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Clerical professionals keep your company running smoothly, so you need to be very selective when hiring. Of course, competition for top talent is more intense than it’s been in years, thanks to the strong job market.

The unemployment rate was 4.1 percent as of February 2018, which is fantastic for the economy, but makes hiring more challenging than ever. Use these three tips to spot top clerical talent, so you don’t accidentally select a candidate who isn’t equipped to handle this key position.

Communication Skills

Most clerical roles involve anything but isolation, so you need someone with excellent oral and written communication skills. This person must have the ability to listen carefully, follow directions, and convey messages in a manner that’s easy to understand. Whether their communications are largely internal, external or a mix of both, having someone who can adapt to their audience is a must. If messages are frequently lost in translation, chaos will ensue.

Reliability

It’s important to know you can count on every member of your team, but clerical roles require more reliability than most. In some positions, other people might not be immediately impacted if the person is a few minutes late or doesn’t show up to work, but not with jobs of this nature. When a clerical employee is unreliable, you never know if you’re going to have someone to answer the phones, respond to client inquiries, and greet visitors at the door. These are all responsibilities that can’t be pushed aside, so others have to step in if the person isn’t there.

Discretion

Due to the nature of the job, clerical employees are often subject to confidential information. Consequently, you need someone who can be trusted to keep sensitive material under wraps. The right person must have the good judgment to know when to remain mum without having to be told, and the self-restraint not to confide in others about private knowledge they’re privy to at the office.

Need a little help finding top clerical talent? Contact PrideStaff Northern Kentucky. Our team understands the key role clerical professionals play in a business, so we won’t stop searching until we’ve found the right fit.

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