Admin Clerk Profile

Admin Clerk Profile

Introduction

This Section of the site details information that you might find useful if you are looking to secure employment or require further details regarding working as an Admin Clerk. This page details the following Information:-

Finding Suitable Work

This website features a volume of Job vacancies advertised on behalf of a number of different employers and specialist recruiters that post vacancies on a regular basis so you can start your search for work right here:-

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Working Duties Expected

General clerks, also known as clerical workers or clerical assistants, help to manage the more routine administrative aspects of an organisation. Duties are likely to include:

filing, indexing, cross-referencing and retrieving information and documents
gathering information by asking questions on the telephone, by letter or in person, or referring to other sources
recording or updating information using computerised or manual systems
photocopying, sorting and distributing incoming post and preparing outgoing for despatch.
Clerks may specialise in one or more of these areas or might be responsible for all the administrative tasks of a specific department.

Hours and Environment

Clerks work between 35 and 40 hours per week, usually from 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Depending on the employer, flexitime, part-time or job sharing may be available. Sometimes, overtime working may be necessary.

The work is office-based. General clerical assistants usually work seated at a desk, often with a computer terminal. They communicate with other staff, outside organisations or members of the public by post, telephone, fax or e-mail.

Skills and Interests

You should:

• be able to read and write clearly with good levels of spelling and grammar
• be numerate
• have competent keyboard skills
• be able to work quickly and accurately
• have good spoken and written communication skills
• be able to work without close supervision
• be a good team member
• be able to concentrate on routine and repetitive tasks for long periods
• be well organised and methodical
• pay attention to detail
• be able to handle problems using own initiative but know when to refer matters to a supervisor.

Entry

Entry to general clerical work is possible at any age, although entry at 16-19 on leaving school or further education is common. There are no minimum entry requirements but most employers look for GCSE (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in maths and English or equivalent.

An alternative is to enter after a relevant school or college qualification such as:

Foundation, Intermediate GNVQs or vocational A levels/GSVQs Levels I, II or III in Business Administration
NVQs/SVQs levels 1 to 3
Pitman, OCR (RSA) or London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (LCCIEB) qualifications.
Most relevant full-time and part-time college courses are open to mature applicants, although self-funding may be necessary. Refresher courses are sometimes available for adult returners. Past experience can be put forward as evidence of competence, via Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

Some placement experience, working weekends or during the holidays in an office, or clerical work in a shop is often an advantage for school leavers.

Training

The traditional starting point is as an office junior or clerical assistant handling the most routine tasks like opening incoming post, or simple filing. As experience is gained, more complex tasks are added. Most training takes place on-the-job, initially under supervision before being given more responsibility.

Some tasks, areas of knowledge or company practices may be taught in a company training centre or by the company training officer at the employee’s own office.

Increasingly, employers encourage new administrative/clerical staff to gain NVQs/SVQs in Business Administration at Levels 1 or 2. Modules are available in communications, data processing, filing, keyboard skills, preparing and producing documents, reprographics and stock handling.

Day-release to study at a college of further education for exams in relevant subjects or courses is available through some employers. Some general clerical assistants study in their own time at evening courses or through distance learning.

NVQs/SVQs at Levels 3 and 4 in Administration are available for those wishing to move into higher level work.

Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (MAPPs) may be available for people aged 16-24.
For details see: MAPPs (England); Skillseekers MAPPs (Scotland); National Traineeships MAPPs (Wales); and MAPPs (Northern Ireland).

Opportunities

Information technology has reduced the number of administrative/clerical jobs, especially those in non-specialised areas. However general clerical assistants are still employed by most organisations and companies throughout the country. Employers include industrial and commercial organisations, public utilities, local government, the civil service and the health service.

In those organisations employing large numbers of general clerical assistants, promotion may be possible to senior clerk, supervisor, section head or office manager. Some may offer transfers to other departments or the chance to specialise in a specific area of clerical work.

Annual Income

Salaries vary widely according to employer and location. As a guideline only, the starting salary for general administration work could be around £8,500, rising to £18,000 with experience. The highest salaries are offered in and around London.

Further Information

The Council for Administration *
18-20 Bromells Road
Clapham Common
London
SW4 0BG
Tel: 020 7627 9876
www.cfa.uk.com

Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
Hanover House
24 Douglas Street
Glasgow
G2 7NQ
Tel: 0141 242 2214
www.sqa.org.uk

* PLEASE NOTE
National Training Organisations (NTOs) ceased to be recognised by the government on 31 March 2002. However, some are continuing to operate in their respective fields. Please contact individual NTOs with queries regarding their current status.

The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is licensing new Sector Skills Councils - charged with boosting skills and productivity in business sectors. For information about Sector Skills Councils, their roles and responsibilities, please visit the Sector Skills Development Agency website: www.ssda.org.uk

Most professions and industries carry a wide and varied selection of admin and secretarial jobs. Here are some examples of related job roles and positions which may be of interest:

• Admin & Secretarial
• Administrator
• Data Entry Clerk
• Facilities Manager
• HR Administrator
• Legal Secretary
• Medical Secretary
• Office Manager
• PA
• Receptionist
• Secretary
• Other Admin/Secretarial

Other Useful Admin Clerk Work Information

We have a section available at this site on Admin Clerk job interview tips that you may find of interest should you wish to brush up your skills in this area and we also have number of career articles that may also be of use to you from within our guides and documents section.

Locations where we feature Jobs include:-
Aberdeen, Berkshire, Aberdeen, Bath, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Cardiff, Central London, Cheltenham, Cornwall, Coventry, Derby, Devon, Docklands, Dorset, Dundee, Durham, East Midlands, East Sussex, Edinburgh, Essex, Glasgow, Gloucester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leeds, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Midlands and in various parts of the West Midlands

Details of other Admin Clerk Jobs can also be found in other UK wide areas including:-
Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Norfolk, North London, North Midlands, Northampton, Northamptonshire, Northern Ireland, Northumberland, Norwich, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Plymouth, Salisbury, Scotland, Sheffield, Shropshire, Somerset, South East, South London, South Midlands, Southampton, Staffordshire Surrey, Swansea, Swindon, Telford, Wales, Warwickshire, West End, West London, West Midlands, Worcestershire, York and throughout Yorkshire.

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