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Office clerical assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Allison White,

Allison White

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical office clerical assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for office clerical assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 19.8% of office clerical assistant resumes contained data entry as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an office clerical assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 office clerical assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how office clerical assistants use data entry:

Performed data entry operations and report generation and printing.
Performed various clerical duties including data entry, filing, faxing, and mass mailing for State Printing and Duplicating department.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how office clerical assistants use customer service:

Facilitated daily administrative functions including customer service, Registered Patients filed Physician's reports, operating fax and copying machines.
Assist customers with scheduling issues and answering questions for customer service representatives from our Arizona location.

3. Patients

Here's how office clerical assistants use patients:

Provided timely and professional service to patients in all areas of responsibility.
Communicated with patients and other individuals to answer questions and addressed complaints.

4. Word Processing

Here's how office clerical assistants use word processing:

Performed office and clerical duties including phone concierge, word processing, layout creation, and graphic and design work.
Enter Customer Records and Data into Word Processing Program for the Company Logs.

5. Office Equipment

Here's how office clerical assistants use office equipment:

Performed accurate use of office equipment including filing of important documents and operating copy and fax machines.
Maintained office equipment to work properly and efficiently.

6. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how office clerical assistants use windows:

Use of MS Excel and Word on Windows NT; use of fax and copier machine.
Managed and conducted organization of silage income through Windows Excel worksheets

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7. Office Procedures

Office procedures are the protocols and standards which define how the staff works together. The office procedures can be a set of rules and regulations which guide the employees and help them run the office operations smoothly. Paperwork, customer interaction, taking messages, handling calls in and out all fall under the office procedures.

Here's how office clerical assistants use office procedures:

Advise office staff on administrative and procedural requirements.ENSURE OFFICE PROCEDURES MEET ORGANIZATIONS NEEDS.
Set up and assist in office procedures when needed.

8. 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 office clerical assistants use scheduling appointments:

Performed office tasks such as scheduling appointments, updated patient charts, filling, took payments and other various office duties.
Maintained inventory of office supplies and scheduling appointments with customers in order to plan trips.

9. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how office clerical assistants use telephone calls:

Fostered connections with constituents from conducting telephone calls about local problems.
Answer telephone calls, make appointments, receive and direct clients, and resolve routine and complex inquiries.

10. 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 office clerical assistants use payroll:

Prepared payroll summary and submitted to accountant for direct deposit.
Complete manual and electronic certified payroll reports.

11. 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 office clerical assistants use clerical support:

Provide office administrative and clerical support duties to businesses assigned by the Experience Works Training Coordinator
Provided general office assistance and clerical support.

12. Front Desk

Here's how office clerical assistants use front desk:

Answered an abundant amount of inbound calls to front desk and routed calls to appropriate personnel.
Accepted letters and packaged delivered to the front desk and distributed them to appropriate staff.

13. Hippa

HIPAA, which stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a United States federal statue created, enacted, and turned to law in 1996, which whose primary purposes were to modernise the healthcare systems in the United States, secure and generally enhance the management of that personal information of patients that was in the hands of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and insurance companies, and to enable the providing of healthcare and insurance to more people.

Here's how office clerical assistants use hippa:

Complied with confidentiality; adhered to all HIPPA guidelines/ regulations.
Maintain confidentiality of agency and client records according to HIPPA regulations.

14. Clerical Tasks

Clerical tasks are general office maintenance duties such as answering phone calls, filing and sorting documents, handling deliveries, data entry, and other administrative or office support tasks. Modern clerical roles require basic computer skills and good communication skills.

Here's how office clerical assistants use clerical tasks:

Completed clerical tasks such as filing, typing, appointment scheduling, and other interoffice duties.
Performed basic clerical tasks such as filing, mailings and organization.

15. 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 office clerical assistants use office machines:

Acquired expertise in operating office machines, photocopiers.
Operated various office machines such as adding machines, check encoders calculating, copy, and lottery machines.

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What skills help Office Clerical Assistants find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on office clerical assistant resumes?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

Knowledge of spreadsheets software such as MS Excel is a commonly sought-after skill. Employers want word processing and spreadsheet skills but often say they want high school graduates and pay accordingly. These skills aren't always taught in high school. Those in the field should seek these skills. Additionally, medical and legal assistants have highly sought after. Terminology courses for these specialized areas are sometimes offered at the vocational schools but are usually offered at the post-secondary level.

What soft skills should all office clerical assistants possess?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

Employers have told me repeatedly that soft skills are often the most important. They will ask for my reference after I've gotten to know a student and been able to identify their communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They want someone to take the initiative yet know when to ask questions. Customer service skills and confidentiality were also voiced by our internship supervisors. Verbal and non-verbal communication is a must. The applicant must be able to write well!!

What hard/technical skills are most important for office clerical assistants?

Allison White

Associate Professor, Ohio University

In addition to production software skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we often taught database skills using MS Access. Every employer has an employee database and a customer/client database that requires input and sometimes maintenance by office personnel. Keyboarding (65+ wpm), basic bookkeeping/accounting, and filing skills are a must.

Do you want to know more?

List of office clerical assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an office clerical assistant resume and required skills for an office clerical assistant to have include:

Data Entry
Customer Service
Patients
Word Processing
Office Equipment
Windows
Office Procedures
Scheduling Appointments
Telephone Calls
Payroll
Clerical Support
Front Desk
Hippa
Clerical Tasks

Office Machines
Office Support
Computer System
Fax Machines
Multi-Line Phone System
Travel Arrangements
Direct Calls
Administrative Tasks
PowerPoint
Multi-Line Telephone
Outbound Calls
QuickBooks
Database Systems
Bank Deposits

Office Operations
Patient Appointments
HR
Patient Charts
Business Transactions
Collating
Voice Mail Systems
Office Tasks
Insurance Claims
Expense Reports
Facsimile Machines
Alphabetical Order
Address Complaints

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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