Hotel Desk Clerks
Description OES Code: 538080
Accommodate hotel patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $6.94
25th Percentile $7.48
50th Percentile $8.93
75th Percentile $10.71

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage minimum
25th Percentile minimum
50th Percentile $6.66
75th Percentile $7.56

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Hotels are usually open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Work shifts in hotels are usually from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Employees may be asked to work any of these three shifts or to work on a rotating shift plan. Sunday and holiday work may also be rotated. A 40-hour work week is common. Overtime is sometimes required during busy periods.

Fringe benefits can be different and may include paid vacations and holidays, medical and dental insurance and retirement plans. In some hotels, which have restaurants, Hotel Desk Clerks may be given free meals.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 16,300
Projected Employment 2008 19,000
Percent Change 1998-2008 16.6%
Separations 1998-2008 6,800

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 110
Projected Employment 2006 130
Percent Change 1999-2006 18.2%
Separations 1999-2006 30

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Most hotels are very comfortable to work in. Desk Clerks work at a counter in the lobby. While the work is not physically hard, there's a lot of standing involved. You might have to do some reaching and bending.

Advancement
Promotion often depends on the employee's personality and skills, experience, training, work performance and education. A Hotel Desk Clerk may advance to chief room clerk, assistant front office manager, front office manager, sales and promotion manager or hotel manager. Experience is important for upward mobility. Top managerial posts usually require many years of experience and specialized training.

Employers prefer a college education for management training positions. Desk Clerks may improve their opportunities for advancement by taking college courses in general business.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Many Desk Clerks get jobs by being referred by others in the hotel business; others find work through direct application to hotels. Registration with the California Employment Development Department or private employment agencies, schools or unions can lead to jobs.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Most employers hire high school graduates who have clerical ability and training, particularly in typing, bookkeeping, and office machines. Employers are impressed by job applicants with experience in such jobs as bank tellers or sales clerks, since those jobs include both public contact and cash-handling experience. Bilingual skills are a plus. Many hotels demand computer skills.

Neatness, patience, and a friendly and courteous personality in dealing with the public are important. Dependability, a sense of responsibility, maturity and good customer relations skills are also needed.

There are two ways of getting the job. Some hotels have a policy of promoting from within. Many hotels hire people from the outside and give them on-the-job training. In some hotels, trainees start as switchboard operators and key clerks, information clerks, or mail clerks.

Skills & Other Requirements
The work of Hotel Desk Clerks is different depending on the size of the hotel. In small hotels they may process mail, collect payments, record accounts, handle reservations, operate the telephone switchboard and do simple bookkeeping.

Desk Clerks must know the hotel floor plan, fire escape routes, and the location of and sometimes the operation of the hotel's mechanical systems. Desk clerks must also know about local stores, restaurants, and churches.

Most hotels are very comfortable to work in. Desk Clerks work at a counter in the lobby. While the work is not physically hard, there's a lot of standing involved. You might have to do some reaching and bending.

Desk Clerks work under a head clerk, assistant manager or hotel manager. Teamwork is a must for good front office work. Clerks must cooperate with other hotel workers to serve guests properly. During the busiest registration and checkout periods, Desk Clerks work under pressure to meet the different needs of the customers.

References
California Occupational Guide: #70

Related Occupations: Hotel & Motel Managers, Property & Real Estate Managers

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)