Clerical work involves making definite an office runs smoothly. It includes the day-to-day tasks of an office, like answering phones, scheduling appointments, making faxes, and filing documents. Clerical skills are beneficial for almost anyone who works in an office. Most workers require doing at least some clerical work, so these skills can come in handy for almost anyone.

Office clerks and secretaries need to have specifically strong clerical skills.

These positions involve doing the majority of an office’s day-to-day tasks.

While certain people use these job titles interchangeably, office clerks and secretaries are actually different from administrative assistants. Administrative assistants often need a college degree, and are giving more responsibilities, including spearheading projects and sometimes even managing teams.

In contrast, clerks and secretaries typically don’t require extensive education beyond a high school degree (although there are higher education programs that focus on clerical and secretarial work). They manage the day-to-day operations of an office, but generally do not have managerial responsibilities.

Clerks and secretaries work in a variety of industries, including finance, business, medicine, government, law, and more. Some of these positions require specific skills. However, there are basic skills that are necessary for nearly every clerical position.

How to Use Clerical Skills Lists

You can use these skills lists throughout your job search process.

Initially, you can use these skill words in your resume. In the description of your work history, you might want to use some of these keywords.

Secondly, you can use these in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, you can mention one or two of these skills, and give an instance example of a time when you demonstrated those skills at work.

Ultimately, you can use these skill words in an interview. Make definite you have at least one example for a time you demonstrated each of the top five skills listed here.

Of course, each job will need different skills and experiences, so make certain you read the job description carefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer.

Also review our other lists of clerical skills listed by job and by type of skill.

Top Five Clerical Skills

Attention to Detail

Clerical skills work involves paying attention to the day-to-day details of an office – things other people might overlook, such as answering and keeping track of emails, tracking appointments, and more. A clerk or secretary requires being able to concentrate on these details, and not let anything slip through the cracks.

Communication

Clerical workers require having strong written and oral communication skills. They will typically answer phones, write memos, send emails, and greet clients and customers.

They therefore need to be capable to speak and write clearly and effectively. They need to convey information in a way that is easy to understand.

Computer Skills

In this day and age, computer skills are critical for any clerical job. Clerks and secretaries require to be quick and accurate typists. They are also generally required to do some data entry, so they should be familiar with Excel and other data entry software. They should also be familiar with other Microsoft Office software, like Word and PowerPoint. Any additional computer skills, such as the ability to design or edit web pages, would be considered a big plus.

Numeracy

Much clerical work includes numeracy. Few clerks are in charge, to a degree, of bookkeeping and/or accounting for a company. This requires numeracy skills. The ability to calculate sums quickly is definitely a positive quality in a clerk or secretary.

Organization

Clerks and secretaries must be organized. They are in charge of making definite the office runs smoothly. This includes keeping track of the employer’s schedule, answering emails and phone calls, and maintaining files. All of this takes a lot of organizational skill.