Receptionists and Information Clerks

Description

Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

Tasks

  • Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
  • Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
  • Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
  • Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
  • Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
  • File and maintain records.
  • Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
  • Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
  • Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
  • Receive payment and record receipts for services.
  • Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
  • Analyze data to determine answers to questions from customers or members of the public.
  • Keep a current record of staff members' whereabouts and availability.
  • Take orders for merchandise or materials and send them to the proper departments to be filled.
  • Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
  • Calculate and quote rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, or other products or services.
  • Schedule space or equipment for special programs and prepare lists of participants.
  • Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
  • Conduct tours or deliver talks describing features of public facilities, such as a historic site or national park.

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
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.
Clerical
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Skills

Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Work Activities

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Performing Administrative Activities
Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Work Context

Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Deal With External Customers
How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?

Interests

Conventional
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.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Style

Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Work Values

Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Lay Titles

Administrative Assistant
Appointment Clerk
Appointment Scheduler
Appointment Setter
Automobile Club Information Clerk
Call Center Agent
Call Center Operator
Call Center Representative
Call Taker
Cashier
Clinic Receptionist
Community Liaison
Credit Reporting Clerk
Customer Care Representative (CCR)
Customer Service Representative
Dental Receptionist
Emergency Room Clerk
File Clerk
Front Desk Clerk
Front Desk Officer
Front Desk Receptionist
Greeter
Guard Entrance Registrar
Hospitality Aide
In-File Operator
Information Specialist
Land Leasing Examiner
Land Leasing Information Clerk
Legal Receptionist
Medical Assistant
Medical Office Receptionist
Medical Scheduler
Medical Secretary
Member Service Representative
Merchandising Assistant
Office Assistant
Office Manager
Operator
Outpatient Clerk
Park Aide
Patient Registration Representative
Pay Station Attendant
People Greeter
Policyholder Information Clerk
Quoter
Receptionist
Receptionist Telephone Operator
Referral and Information Aide
Referral Coordinator
Register Clerk
Registrar
Registration Clerk
Research Clerk
Sales Assistant
Schedule Announcer
Scheduler
Secretary
Space Scheduler
Telephone Answerer
Telephone Appointment Clerk
Telephone Clerk
Telephone Information Clerk
Telephone Operator Receptionist
Telephone Quotation Clerk
Tourist Information Assistant
Utility Clerk

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):
$12.49 hourly, $25,990 annual.
Employment (2008):
966,150 employees