-in," "appointment scheduling," and "patient appointments." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Front office clerks earn a lower average salary than general clerks. But front office clerks earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $32,238. Additionally, general clerks earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $32,575 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Front office clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than general clerks. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.General clerk vs. Mailroom clerk
A mailroom clerk specializes in handling and distributing mail and packages within a company or establishment, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are responsible for scanning and sorting out every parcel through a system, making sure to document everything in and out of the building. Furthermore, there are instances where they must process all outgoing mail by processing it into postal stamping machines, respond to mail inquiries from employees, and maintain records of all transactions.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, general clerks are more likely to have skills like "office procedures," "veterans," "citizenship," and "math." But a mailroom clerk is more likely to have skills like "pickup," "delivery carts," "postage meter readings," and "dhl."
Mailroom clerks earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $35,996. Comparatively, general clerks have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $32,575.When it comes to education, mailroom clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to general clerks. In fact, they're 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.General clerk vs. Room clerk
A room clerk is responsible for receiving guests and assigning them to their respective rooms, typically in a hotel setting. Room clerks manage guests' reservations, explain the policies of the premises, and process their payments for staying at the hotel. They also ensure the rooms' cleanliness, reaching out to the maintenance for any repairs and requests for additional room items. A room clerk must have excellent communication and customer service skills, respond to the customer's inquiries and concerns, and resolve service complaints immediately.
Types of general clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
