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Receptionists & Information Clerks

Also called: Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Secretary

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
  • administrative services
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • talking to others
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Social Orientation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • IBM Check Processing Control System CPSC
  • St. Paul Travelers e-CARMA
Electronic mail software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$25,690
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about receptionists and information clerks.