What does clerk mean? Is being an office clerk a dead end in your career? Dictionary of economic terms

People tend to consider people who work in offices as clerks to be not very respected and promising members of society. There is an opinion that once you start working as a clerk, you run the risk of remaining a clerk for the rest of your career life.

But is it so shameful to work as a white collar worker, or does it still have a number of its own special advantages? Let's figure it out in order.

Who are clerks?

Literally the word clerk is translated as “scribe”. That is, clerks are a fairly large “caste” of employees, the so-called “workers desk“, without which not a single company, both large and small, can exist, and unites under itself all employees who do not want to work directly in production, but prefer the positions of managers, copywriters, accountants and other brethren.

However, in the business world, the demand for workers trained in Economics has always been and will be quite high, because not a single self-respecting company can do without a specialist who maintains financial accounting or technical support, administration and so on.

What are the benefits?

Well, first of all, one of the main advantages of this work is relative stability. And if “paperwork” and the need to conduct all kinds of accounting activities do not scare you, and by nature you are a conservative, then in return for the so-called “ wasted time» you get a “dust-free” job that doesn’t require a lot of waste physical energy, but quite stable and well paid.

Secondly, there are still certain prospects for career growth, despite the generally accepted opinion. For example, by working hard in a campaign for several years, you, from a low-level accountant, have a real chance of rising to the rank of chief accountant, and so on by analogy.

In addition, many large companies and banks operate preferential lending systems designed for their employees, under which young people have an excellent opportunity to acquire an apartment or a car on very favorable terms.

Thirdly, if you work for the owner, then he has to risk his personal capital, not you. In this way, you protect yourself from unnecessary worries about the economic situation both in the country in general and within the walls of your enterprise. After all, if something goes wrong, you only risk losing workplace, and this is not so scary, especially if you are an experienced and highly qualified employee. You will be rated very highly on the labor market.

What will you have to sacrifice?

If you want to become an office worker, or simply a clerk, then you will immediately have to give up bright and original clothes as a way of self-expression, and, following the strict canons of the dress code, mix with the monotonous mass of “white collar” workers.

You will most likely have to make a career as a clerk slowly and steadily. And to achieve ultimate goal and only a few will most likely succeed in becoming a high-ranking boss, and even then only after long years hard work.

“He who doesn’t take risks, doesn’t drink champagne” - this statement is perfect for clerks. After all, without risking your personal investments, you won’t be able to hit the big jackpot either. And so you will have to be content with a stable, but strictly regulated salary until the end of your years.

Eat real threat turn into a “stationery rat” or a “mindless robot.” After all, these positions require precise fulfillment of assigned tasks, without requiring any flight of your imagination. And this one monotonous activity is capable of ruining, so to speak, any creative personality.

Well, firstly, you can quite effectively combine management own business and work as a clerk, thereby providing a reliable rear if your own business fails.

Try not to get lost in the “faceless crowd”, do not be afraid to take the initiative, put forward proposals for optimizing and increasing the efficiency of the work process, then you will have more chances not to go unnoticed, and in addition, a non-standard approach to work can greatly contribute to the development of creative thinking.

Don't be afraid to take risks. Place global goals and think about ways to achieve them. It won't keep you from possible errors, but at the same time will increase the chances of success.

A clerical worker performs clerical tasks in a school, library, hospital, medical office, government agency, or business. His or her job is to provide administrative support, such as answering and directing telephone calls, greeting visitors, and sorting and distributing mail.

Quick Facts

In 2016, office clerks earned a median salary of $30.580 annually, or $14. 70 per hour.

As of 2014, approximately 3,063,000 people were employed in this profession.
Clerical workers work in all industries.
Only 25% of jobs are part-time.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment will grow more slowly than the average for all occupations, but job prospects will be good. There will be a significant number of vacancies to replace workers who retire or move on to other occupations. The capabilities will be the best in the healthcare industry. The BLS classifies it as Outlook Vibrant.

A day in the life of an office clerk

What is it like to be an office clerk? Job advertisements for real. com tell us about some typical responsibilities:

"Operate copying, scanning and mailing equipment"
"Answer the phone, enter documents, file and complete all other office tasks"
“Deal directly with clients or over the phone, e-mail or face to face"
"Keeping Accurate and Effective Records"

"Store an inventory of office supplies"
"Receive data or correspondence from files upon request within an appropriate period of time"

What do you need to know to be a clerical secretary?

To obtain a clerical position, you will need to know how to perform common office tasks. You must be able to use a computer, including text, presentation, spreadsheet and database applications.

You should also become familiar with typical office equipment, such as copiers, fax machines, and scanners. In addition, you need a strong telephone etiquette and customer service skills.

Many jobs don't require more than a diploma high school or equivalence. Employers provide on-the-job training to new employees. Others will only hire job candidates who have taken courses to learn about office procedures and computer applications. Look for programs with titles such as administrative business technology, administrative support, and office services in professional educational institutions and colleges. You can earn a PhD or a certificate.

What soft skills do you need to achieve in this career?

Active Listening: The ability to listen carefully to what your boss and co-workers are saying will enable you to understand and follow instructions.
Conversation: You must be able to convey information to others.
Time management: You must know how to prioritize tasks in order to complete them quickly.
Social Sensitivity: You need to understand why people react the way they do and react accordingly.

The truth about becoming a clerk

You will spend most of your day, sitting in front of your computer. This can cause back and eye problems, and some studies suggest that sitting long time bad for you general condition health.

Your work will be completely closed. If you want to spend your day on outdoors, you should consider doing something other than being an office clerk.
While your work has important In order for the office to function, your boss may also expect you to do menial tasks, such as making coffee and running errands.

What do employers expect from you?

Here are some requirements from actual job postings found. com:

“Multitasking skills are highly recommended to be successful in this position.”
“Must be a team player and have the ability to work independently.”
"Self-motivated and willing to take initiative towards goals"
"Able to communicate effectively with all team members"
"Strong oral and written communication skills"

Is this activity right for you?

Holland Code: CER (Common, Enterprising, Realistic)

MBTI personality types: ISTJ, ESFJ

Related activities

	Description	Average annual wage (2014)	Minimum requirement Education/Training
Secretary or administrative assistant	Performs clerical and administrative tasks	$ 34, 820	HS or equivalent diploma
Library Assistant	Helps organize materials in the library	$ 25, 220	HS or equivalent diploma
HR Assistant	Provides clerical support to the organization's Human Resources department	$ 39, 020	HS or equivalent diploma
Information Clerk	Tends to routine office tasks and provides information to clients	$ 27, 920	HS or equivalent diploma/some college courses or doctorate
Paralegal	Supporting lawyers by helping them prepare for legal proceedings and hearings	$ 49, 500	Bachelor's degree or junior specialist in Paralegal Studies

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Guide professional study , 2016-17 (visited September 13, 2017).
Employment and Training Administration, US Department of Labor, O*NET Online(visited September 13, 2017).

Clerk

clerk, clerk, husband. (French clerk). In the West In Europe - an office worker, a clerk, a candidate for the position of a notary or for judicial positions.

Political Science: Dictionary-Reference Book

Clerk

(French clerc, from Late Lat. clericus clergyman)

in some countries an office worker; clergyman in medieval France and England.

Modern economic dictionary. 1999

CLERK

(franci, clerc, from lat. clericu - spiritual person)

office worker.

Reference Commercial Dictionary (1926)

Clerk

in England this is the name of a clerk, an employee of a commercial and industrial enterprise.

Dictionary of economic terms

Clerk

(from French clerk, from lat. clericus- clergyman)

office worker.

Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms

Clerk

♦ (ENG clerk)

person responsible for conservation various kinds records of the church organization.

Thesaurus of Russian business vocabulary

Clerk

Syn: employee

encyclopedic Dictionary

Clerk

(Klerk) Frederik Willem de (b. 1936), Vice President of South Africa since 1994. President of South Africa in 1989-94. Since 1978 he has held a number of ministerial posts. Leader of the Nationalist Party since 1989. Nobel Prize peace (1993).
(French clerc, from late Latin clericus - clergyman), 1) clergyman in medieval France and England. 2) In some countries, an office worker.

Ozhegov's Dictionary

CLERK, A, m. In some countries: office worker.

Efremova's Dictionary

Clerk

m. An office worker who conducts office work, prepares reports, etc.
m. Cleric (in medieval France and England).

Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Clerk

(French clerc, English clerk, from Latin clericus) - originally meant cleric, i.e. person spiritual state. Since in the Middle Ages science and even literacy were distributed exclusively among the clergy, over time scientists and scribes, and then clerks and other officials who performed certain functions in the management of justice, police and finance, began to be called K. The Parisian K. formed a special guild, Bazoche (q.v.). Clerc du Trésor was the name in France for the officer appointed to guard the royal treasury. Subsequently, K. were called in France mainly by supernumerary clergy, as well as by young people preparing for the title of attorney (avou é), bailiff (huissier) or notary. Currently, anyone wishing to receive one of these titles must undergo a certain experience called clé ricature. So, for a candidate notary, this experience is determined to be 6 years; whoever wishes to obtain the title of solicitor must, upon graduation legal education, serve 5 years as a clerk for a notary or solicitor. In Belgium and Holland, some officials were also called K. In England, the person of the Anglican clergy is still referred to in official papers as clerk in holy order; then K. refers to persons who carry out assignments in a wide variety of areas of life, for example, lawyer scribes serving in trade institutions and ministries.