Receptionists & Information Clerks
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.
Technology Tools
Key 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.
- 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.
- Calculate and quote rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, or other products or services.
- Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
- Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
- File and maintain records.
- Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
- 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.
- Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
- Keep a current record of staff members' whereabouts and availability.
- Schedule space or equipment for special programs and prepare lists of participants.
- Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
- Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
- Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
- Take orders for merchandise or materials and send them to the proper departments to be filled.
- Enter and update databases of contact information, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Receptionists & Information Clerks
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
100%
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?
97%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
89%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
87%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
85%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
84%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
83%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
83%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
78%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
77%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
74%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
72%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
70%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
69%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
68%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
66%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
61%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
58%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
56%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
50%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
47%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
46%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
43%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
42%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
36%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
35%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
34%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
33%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
29%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
26%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
26%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
24%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
23%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
23%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
20%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
14%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
13%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
12%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
12%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
8%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
8%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
7%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
5%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
3%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
2%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
2%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
1%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
1%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
0%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
0%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
0%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
0%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
0%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
Ready to pursue a career as Receptionists & Information Clerks?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now