13 Key Attributes Brokerage Clerks Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Noah Smith

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Brokerage clerks perform duties related to the purchase, sale or holding of securities. Duties include writing orders for stock purchases or sales, computing transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, tracking stock price fluctuations, computing equity, distributing dividends, and keeping records of daily transactions and holdings.

The core tasks that brokerage clerks are likely to carry out include:

Correspond with customers and confer with coworkers to answer inquiries, discuss market fluctuations, or resolve account problems.
Record and document security transactions, such as purchases, sales, conversions, redemptions, and payments, using computers, accounting ledgers, or certificate records.
Schedule and coordinate transfer and delivery of security certificates between companies, departments, and customers.
Prepare forms, such as receipts, withdrawal orders, transmittal papers, or transfer confirmations, based on transaction requests from stockholders.
File, type, or operate standard office machines.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that brokerage clerks would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.8%

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 90.6%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.4%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.2%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87%

Being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.2%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83.2%

Persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.6%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.4%

Preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80%