Most general office clerks file and type. They also operate office machines such as photocopiers and fax machines. Clerks may send, open, route, and answer mail. They may also answer telephones and greet visitors. Occasionally clerks put together records and reports.
Some clerks calculate wages, taxes, commissions, and payments.
Many clerks sort checks, keep payroll records, and take inventory. Operating word processing equipment and computers is becoming more important. General office clerks also perform duties specific to their employer. For example, a clerk in a doctors office may organize medications. In a large financial organization, a clerk may make transparencies for a presentation.