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Office clerk skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.,

Allison White

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical office clerk skills. We ranked the top skills for office clerks based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 21.0% of office clerk resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an office clerk needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 office clerk skills for your resume and career

1. 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 clerks use customer service:

Perform a customer service representative role by providing product related information electronically and by phone to clients.
Provided excellent customer service by assisting both internal and external customers with questions and information.

2. 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 clerks use data entry:

Operated office equipment and completed general office work including answering calls, data entry and in-person requests
Performed clerical and administrative duties including filing and data entry.

3. 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 clerks use telephone calls:

Receive and directing telephone calls and relaying messages to others while maintaining accuracy, clarity and confidentiality.
Received visitors and telephone calls and referred them to proper person or furnished information requested.

4. 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 clerks use payroll:

Conducted research as necessary using financial reports to resolve payroll discrepancies and answer inquiries.
Retrieved/delivered payroll and sensitive documents for university's Athletic Human Resources Manager.

5. Office Equipment

Here's how office clerks use office equipment:

Operated standard office equipment, adhered to safety practices, efficiently used pertinent software applications and prepared and maintained accurate records.
Performed administrative support tasks such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, operating calculators, computers and other general office equipment.

6. 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 clerks use office machines:

Balanced basic bookkeeping and filing duties Deliver and/or pick up packages Operate office machines Compile financial records
Responsibilities-Operated office machines handled incoming and outgoing messages and maintained and update filing.

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7. Direct Calls

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

Here's how office clerks use direct calls:

Direct callers to appropriate divisions/departments.
Answered phones; retrieved and distributed messages; scheduled and confirmed appointments via email or direct call; and updated database.

8. Front Desk

Here's how office clerks use front desk:

Front desk reception duties including filing, meeting/event planning, correspondence/paperwork and chart preparation.
Participated in aiding front desk personnel in updating patient's demographic information.

9. Word Processing

Here's how office clerks use word processing:

Operated office equipment, including basic computer email and word processing operations.
Completed word processing and presentations using Microsoft Office.

10. 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 clerks use scheduling appointments:

Scan and handle administrative duties such as answering phones and scheduling appointments.-Maintaining excel spreadsheets, scanning the document.-Filing and scanning documentation
Maintained the office manager's calendar by scheduling appointments for tax preparation and other financial related consultations.

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 clerks use clerical support:

Provided clerical support through database management, analyzing statistical data to produce reports, appointment scheduling and calendar maintenance.
Provided clerical support to department with specific responsibilities unique to department to provide effective, efficient and productive results.

12. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how office clerks use hr:

Revised HR processes and internal documentation to ensure legal compliance and protect company interests.
Gathered and maintained a variety of confidential information using PeopleSoft, HR database.

13. Bank Deposits

Any money that a customer chooses to leave with their bank account is a deposit. Deposits can vary in amounts and different banks have limits on the deposits their customers can have as a minimum. Banks charge customers for deposits especially when a teller is used by the customer to deposit money into their account.

Here's how office clerks use bank deposits:

Accountability*Computerized Cashiering*Bank Deposits*Western Union Transactions*Balancing Receipts and Tills*Checks Cashing
Assessed customer needs (financing, payments, applications)*Balancing cash drawers*Daily closings*Bank deposits*Answering incoming calls*Inventory control*Typing

14. Purchase Orders

Here's how office clerks use purchase orders:

Reviewed and Analyzed purchase orders to separate and extract sensitive and important information from irrelevant documents.
Processed purchase orders and requisitions for Water Division for procurement of new materials or equipment.

15. 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 clerks use clerical tasks:

Labor Responsible for filing and alphabetizing client files and computer files answering telephone inquiries including other clerical tasks.
Help with clerical tasks such as filling alphabetically and numerically patients medical records.

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What skills help Office Clerks find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on office clerk resumes?

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.

Department Chair and Associate Professor of English, Dixie State University

Writing skills have always been valued by employers, but anything that shows an ability to write, produce, or communicate in digital spaces will stand out. While employers are becoming increasingly comfortable having employees work and collaborate digitally (from home or elsewhere), they may still be reluctant to train employees how to do that. They want to see evidence that applicants will know how to use technology and stay productive without extensive training and without a supervisor having to stand behind them. That isn't to say training won't take place, but employers want to use their valuable time and resources training employees on their own systems, policies, and procedures; they don't want to have to show new-hires how to use Zoom, how to format a memo, how to write an email, or how to co-edit a document using OneDrive.

What soft skills should all office clerks 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 clerks?

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.

What type of skills will young office clerks need?

Jacob Craig Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English, currently Director of Writing, Rhetoric, and Publication program, College of Charleston

In school, students are often taught to work by themselves. In some cases, they are even penalized for working with others. In some rare cases, students are asked to do a little group work but only for a short amount of time, at the end of their learning in a class.

The first thing that graduates need to know is that the workplace is nearly opposite from school. Employees, especially professional, technical, and content writer jobs, are more often than not collaborative and teams-based. The added wrinkle is that office culture is unlikely to go back to pre-pandemic occupancy rates.

So graduates need to know is that odds are good that at least part of their job will be remote. And that might be the case for at least part of the time. Announcements from tech, finance, and insurance about their latest work-from-home policies keep making the news. So not only are the chances good that they'll be working in teams, their team members and co-workers won't be in the same room with them. They'll be working collaboratively through writing. This is good news for English graduates. Much of the writing someone in a professional, technical, or content writing job are products meant for public readership. Like press releases that are sent to news outlets. But all of that writing is built on a network of notes, memos, policies, and text threads meant for co-workers. Remote work just means that co-workers will be writing each other more and more often. English graduates who can make texts for public audiences and write effectively to co-workers are positioned to do well.

The second thing that students need to know is how to start and stop writing in the context of someone else's draft. They will rarely begin with a blank screen and end with a finished text.

The third thing is that it's likely small businesses will take some time to bounce back. In those workplace settings, it is likely that an employee will need to have a range of knowledge and skills because their job will combine parts multiple roles. So a copywriter in a small marketing firm might need to also know something about SEO and social analytics and visual design. In larger offices, however, jobs tend to be much more specialized and team-based. So graduates need to be comfortable working in teams where they have an assigned role, and they need to be able to receive work in-process, complete their assigned part, and hand that work off still in-process.

And finally, students need to learn how to learn new technologies. Learn just through documentation, without a human tutorial. Even if employees are exclusively using the Microsoft Suite, it will be used for writing, editing, project management. It will be used to collaborate and present. Depending on where a student studies and what classes they take, those digital pieces might not be a part of their coursework. So, at the very least, students need to know that the workforce will constantly ask them to learn new technologies and new uses for familiar technologies.

Do you want to know more?

List of office clerk skills to add to your resume

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

Customer Service
Data Entry
Telephone Calls
Payroll
Office Equipment
Office Machines
Direct Calls
Front Desk
Word Processing
Scheduling Appointments
Clerical Support
HR
Bank Deposits
Purchase Orders
Clerical Tasks
Computer System

PowerPoint
Business Transactions
Database Systems
Voice Mail Systems
Fax Machines
Administrative Tasks
Facsimile Machines
Provide Clerical Support
Collating
Office Procedures
Office Operations
Address Complaints
Customer Inquiries
QuickBooks
Manage Calendars
Computer Programs

Multi-Line Phone System
Inventory Control
Travel Arrangements
Customer Complaints
Customer Orders
Patient Charts
Customer Accounts
Accounts Receivables
Copy Machines
Expense Reports
Proofread Data
Cash Control
Groceries
FedEx
Greeting Clients

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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