The responsibilities of an office clerk might seem simple: answering phones, sorting mail, updating calendars, typing reports, filing documents and entering data. But don’t get it twisted – this job is anything but basic. The people who perform these essential administrative tasks might not need to learn a lot of technical skills to get their first job, but they do need to possess personality traits that can’t be taught. For instance, the resolve it takes to file medical records for an oncology doctor. The charm it requires to field phone calls for the provost of an Ivy League university. The discretion necessary to work as a clerk in a human resources department. O*NET OnLine, an occupational information website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, reports that office clerks should also be good listeners and effective communicators who possess exceptional critical thinking and time management skills. In other words, an office clerk’s job description isn’t so simple after all.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -6.6% employment growth for office clerks between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 175,400 jobs will be lost.

For some, it’ll be a plus to know there’s a low bar to start working as an office clerk. A high school diploma or its equivalent should suffice, and you’ll learn additional necessary job skills, like how to use certain software, once you’re hired. Having some familiarity with basic office equipment and computer applications like Microsoft Office is also an absolute must. You might also consider taking courses to learn how to use transcription system software (such as Quikscribe or Start-Stop) or records management software (like Accutrac) before you apply for your first job.