Clerical supervisors and office managers oversee administrative support personnel. They can be found in nearly every sector of the economy, and perform administrative tasks to ensure that their staffs can work efficiently. To do this effectively, they must know the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the staff, as well as the required level of quality and time allotted to each job. They must make allowances for unexpected absences and other disruptions, and adjust assignments or perform the work themselves if the situation requires it. Secretaries are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run and maintain organizations efficiently.
Secretaries are often the information clearinghouse for the office.
They schedule appointments, provide information to callers, organize and maintain paper and electronic files, manage projects, and produce correspondence for themselves and others. They may also type letters, handle travel arrangements, or contact clients. In addition, secretaries operate office equipment such as facsimile machines, photocopiers, and telephone systems. General office clerk is usually an entry-level office job. Since the duties of general office clerks may include a combination of bookkeeping, typing, office machine operation and filing.