Home / Tasks / Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information
In 3 of the 17 jobs that do this, AI or robots already show up on it, most often as work people hand to AI. In the other 14, there's no evidence yet. Jobs spend a median of 19m of an 8-hour shift on it, and about 7.1 million U.S. workers hold these jobs.
Every job that does this
Each job words the task its own way. Minutes are that job's estimate for a typical shift; the label is the evidence for that job's version.
| Job and its version of the task | Per shift | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone OperatorsListen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information. | 1h 32m | No evidence yet |
| File ClerksFind, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users. | 48m | No evidence yet |
| Bioinformatics TechniciansEnter or retrieve information from structural databases, protein sequence motif databases, mutation databases, genomic databases or gene expression databases. | 31m | No evidence yet |
| Public Safety TelecommunicatorsEnter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles. | 27m | No evidence yet |
| General Office ClerksReview files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests. | 27m | Often handed to AI |
| Hydrologic TechniciansLocate and deliver information or data as requested by customers, such as contractors, government entities, and members of the public. | 27m | No evidence yet |
| Proofreaders and Copy MarkersConsult reference books or secure aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition. | 25m | No evidence yet |
| Human Resources AssistantsExamine employee files to answer inquiries and provide information for personnel actions. | 25m | No evidence yet |
| Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and ClerksExamine city directories and public records to verify residence property ownership, bankruptcies, liens, arrest record, or unpaid taxes of applicants. | 19m | No evidence yet |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersRetrieve and examine real estate closing files for accuracy and to ensure that information included is recorded and executed according to regulations. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Penetration TestersGather cyber intelligence to identify vulnerabilities. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksAccess computerized financial information to answer general questions as well as those related to specific accounts. | 13m | No evidence yet |
| Word Processors and TypistsSearch for specific sets of stored, typed characters to make changes. | 13m | Often handed to AI |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsReview legal publications and perform database searches to identify laws and court decisions relevant to pending cases. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsConduct searches to find needed information, using such sources as the Internet. | 6m | Often handed to AI |
| Billing and Posting ClerksConsult sources, such as rate books, manuals, or insurance company representatives, to determine specific charges or information such as rules, regulations, or government tax and tariff information. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Court, Municipal, and License ClerksPerform record checks on past or current licensees, as required by investigations. | 6m | No evidence yet |
How to read this
This task type comes from O*NET's detailed work activities, which link similar tasks across jobs. A label applies to one job's version of the task: AI use comes from real AI conversations (Anthropic Economic Index) and robot evidence from deployments in real workplaces. "No evidence yet" may just mean the task is rare in the data. How we keep time.
See all 250 shared tasks, or find any job on the big clock.