Clerical Assistants are called different popular names, some are called office clerks and others are called clerical. But despite their terrible reputation as dull individuals in the movies, these professionals are one of the vital parts of any company that keep companies ticking. The variety of daily tasks handled by clerical assistants is enough to keep anyone occupied!
Irrespective of how you’re known within an organization, as a clerical assistant you would be involved with keeping the administrative side of the company going smoothly, organizing projects, carrying out researches, and ensuring that the correct documentation is in place.
Salary & benefits
The average annual salary of a clerical assistant ranges around £14,000 mark, rising to over £20,000 with the more experience you have.
There are lots of scopes to schedule your hours to fit other commitments, and also flexible working hours in many clerical positions.
Working hours
Lots of jobs as a clerical assistant would take on the standard office hours of 9-5, as this is traditionally an office-based role, although sometimes, you’re expected to work for longer hours. On the flip side, it mostly is dependent on your company so there are flexible roles available within the industry, all you need to do is find the vacancy that best fits your needs!
Entry
For most people, this is an immediate get-in profession after school, where the major requirements from employers is a qualification in English and Maths in order to prove your competency in communications and numeracy. You’ll also have to prove your competency with organizational systems both physical and digital, and problem-solving skills. A degree isn’t a basic requirement.
Training & progression
Most of the training in the industry for clerical staff are on-the-job training as you’ll have to learn for yourself the company’s ways of operation and do so pretty quickly before you are fully slotted into the structure, but there is no formal training needed for this role.
In big companies, where there is a team of clerical workers as part of their system, there’s often lots of space for progression as there will be senior clerks, office managers, team leaders as well as PAs and specialists clerical workers who function in HR or Accounts.
All of these aforementioned roles would increase the responsibility you carry and, in turn, your payment package, so like we earlier said, there’s plenty of scope for upward progression in this career path if that’s your aim.