How to Become a Clerk

If you're a junior talent -- less than five years in the workforce -- you will have seen many open roles for Clerical or Administrative staff positions. In fact, according to Jobstreet's research, clerical or administrative support was no. 7 among industries still hiring in the Philippines during the 2020 ECQ. Even in a pandemic, employers need clerks to support operations and keep business running smoothly. Read more to find out how a clerk career path looks like.

What does a clerk do?

Clerical positions are part of an office's support staff. You will often see jobs advertised with a specific department or task, for example Accounting Clerk, Warehouse Clerk, Inventory Clerk, HR Clerk, etc. A clerk's job usually involves a mix of tasks that keep the department organized and functioning. 

Different industries require different skills, but most clerical positions include these: 

• Paperwork, documents, record keeping 
• Simple bookkeeping or spreadsheets
• Data entry
• Format presentations or reports
• Customer-facing communications such as answering calls and sending group emails
• Using and helping others to use company-wide software for attendance, HR and benefits, etc.
• Organizing department activities as part of administration

If a fast-paced, multi-tasking role sounds good to you, you may have the right outlook and personality to succeed in a Clerk's career path.

Salary Range

Clerks with about four years of experience earn an average of about PhP141,031 annually, before bonuses and benefits.

The main factor affecting salary is years of experience. Junior clerks (1-3 years experience) earn entry level salaries. However, this goes up as you take on more responsibility. In fact, senior clerks (8 years and up) can earn as much as P250,000/year because they have a track record to prove their abilities and how much they contribute to the business.

The Clerk career path

A general role as a clerk is a great starting point to learn about an industry or company from the ground up. As you support different teams, you'll be able to see which roles or departments can make the best use of your skills and personality. 

Your familiarity with the company's administrative processes -- who to email, how to get things done -- will be an asset to any department you eventually join. 

Junior Level (1-3 years experience)

• Office Clerk, HR Clerk, Settlement Clerk

Mid Level (4-8 years experience) 

• Office Administrator 

Senior level (8 years or more) 

• Corporate Administrative Manager, Admin and Facilities Manager, Â Admin Supervisor

Senior clerks typically become Managers of their team or department. Others go on to roles in Finance, Inventory, Logistics, Project Management and Office Management or Administration.

What requirements do you need to become a clerk?

Data entry. Many offices use simple databases or spreadsheets, which clerks update and use to generate daily or weekly reports.

MS Office and other software. Clerks are expected to be proficient in widely used programs like Word (for documents), Excel (budgets and projects), Powerpoint (presentations) and Zoom (for video meetings). 

Already expert at these? Move on to collaboration platforms like Google Drive and Microsoft's Sharepoint, which many companies have been using to work from home during the pandemic. Practice to develop your skills, and learn software "hacks" that are relevant to the roles you're interested in. 

Use of office equipment. We're talking laptops, photocopiers, printers. Every office has these, and they will probably be an important part of your day-to-day work. Knowing how to use them, and how to make quick fixes for common problems like paper jams, will save time and reduce your stress when they break down.

If you need help mastering any of these, TESDA offers free online classes in Computer Secretarial and Office Management. These are great ways to build your resume while waiting to hear back from employers.

Other skills

Be organized. Being a clerk is a detail-oriented job. Every office has physical and electronic filing systems, which you must learn well enough to know where information related to your job -- an email, warehouse records, a cost estimate from two years ago -- can be found as needed.

Know how to multitask. When deadlines from several groups come all at once -- for example the end of a fiscal year, or long-scheduled projects clashing with unexpected but important ones -- you must know how to prioritize while still getting everything done.

Use your people skills. As part of administrative staff, you will have tasks that require input or information from others. Know how to ask for help, or to follow up contributions respectfully yet firmly. 

Moreover, make an effort to get to know colleagues outside your own department. Remember details that people share with you, like their favorite coffee shop drink or their children's names. All of these will help you fit in and make your job much easier.

Educational background

Most clerk positions require a Bachelors' degree.

This is typically in fields like Commerce, Accounting, Business, or Psychology. But since many clerical roles are junior positions that do their main learning on the job, most employers are open to applicants with other college degrees. Just to be sure, check their job ad before applying.

Opportunities for Continuous Education

As a Clerk, you should take full advantage of learning programs provided by your company. For example, training in software used by specific industries, or skills upgrades such as advanced Excel, public speaking or project management.  

Another option is to learn online, with free courses from Jobstreet partners. If you're interested in tech, Luna Academy in collaboration with JobStreet can help you learn coding, data analysis, and other in-demand skills. These can make you a more valuable employee. 

At first, it may seem that these classes are outside the scope of your role as a Clerk. You may have to take them at night, or weekends. But by making an effort to expand your skills, you show that you're already thinking big and planning your next steps. These are important qualities that will help you to pursue your career path to higher roles.

How to write a Clerk's resume

Download this Clerk resume HERE.

Get More Career Insights from JobStreet 

Ready to find the Clerk's job that's right for you? Plenty of #JobsThatMatter are waiting for you. First, upload and refine your Jobstreet profile, then search jobs. 

Remember to visit our Career Resources Hub for tips, insights and courses to make your application stand out.