How to hire a general office assistant

How to hire a general office assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step general office assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a general office assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new general office assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a general office assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The general office assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A general office assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, general office assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents general office assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of General Office Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   General Office Assistant	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$11-18
   Office Worker	An office worker is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of the business. Office workers assist in receiving calls to respond to the clients' inquiries and concerns, as well as welcoming visitors, verifying their appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs... Show more	$11-34
   Office Clerk	Office clerks are administrative employees who handle clerical activities for the organization. They are in charge of managing company records, organizing and storing documents, filing and sorting hard copies of documents, and liaising with other departments or external partners... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Customer Service
   • General Office Assistance
   • Front Desk
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Office Equipment
   • Database Systems
   • Clerical Support
   • Payroll
   • Word Processing
   • Telephone Calls
   • Proofread
   • Bank Deposits
   • Direct Calls

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
   • Utilize QuickBooks to prepare checks and process for submission to insurance companies.
   • Assign jobs to the installers into the computer by their installer identification number, addressed any payroll questions from the installers.
   • Distribute payroll and verify accuracy.
   • Maintain general office tidiness run errands and perform other job-relate duties as assigned.
   • Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.

   More general office assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your general office assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A general office assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a general office assistant in Oklahoma may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level general office assistant usually earns less than a senior-level general office assistant. Additionally, a general office assistant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average general office assistant salary

   $14.79hourly

   $30,764 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level general office assistant salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average general office assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$33,876	$16
   2	California	$33,712	$16
   3	Massachusetts	$33,581	$16
   4	Colorado	$32,815	$16
   5	Michigan	$31,181	$15
   6	New Jersey	$30,871	$15
   7	Minnesota	$30,794	$15
   8	New York	$28,986	$14
   9	Illinois	$27,701	$13
   10	Florida	$26,579	$13
   11	Missouri	$26,300	$13
   12	Indiana	$26,296	$13
   13	Texas	$25,793	$12
   14	Georgia	$25,014	$12
   15	Alabama	$23,953	$12

   Average general office assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cargill	$39,794	$19.13	21
   2	City of Jacksonville	$37,761	$18.15
   3	San Francisco University High School	$37,021	$17.80
   4	State Bar of Michigan	$36,957	$17.77	5
   5	Flex-N-Gate	$35,330	$16.99
   6	VisionCorp Rep	$34,840	$16.75
   7	DESE Research	$34,381	$16.53	1
   8	Crowe	$33,221	$15.97
   9	Pediatric Associates, Inc.	$33,206	$15.96
   10	The Ken Blanchard Companies	$31,579	$15.18
   11	Kelly Services	$31,346	$15.07	41
   12	Forms+Surfaces	$31,273	$15.04	3
   13	Adecco	$30,964	$14.89	88
   14	Staffmark	$30,946	$14.88
   15	Area Temps	$30,941	$14.88	10
   16	TLC - The Treatment and Learning Centers	$30,865	$14.84	1
   17	Rogers Auto Group	$30,394	$14.61
   18	ManpowerGroup	$30,337	$14.59	52
   19	The Reserves Network	$30,332	$14.58	5
   20	Napleton Automotive Group	$30,324	$14.58	4

4. Writing a general office assistant job description

   A general office assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a general office assistant job description:

   General office assistant job description example

   1. entering, enrolling, and onboarding newly hired employees

   2. review hourly employees' timecards and process payroll

   3. maintain and file all confidential employee records

   4. communicate and assist employees with the new payroll platform

   Accounts Receivable

   1. Assist with cash applications

   2. Collection calls/emails

   3. Assist with invoicing, printing, mailing & filing of invoices

   4. Customer service

   Accounts payable

   1. Assist with check processing, mailing, and filing

   2. Assist with entering invoices, commissions, and purchase orders

   General ledger

   1. Prepare and enter journal entries

   2. prepare and run various reports

   3. Assist with multiple general ledger functions(bank statements and account reconciliations)

   4. Assist general manager and control different requests

   Summary of the candidate we seek:

   As described above, we require the successful candidate to be capable of the abovementioned duties. We also need excellent communication speaking to vendors and clients. We are looking for a long-term relationship with a candidate looking for future growth and possible advance to higher levels. We need this person to hit the ground running with a friendly personality and a can-do attitude. Your application could be your next position if you’re looking for a long-term growth situation with an excellent company. Please forward your information with the correct information with the suitable cell and phone numbers and email addresses so we may contact you referenced to your application.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find general office assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any general office assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level general office assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your general office assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit general office assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit general office assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new general office assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the general office assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new general office assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a general office assistant?