Front Desk Clerk Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the front desk clerk job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you would be expected to fulfill to be hired for the front desk clerk role by most employers or recruiters.

What Does A Front Desk Clerk Do?

The front desk clerk has other titles, such as receptionist or front office assistant.

They are charged with greeting and assisting guests, visitors or clients as they enter the establishment.

Their job description also involves helping with check-ins, check-outs, inquiries, and delivering of excellent customer service.

Front desk clerks are the face of the organization and usually report to a guest service manager, front office manager, or the general manager, depending on the structure and size of the establishment.

They are hired across a wide range of industries, including hotels, motels, resorts, hospitals, corporate offices, educational institutions, government agencies, and any organization that receives visitors or clients.

When working in a hotel, motel, or resort, the front desk clerk’s typical duties involves making and confirming reservations, and registering and assigning rooms to guests when they arrive, according to Onetonline.

To be hired for this role, you are expected to have a minimum educational requirement, which is a high school diploma.

Some employers may want candidates that hold a certificate or an Associate’s degree in business administration, hospitality management, or in any related field.

Employers also value on-the-job training as front desk clerks need to get familiar with the distinct policies and procedures of their employers.

The core functions of a front desk clerk include greeting and welcoming visitors, providing information, answering inquiries, helping with check-ins and check-outs, processing payments, maintaining records and making sure  guests or clients are satisfied.

Other duties may involve answering phone calls, handling mail and package deliveries, scheduling appointments, and offering admin support as necessary.

The place of the front desk clerk is significant in different countries as they are the first point of contact of a brand.

They influence overall perception of an organization’s hospitality and customer service.

Employers want front desk clerks that have impeccable communication skills, a professional comportment, possess good problem solving skills, and proficient in the use of software and computer applications relevant to the job.

There are specific local or national regulatory agencies for front desk clerks but industries like health and hospitality may have standard guidelines and best practices for guest and customer interactions.

Front Desk Clerk Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The front desk clerk job description entails the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Greet and assist guests, visitors, and clients in a friendly yet professional manner, setting the tone for their overall experience
• Provide accurate information, respond to inquiries, resolve issues or reservations promptly and respectfully
• Handle check-ins and check-outs efficiently, process payments, verify information, assign rooms etc.
• Have a solid grasp of the organization’s policies, procedures and services so as to disseminate information to guests or clients when needed
• Operate front desk computer system in managing reservations, room assignments and guest records
• Answer incoming calls, transfer calls to their proper department or personnel as well as take messages
• Work well with housekeeping, maintenance and other departments to make sure guest have their needs catered for
• Handle credit cards and cash transactions accurately, in line with established procedures as well as ensuring proper documentation
• Foster a professional and welcoming environment by making sure front desk area is clean and organized
• Ensure room availability and rate information are updated to reflect accurate booking and pricing
• Make keys and access cards available to guests or clients upon arrival and are collected upon departure
• Work alongside security personnel for the security of lives and property
• Maintain proper records for all occasions – guests’ arrivals, departures, special requests and even incidents
• Help with processing mail, packages and other deliveries for guests or clients
• Deliver administrative support to other departments or management in tasks like typing, filing, data entry etc.
• Take part in training programs or workshops to deepen knowledge of organization’s offerings as customer service skill-set
• Address guest or clients’ reservations or concerns professionally and promptly, escalating to management when appropriate
• Upsell the organization’s offerings, including amenities and special packages to foster the guest experience and improve revenue
• Maintain and monitor inventory of supplies like brochures, stationery, and guest amenities
• Help with events, conferences or meetings coordination as needed
• Carry out additional duties as deem fit by management such as preparing reports and audits, and assisting with special projects
• Constantly pursue opportunities for professional development and be up-to-date with best practices, industry trends and novel customer service techniques
• Work well with team members to make sure there’s smooth operation and a great guest or client experience
• Adhere to a professional appearance and demeanor at all times in line with the organization’s dress code and grooming standards.

Front Desk Clerk Job Description for Resume

 If you have worked before or are currently working in the role of a front desk clerk and are making a new resume or CV, then you can apply the sample front desk clerk job description above in creating a compelling Professional Experience section for your resume.

You can utilize the duties and responsibilities in the above job description in expressing the work you did or are presently doing as a front desk clerk in your resume’s Professional Experience.

This will show that you have been successful working as a front desk clerk, which can enhance your chances of being hired for the new job that you are seeking, especially if it requires someone with some front desk clerk work experience.

Front Desk Clerk Requirements: Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge for Career Success

A successful front desk clerk will possess a mix of knowledge, abilities, and skills such as:

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal), as well as people skills
• Solid customer service mindset and competence to provide excellent guest experiences
• Conflict resolution and problem solving aptitude
• Competencies in computer applications and property management software
• Possess keen attention to details and organizational skillset
• Can multitask and prioritize tasks in a fast paced environment
• Good local area knowledge, including restaurants, attractions and transportation options
• Can speak in more than one language other than English (this depends on area and clientele)
• Open to work flexible schedules, including evenings, holidays and weekends
• Possess basic math skills that are useful for handling calculations and cash
• Demonstrating patience, diplomacy and good emotional intelligence in the workplace.

Important Technology Skills

Here are important technology skills that front desk clerks need to have to be effective in their job and to increase their chances of being hired:

• Yardi software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Facebook
• Microsoft Word.

Front Desk Clerk Employment

According to Zippia, there are more than 151,288 front desk clerks employed currently in the United States.

While the average age of employed front desk clerk is 36, women make up the higher number at 75.8% while men are 24.2%.

States with the highest employment for front desk clerks include:

• California, 7,644  
• Texas, 4,585
• Florida, 4,443
• New York, 3,104 
• Pennsylvania, 2,552 

Industries with the highest number of employed front desk clerks include hospitality (63,541) health care (16,642), and Fortune 500 (16,642).

Front Desk Clerk Salary

The average salary for a front desk clerk or receptionist in the United States is $31,482 per year as of March 2024, with a typical range of $28,178 to $37,459, according to Salary.com

The states with the highest salaries for front desk clerks according to Zippia include Hawaii and California, with average annual salaries of $34,069 and $33,571 respectively.

Conclusion

This article provided a detailed look at what the front desk clerk job description entails, from key duties and responsibilities to important skills needed to be effective on the job.

It also provided employment and salary statistics to give you an ideal of what to expect if you are interested in becoming a front desk clerk.

Employers can customize the sample job description provided on this page to present a comprehensive job description that can attract the best talents to their organizations.

Front Desk Clerk Resources

To help in making you a better front desk clerk and taking your career to the top, here are useful resources you can access:

Professional Organizations

Useful Blogs

Helpful Books

References:

Onetonline, zippia, salary.