In most places, a person who wants to become a mortgage clerk won’t need extensive education or have to meet complex requirements. Many employers are willing to hire mortgage clerks who have high school diplomas, or their equivalents, and have reached the age of legal adulthood. Training is typically required to become a mortgage clerk, but it is often offered on the job once a person is hired.
Generally, a person who wants to become a mortgage clerk must have good communication skills, be detail-oriented, and have the ability to work well under pressure. Mortgage clerks are responsible for reviewing loan applications and documents, interviewing applicants and answering their questions, communicating information to other loan departments, verifying applicant references, and performing background and credit checks. They may also facilitate the completion of loan transactions. In some places, a mortgage loan clerk may also type notices to governing bodies, order property insurance, and process mortgage loan payments.
Beyond graduation from high school or earning an equivalent certificate, most people do not need formal education in order to obtain mortgage clerk positions. Some, however, take industry-related courses offered by financial institutions, colleges, or vocational institutes to become more attractive candidates. Others may even pursue degrees in finance or business, taking a mortgage clerk position in the hopes of gaining experience to move on to a position of greater authority.
Training isn’t usually an issue for a person who wants to become a mortgage clerk, and many employers offer on-the-job training to prepare new employees for their responsibilities. For example, an employer may have a training class for new hires. A company may also have a new clerk trained under someone who is experienced with the requirements of the job. Training topics may include everything from how to process paperwork and use verification systems to how to use the company's computer programs and employ proper telephone etiquette. The length of training may depend on the particular employer, but could last for up to a few months.
Some aspiring mortgage clerks don’t apply to companies with which they have no experience. Instead, they may start out working for financial institutions in other positions and then move into the mortgage clerk job. For example, a person may start out as a customer service representative or bank teller and then apply to move into the mortgage clerk position. This may be easier than applying as a new applicant because the hiring manager may be familiar with the abilities of the aspiring clerk. He would still have to participate in the company's training program, however.
