How much demand is there for general clerks in today's workforce? According to data from labor-insights provider Burning Glass, there were 426,344 general clerk positions posted over the past 12 months, and that number is expected to hold steady into next year. Retail, finance, insurance and healthcare are driving the largest growth for this role, but no matter which industry you're in, it's important to know that competition will be intense as you work to get top general clerks to join your team.
So how do you find a quality general clerk in today's tight job market? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Work through this checklist and you'll have the perfect general clerk in place in no time:
Ready to dig in and take your recruitment process to the next level? Keep reading for more information on how to accomplish these steps.
1. speed up your hiring process
General clerks keep businesses running. They do all the tasks that aren't technically assigned to anyone else — so when the role goes vacant for too long, critical tasks can fall through the cracks.
But while you don't want to make a hasty hire, you do want to ensure your hiring timeline is efficient. Check out this diagram to identify ways you can streamline your recruitment process.
2. develop a competitive compensation package
The large number of open general clerk positions means that it's more important than ever for employers to know what makes for a competitive compensation package. If it's been a while since you've taken a lay of the land, check out Randstad's salary guide to see what a competitive range is for this role.
Keep in mind, though, that hourly rates can vary greatly based on location, so use our salary calculator to get the most up-to-date data on compensation for your specific area.
3. identify the top skills for general clerks
As you sit down to write the job description, you need to first think about the skills that are necessary for the candidate to succeed at your company, since a general clerk's duties can vary based on individual business needs. For instance:
- Will this clerk spend a lot of their time interacting with customers? Then you'll need someone with great communication and customer service skills.
- Will they be involved in data entry and invoicing? Then you'll need someone with data management skills and some experience supporting the accounting function.
Discuss these specific needs with colleagues who will work closely with the new hire, like the executive assistant, receptionist and office manager. And as you go about identifying the requirements for the role, try to break down the skills into two categories: "must-haves" — required skills like customer service and communication — and "nice-to-haves" — like experience with the specific software and digital tools your company uses.
Here are the skills that are in highest demand for general clerks today, based on more than 426,000 job postings:
customer service
data entry
accounting
communication
accounts payable/accounts receivable
spreadsheets
customer billing
4. write an eye-catching job description
The job description is your first chance to draw a candidate in, so it's vital that you make a great first impression. In order to write an effective one that drives the interest of top candidates, keep these three things top of mind.
don't write like a robot
Forget the job descriptions of old, with their stiff language and long lists of generic duties. Times have changed — and your job descriptions should, too. Make yours concise and engaging, and try to convey your company's employer brand. You want to show potential applicants how awesome it is to work at your company, so offer insights into what day-to-day life is like in the role. Be sure to highlight positive aspects of your company like your collaborative workplace culture or opportunities for professional development.
Most importantly, write like you're talking to a person, not a computer.
show how the job is meaningful
Today's job seekers aren't just looking for a paycheck, they want to feel like their work aligns with a broader mission. So no matter what position you're hiring for, it's important to show how that specific role impacts your company and drives your success.
For example, a general clerk contributes great value by helping to keep things running behind the scenes, so talk about how vital the role is to your end-to-end operation.
Candidates will also want to know how the role will help them grow in their careers over the long term, so be sure to put a spotlight on specific skills they'll be able to develop on the job, like report writing, financial management and cross-team collaboration.
candidates want to find meaning in their work, so show how the role can positively impact your company — and help drive your success.
make it easy to skim
A job description needs to point out the best aspects of the open role and your company, of course, but it should be digestible and easy to read, too. Keep in mind that today's candidates will only skim a posting for about 10 seconds before deciding whether they want to dive in and learn more, so make it easy for candidates to quickly get the information they need.
How do you do that? Be sure to use:
- concise, to-the-point sentences
- short paragraphs instead of long blocks of text
- bullet points for listable items
- a clear, uniform structure
For even more writing tips and insights, read our guide to writing highly effective job descriptions.
5. brush up on the latest industry trends
Given the rapid pace of technological change in the workplace today, it's important to know the trends that will impact how you hire for your office and administration functions. So when looking for a general clerk, start by doing some research on what's happening in the field. That'll help you understand what your company can do to more effectively attract candidates.
Here are a few of the key trends to know right now:
- The industries driving the most demand for general clerks are retail, healthcare, finance, insurance and manufacturing, so employers in these arenas should expect the fiercest competition when sourcing talent.
- With tech being increasingly incorporated into everyday office functions — and more and more companies investing in digital transformation — general clerks will need to maintain strong digital proficiency in order to remain competitive in today's market.
the retail, healthcare, finance, insurance and manufacturing industries are driving the most demand for general clerks.
6. choose the right channels to find candidates
When looking for qualified candidates, you can take any number of different approaches. While traditional job boards and internal referrals can be sources of valuable candidates, there's no guarantee that you'll find the right person, right when you need them. That's why, to find someone with the mix of skills you're looking for, it can be helpful to expand your efforts by partnering with a professional staffing firm.
Especially with today's high demand for general clerks, tapping into a staffing firm's pool of screened, qualified candidates can help speed up your hiring timeline and ensure you land not just any candidate, but a best-fit candidate.
If you want to streamline your recruitment efforts and get a qualified general clerk in the door soon, reach out to the staffing experts at Randstad to discuss your hiring needs. Or you can search our nationwide talent database — and start identifying great candidates right away.
