Interviewing Clerks

Career summary

#match with 1462, no alt titles

Interviewing clerks contact people at home, work, or at a field location, such as a shopping mall. To contact people, clerks use telephones, mail, or visit them in person. Clerks explain the reasons that they need the information. They ask people questions to get necessary information. If people don't understand the question, they rephrase it. They may help people fill out applications, insurance forms, or questionnaires. Clerks record the results from the interview or survey.

After the interview, clerks compile and sort the data. They also review it to correct errors. Clerks file the information or forward it to others in the organization, including supervisors.

The type of information interviewing clerks request depends on the setting in which they work. For example, in a health care setting, they ask for the patient's name and address (and in this case, they are often called admitting clerks). They also gather patients' age, medical history, insurance provider, and similar information. They often verify with insurance companies that a patient is covered. Those who work for research firms ask a set of prepared questions about a variety of topics.

Interviewing clerks may perform other clerical duties, such as:

• Answering the phone
• Filing papers
• Documenting problems
• Reporting daily, weekly, or monthly activity

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Bank Tellers
• Bill and Account Collectors
• Credit Checkers and Authorizers
• Customer Service Representatives
• General Office Clerks
• Government Benefits Interviewers
• Health Information Technicians
• Hotel Desk Clerks
• Human Resources Assistants
• Insurance Policy and Claims Clerks
• License Clerks
• Medical Secretaries
• New Accounts Clerks
• Receptionists
• Reservation and Ticket Agents
• Secretaries
• Telephone Operators

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to interviewing clerks.

• Explain reasons for needing information.
• Ask people questions to get information, such as name, address, and age. Rephrase questions to help interviewees understand.
• Help people fill out applications, insurance forms, or questionnaires.
• Record results from interviews or surveys. Use forms or computers to do this.
• Compile and sort data from interviews. Review to correct errors.
• Contact people at home, work, or other locations by telephone, mail, or in person.
• Make sure medical services are paid for by verifying insurance, if working in a medical office.
• Prepare and file reports about activity levels and problems.
• Meet with supervisors to give completed assignments and updates.
• Research to find addresses and households.
• May perform other clerical duties, such as answering the phone and filing.
• Identify and report problems in obtaining data.
• Prepare reports to provide answers in response to specific problems.

Common work activities

Interviewing clerks perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Process information
• Use computers
• Document and record information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Perform for or work with the public

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, interviewing clerks:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They communicate constantly with others in person or by telephone.
• Deal with unpleasant or discourteous people on a daily basis. People may become impatient when interviewed or if a mistake was made on a form.
• Are on occasion placed in conflict situations.
• Are somewhat responsible for work results.
• Often work as part of a group.

Physical work conditions

• Usually work indoors.
• Work near others. They often share the same office space with other clerks.
• May work in a noisy environment, especially if a call center.

Work performance

• Must be very exact or in performing the job so that information is accurate.
• Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis.
• Set some of their daily tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor.
• Work under moderate competitive pressure. They may have to meet quotas about the number of surveys they must complete, for example.
• Abide by strict, weekly deadlines.
• Repeat the same activities, such as completing a form.

Hours/travel

• Generally work a set schedule.
• May work part time or full time. Most work less than forty hours a week.
• May work evenings, late night shifts, weekends, and holidays, if working at a hospital.
• May work mainly evenings or weekends, if conducting surveys.
• May travel to shopping malls or go door to door to conduct surveys.

Physical demands

Interviewing clerks frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for interviewing clerks to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for interviewing clerks to be able to:

• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Skills and abilities

Interviewing clerks need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Medical Office Support
• Office Support

Other programs of study to consider

• American Sign Language
• Data Entry and Processing
• Second Language, General

Training

To work as an interviewing clerk, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Interviewing clerks must have at least a high school diploma. However, college training sometimes is required. Depending on the employer, you may need an associate or bachelor's degree.

Being able to speak a language other than English can be a plus.

Work experience

Experience dealing with people in business situations can be good preparation for this occupation. Examples of this type of work include receptionist or sales jobs.

On-the-job training

Most interviewing clerks learn their skills on the job. A supervisor or an experienced coworker may train you. Some employers provide formal training programs within their company. In training, you learn to use the company's computer system. You also learn what standard forms to use and who to contact in other departments. Training may last about a month.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Office Procedures

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers require interviewing clerks to have a high school diploma or equivalent. For some employers, the ability to get along with others is equally important.

Employers prefer people who have a clear speaking voice, professional appearance, and pleasant personality. They also prefer applicants who are fluent in English. Employers look for applicants who have good spelling skills. For jobs that require advanced skills, employers may seek applicants with a year or more of direct work experience in the field.

Experience in a specific industry, such as banking or medical services, may be accepted as background for hiring. Employees already working within the organization are usually given priority in transferring from one department to another. Experienced interviewing clerks may be preferred to inexperienced applicants. However, employers often have specialized procedures, so the advantages of experience may be slight.

Tips

For workers in a health care setting, classes in word processing and medical terminology are helpful. Experience working or volunteering in a health care facility is important.

#Took over national content 5/11/16 to remove outdated reference to preference for workers who can use computers, cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The clerk's level of responsibility also affects wages.

Interviewing clerks who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Hospitals
• Market research and public opinion polling companies
• Local and state government agencies
• Doctors' offices

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will remain steady as the health care industry grows. Also the increase in the aging population will create more demand. Much of the demand for interviewing clerks will be in the health care industry.

Job opportunities will occur as people leave this occupation for other jobs. Job prospects are best for those with experience and computer skills.

Other resources

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Business Management and Administration

Career path

• Conventional (Business Operations)

O*Net  occupation

• Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan (43-4111.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Charge-account Clerk (205.367-014) 
• Creel Clerk (205.367-026) 
• Hospital-admitting Clerk (205.362-018) 
• Registration Clerk (205.367-042) 
• Survey Worker (205.367-054) 
• Traffic Checker (205.367-058) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Conventional/Enterprising/Social

COPSystem

• Clerical