Occupation Details
Receptionists and 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.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
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.
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.
Work Values
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.
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.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,410.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$38,210.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$44,240.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
92,830
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
111,860
+1,903 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
14,685
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
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.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
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.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Credit card processing machines
- Data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Dictation equipment
- Electric typewriters
- Filing Cabinets
- Handheld calculators
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line switchboards
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
- Postage machines
- Public address PA systems
- Scanners
Technology
- 3M Post-it App
- Alpha Software Alpha Five
- Appointment scheduling software
- Automated information system software
- Billing software
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Bookkeeping software
- Claim processing system software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Database software
- Desktop publishing software
- Electronic calendar management software
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Email software
- FileMaker Pro
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain travel expense accounts
- operate business machines
- use cash registers
- distribute correspondence or mail
- resolve customer or public complaints
- schedule meetings or appointments
- arrange teleconference calls
- develop travel itinerary
- make travel reservations
- schedule or contract meeting facilities
- explain rules, policies or regulations
- understand second language
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use telephone communication techniques
- answer calls using switchboard
- make presentations
- communicate with customers or employees to disseminate information
- calculate rates for organization's products or services
- transcribe spoken or written information
- take messages
- enter time sheet information
- maintain telephone logs
- type document from machine transcription
- examine files or documents to obtain information
- collect payment
- answer questions from employees or public
- provide clerical assistance to customers or patients
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
- escort group on city or establishment tours
- maintain records, reports, or files
- fill out business or government forms
- route multi-line telephone calls
- type letters or correspondence
- maintain appointment calendar
- maintain inventory of office forms
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
- Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
- File and maintain records.
- Receive payment and record receipts for services.
- 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.
- Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
- Calculate and quote rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, or other products or services.
- Analyze data to determine answers to questions from customers or members of the public.
- Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
- Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
- Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
- 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.
- Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
- Schedule space or equipment for special programs and prepare lists of participants.
- Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
- Conduct tours or deliver talks describing features of public facilities, such as a historic site or national park.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Administrative Support Specialists
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreInformation and record clerks (Intro)
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreReceptionists and information clerks
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More