Office Clerk 2 Job Profile: Female, age 49, from Rochester, NY (ID# 5251)

1. What exactly do you do?

What field is your job in?

Purchasing Dept. For Local Government
What is your job title?

Office Clerk 2
Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)

Monroe County, has about 4000 employees.
How long have you been employed in this position?

27 yrs.
How many hours do you work a week on average?

35
Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)

35
Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)

I assist 4 purchasing buyers who purchase all goods/services for every County dept. I do all their clerical work.
What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.

35000
What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.

35500
Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)

8 weeks vacation, up to almost 6 mos. of sick time, pension plan available at age 55 with 30 yrs. of employment, Blue Point 2 Select health care
Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?

the benefits cannot be beat, the pay is not the greatest but by clerical standards I guess it's around average salary

Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain

yes, I work with others & everyone gets along great, it's a nice, easy, laid back office.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?

Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it

I work in the County Office Bldg. in downtown Rochester, NY, it is a lovely old bldg.
Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 1 Income
- 8 Work Environment - co-workers
- 7 Work Environment - supervisors
- 3 Benefits
- 4 Hours
- 5 Level of responsibility
- 6 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 2 Job Title

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?

they have to take a civil service exam & score in the top 3.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)

social skills in person & on the phone, because you have to deal with contractors & other County personnel
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?

yes, a college degree would help
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?

absorb as much knowledge as you can from coworkers who have been there a long time

How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)

kept an eye on job postings for the County
What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)

submitted paper application to take exam
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)

yes, I interviewed with the supervisor of the Personnel dept. at that time, one on one.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?

I cannot remember as it was in Sept. 1985!
Is this the job / field you planned to work in?

No
If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)

I have an Associate's Degree in Business Administration/Management but since I have no work experience in that field, I was just getting interviews for clerical positions so I took it & have been in clerical positions ever since. I planned to own my own business or work in the advertising field but this did not happen for me.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?

you just needed a high school diploma at the time & to be able to type
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain

yes, I had good supervisors who showed me the ropes & took me under their wings.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain

yes, I took clerical courses in high school, like typing, so I was prepared for all the typing the job involved at that time on an electric typewriter, now on a computer of course.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?

If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?

The way everyone gets along so well & how laid back the office is since there are only 12 of us here.
What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)

The benefits & the fact that I can retire in about 6 yrs. & earn my pension immediately, the hrs. can't be beat: mon-fri. (9-5, wish the commute was easier as I live about 7 miles away but it's not that bad on the expressway during good weather!
Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?

No, I thought I would do something pertaining to the degree I have but at this stage of the game I am happy where I am & looking forward to retiring.
What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)

At this point to just get my time in & be able to retire as planned.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?

no