clerk

Clerk is a term used for a person who performs routine administrative, clerical, or record-keeping tasks in offices, stores, and institutions. The scope ranges from office support and data entry to customer service and public administration. In retail, a clerk assists customers, records sales, and maintains merchandise. In legal or governmental settings, clerks may manage records, schedules, and official documents, or administer procedural duties.

Common duties include filing, data entry, answering phones, handling correspondence, scheduling, and basic accounting or payroll tasks. Specialized clerks may focus on libraries, archives, or medical offices, while court clerks or legislative clerks support proceedings and legislative processes. Skills typically include written and numerical proficiency, computer literacy, attention to detail, and good organizational abilities.

Education and training: entry requirements vary by role, but many clerks enter with a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training. Some positions benefit from postsecondary certificates in office administration, bookkeeping, or records management. Certification may be required or preferred for court, legal, or archival clerks. Career progression often leads to supervisory or senior administrative roles.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin clericus via Old English cler(e)c, originally meaning a scholar or member of the learned class; over time it came to denote a person who performs clerical tasks. In different countries the term can designate distinct roles, from shop assistants to government clerks and court officials, reflecting variations in organizational structure.