Look for part-time jobs where you can get experience working in an office. Look for jobs posted online, ask around with family friends, or go to your school counselor for advice on where to look!

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Learn about the basics of operations management by taking a class online or at your school. Discover how this skill can benefit a variety of careers. 

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Practice getting organized!

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

File Clerks

File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Information and Record Clerks

Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.

Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.

Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.

Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.

Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.

Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.

Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.

Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.

Track materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned.

Email software

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Electronic health record EHR software

Electronic filing software

Intuit QuickBooks

Optical scanning software

Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft SharePoint

Microfiche viewing equipment

Microfilm viewing equipment

File cabinets

Mechanized file systems

Copy machines

Stepladders

Document scanners

Computer inkjet printers

Multiline telephone systems

Laser facsimile machines

Document stamps

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Every day

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers

How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

File Clerks

Overview

Career

What File Clerks Do

Other Job Titles File Clerks May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

File Clerks

Overview

Career

What File Clerks Do

Other Job Titles File Clerks May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by File Clerks

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders