What Do File Clerks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Complete general financial activities, such as processing accounts payable, reviewing invoices, collecting cash payments, or issuing receipts.
• Answer questions about records or files.
• Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.

We asked File Clerks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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62% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, File Clerks scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed. They keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.

A typical day for a File Clerk will also include:

• Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.
• Operate mechanized files that rotate to bring needed records to a particular location.
• Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
• Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.
• Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.

We asked some File Clerks a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	45% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	41% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	21% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	16% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, File Clerks also assign and record or stamp identification numbers or codes to index materials for filing. They may also retrieve documents stored in microfilm or microfiche and place them in viewers for reading.

On a weekly to monthly basis, File Clerks Design forms related to filing systems. They might also Track materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned.

In addition, they Operate mechanized files that rotate to bring needed records to a particular location.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.

To some File Clerks, it is also their responsibility to Modify or improve filing systems or implement new filing systems.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a File Clerk, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/information-clerks.htm

http://www.iaap-hq.org/