Career Details :: Receptionists and Information Clerks
Description
Answer inquiries and obtain information for general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties. Provide information regarding activities conducted at establishment; location of departments, offices, and employees within organization.
Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a general office clerk even if he/she has never worked in an office before.
Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Tasks
- Analyzes data to determine answer to customer or public inquiry.
- Types memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
- Operates telephone switchboard to receive incoming calls.
- Enrolls individuals to participate in programs, prepares lists, and notifies individuals of acceptance in programs, and arranges and schedules space and equipment for participants.
- Answers telephone to schedule future appointments, provide information, or forward call.
- Provides information to public regarding tours, classes, workshops, and other programs.
- Registers visitors of public facility, such as national park or military base, collects fees, explains regulations, and assigns sites.
- Collects and distributes messages for employees of organization.
- Provides information to public concerning available land leases, land classification, or mineral resources.
- Greets persons entering establishment, determines nature and purpose of visit, and directs visitor to specific destination, or answers questions and provides information.
- Records, compiles, enters, and retrieves information, by hand or using computer.
- Calculates and quotes rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, and other products and services.
- Receives payment and records receipts for services.
- Performs duties such as taking care of plants and straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
- Hears and resolves complaints from customers and public.
- Transmits information or documents to customer, using computer, mail, or facsimile.
- Monitors facility to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Files and maintains records.
- Conducts tours or delivers talks describing features of public facility, such as historic site or national park.
Related Careers
- Cashiers
- Counter and Rental Clerks
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
- Insurance Claims Clerks
- New Accounts Clerks
- Office Clerks, General
- Order Clerks
- Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Statement Clerks
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
- Establishing & Maintaining Relationships
- Performing for/Working With Public
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Documenting/Recording Information
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Deal With External Customers
- Provide a Service to Others
- Degree of Automation
- Indoors
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Administrative Science |  [ add ] |
| Administrative Secretary | [ add ] |
| Administrative Systems | [ add ] |
| Business/Public Administration | [ add ] |
| Clerical Studies | [ add ] |
| General Office Procedures | [ add ] |
| Information Processing | [ add ] |
| Information Processing Systems | [ add ] |
| Office Technology | [ add ] |
| Secretarial | [ add ] |
| Secretarial Science | [ add ] |
| Secretarial/Office Studies | [ add ] |
| Word Processing | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.