Do you love math? Could you see yourself in a fast-paced financial career? As a brokerage clerk, you'd be working for a firm that buys and sells securities. (The word "securities" refers to intangible assets like stocks and bonds, as opposed to physical ones, like a house or car.) You'd spend your days assisting one or more brokers by completing paperwork for sales transactions, watching stock prices, and preparing reports about investors' accounts. Brokerage clerks may interact with clients on behalf of their bosses, so it definitely helps to be both friendly and detail-oriented. Though it's not always required, a bachelor's degree in accounting will give you a competitive edge when applying for this type of job. A clerk position could give you the connections needed to work your way up to a broker job (massive salary bump!), though you'll also need to complete training and pass licensing exams. Although brokers themselves often work notoriously long hours, their assistants usually enjoy saner, more 9-to-5 schedules—even though some are expected to put in overtime during busy periods.