Table of Contents
Introduction
What to Include in a Clerk Resume
- Summary Statement
- Education
- Work Experience
- Skills
Generally, resumes fall under the chronological format umbrella or the functional format umbrella. The chronological approach is used most often, and it mandates that everything is listed in reverse chronological order from the latest experiences to the earliest one. The functional one doesn’t have to be ordered by date; instead, it’s ordered by importance of events and applicableness to the career.
Whereas the chronological format is most ideal for those who specifically embarked ona clerk career path, the functional one is more ideal for those who didn’t necessary seek the position, but are transferring from another career field. The functional format could be called more flexible than the chronological one since it allows you to list experience and skills you’ve obtained by how important they are to the position you’re seeking.
How to Write the Clerk Resume Summary Statement
Meticulous office clerk experienced with creating efficient and orderly filing systems. Adept at quickly and correctly filing documents for later reference. Dedicated to system maintenance and office administration.
Medical clerk familiar with medical terminology and databases. Experienced with patient check-in, admissions requirements, and referrals. Three time recipient of Employee of the Month award for attention to detail and dedication to excellence.
Financial clerk adept at processing and evaluating financial data.Familiar with report generation and providing consultation services. Dedicated to staying up on the latest industry news and honing skills through continuing education.
How to Write the Clerk Education Section
If you’ve completed a college degree, then there’s no need to list your high school diploma. However, if you’ve only attended some college or are still working towards the completion of your degree, list your career path as well as your anticipated graduation date followed by your high school information.
For each school listing, include the official title of the degree or diploma, the name of the issuing institution, and the year of issuance. If you received any vocational training, list it in this section as well. Any certifications or licenses you possess can be listed here too, unless you have several that warrant the creation of a separate heading within your resume.
How to Write the Clerk Work Experience Section
When listing job duties, do more than simply describing the tasks you performed; try to connect value to your duties by letting the employer know what they accomplished and how they helped the employer.
If you don’t have any or much paid work experience to list, then list any internships, volunteer work, or other experiences you’ve completed that allowed you to acquire or demonstrate clerical skills. If much of your work experience is general experience that isn’t directly applicable to a clerical position, highlight skills you learned on the job that you can apply to the position. For instance, time management skills learned as a fast food crew member can be invaluable to a clerk.
Action Verbs to Include in Your Clerk Work Experience Section
- Calculate
- Admit
- File
- Order
- Manage
- Organize
- Tidy
- Systematize
- Arrange
- Classify
- Categorize
- Control
- Manage
- Sort
- Register
- Enroll
- Permit
- Welcome
- Assist
How to Write the Clerk Skills Section
Examples of hard skills clerks should have include experience with particular software, databases, or filing systems. Types of soft skills ideal clerical candidates possess are meticulousness, time management skills, and orderliness.
Check the job description and note any skills employers state they’re specifically looking for in a clerk. Then be sure to list those skills in your skills section if you possess them.
Should I Include References in my Clerk Resume
For instance, if you’re a member of a clerical association such as the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association and personally or professionally know the president of the organization or other notable member of the organization, then it’s permissible to write him or her down as a reference. Before writing anyone down as a reference, make sure you obtain his or her permission first.
Clerk Resume Fails: Mistakes to Avoid
- Errors in contact information. The contact information section is arguably the most important section of your resume since it provides the employer with a way to get in contact with you to schedule an interview or hire you. Accidentally inputting the wrong numbers or transposing the numbers of a telephone number can result in the employer not being able to reach you.
- Too lengthy. Resumes are generally supposed to be relatively short documents that only span one or two pages. They’re designed to provide employers with the most essential information they need to know about you in a quick, easily scannable format. If you have enough content to span numerous pages, condense it down to just one or two pages of the most applicable education, work experience, and skills to the job position you’re applying for.
- Getting too personal. While it’s important for employers to get a well-rounded picture of you as an applicant, keep your resume professional. Adding links to your social media profiles or personal websites make your resume seem unprofessional unless your profiles are professional in nature and designed towards the enhancement of your career.
- Gaudy, distracting layout. The formatting of a resume should be clean and comfortable. Don’t utilize various font colors, sizes, and styles in an attempt to make your resume stand out. Check the spacing between words, phrases, and paragraphs to ensure the document’s uniform, and don’t utilize flashy graphics. Stick to common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman in font sizes of 10- or 12-point.
- Inaccurate information. It’s not uncommon for employers to call your previous employers and verify the dates of your employment and the position you held, so make sure that all information on your resume is as accurate as possible. If you can’t remember the exact dates of your employment, simply list what you do know even if it’s only the months and years.
- Typos and grammatical errors. While most spelling and grammar checkers will catch any mundane typos and other common errors, they don’t always catch all grammar errors. Therefore, make sure you always check your resume with a human eye to catch any errors in voice or tone, such as using passive voice instead of active voice and so on. You might want to consider printing out your resume and reviewing a physical copy of it or commissioning a friend to review it for you since your eyes can become accustomed to the document, causing you not to notice mistakes that others will.
Job Prospects in the Clerk Industry
- The job prospects for clerks vary depending upon the specific type of clerical position you’re applying for. For instance, it’s projected the general office clerk positions will grow 6% from 2012 to 2002, but the projection for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks for the same time frame is 11%.
- Generally, though, clerical positions will grow at about the average rate for all occupations. As more clerks retire from their industries, new ones will be needed to fill their positions. Those who possess higher levels of education, more experience, and more technical skills will have an advantage over the competition because of the increasing integration of technology into the workplace. Additionally, bilingual applicants, most notably ones who speak English and Spanish, will also be favored due the increasing rise in the Hispanic population within the nation.
Clerk Resume Samples by Job Title
- Accounts Receivable Clerk Resume
- Admitting Clerk Resume
- Auto Title Clerk Resume
- Bakery Clerk Resume
- Bookstore Clerk Resume
- Box Office Clerk Resume
- City Clerk Resume
- Clerk Resume
- Convenience Store Clerk Resume
- Count Clerk Resume
- County Clerk Resume
- Courtesy Clerk Resume
- Dairy Clerk Resume
- Deli Clerk Resume
- Dispatch Clerk Resume
- Distribution Clerk Resume
- Document Control Clerk Resume
- ER Registration Clerk Resume
- Export Clerk Resume
- Gas Station Clerk Resume
- General Clerk Resume
- General Merchandise Clerk Resume
- Grocery Clerk Resume
- Grocery Stock Clerk Resume
- Grocery Store Clerk Resume
- HIM Clerk Resume
- Hospital Unit Clerk Resume
- Hospital Ward Clerk Resume
- Hotel Front Desk Clerk Resume
- Insurance Clerk Resume
- Inventory Control Clerk Resume
- Invoicing Clerk Resume
- Law Clerk Resume
- Liquor Store Clerk Resume
- Logistics Clerk Resume
- Meat Clerk Resume
- Nursing Unit Clerk Resume
- Parts Clerk Resume
- Pharmacy Clerk Resume
- Police Records Clerk Resume
- Poll Clerk Resume
- Postal Service Clerk Resume
- Post Office Counter Clerk Resume
- Produce Clerk Resume
- Purchasing Clerk Resume
- Receiving Clerk Resume
- Reconciliation Clerk Resume
- Records Clerk Resume
- Retail Stock Clerk Resume
- Safeway Courtesy Clerk Resume
- Sales Floor Stock Clerk Resume
- Scanning Clerk Resume
- School Clerk Resume
- Shipping Receiving Clerk Resume
- Stock Clerk Resume
- Stocking Clerk Resume
- Supply Clerk Resume
- Transportation Clerk Resume
- Walgreens Service Clerk Resume
- Warehouse Clerk Resume
- Warehouse Shipping Clerk Resume