hotel desk clerks/front office?
Asked by ashley y
i am 16, female, and a sophmore in highschool. i am taking all honors and AP classes. i am mature, friendly, and smart. i think i could be a front office clerk at a hotel because i have the personality for it, i am good with computers, etc. also, i know a little bit of spanish, so if i had to get a spanish speaking person a room, im sure i could. i'm in spanish 3 honors. would it be possible for me to become a desk clerk/front office person at a hotel? how old do you have to be to be one? what are the requirements? i went here: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos132.htm and it didn't say anything about age or needing a high school diploma or the equivaliant. are any of you out there a desk clerk? any advice? i live in Dallas, TEXAS i have experience as a hostess, if that helps. not NOW, but maybe when i am 17 or 18

Best Answer:
Front Desk Clerks, Guest Service Agents, and Front Office Associates, are all names for the same position. I would suggest going to hcareers.com and searching for non-management positions that way you can get an idea of some of the requirements in your area. In Oklahoma we require a work permit signed by school and parents authorizing work. Unfortunately you will be somewhat limited because of your age and school. Many hotels only have one desk clerk at night so working at night may not be the best option. But working during the day would conflict with school. You also have to consider cash handling issues. Most hotels operate at least two petty cash banks. This is where having past food service experience comes in handy, even if it is fast food. Responsibility in that job shows that you can handle money. Wait until summer comes and your schedule frees up. Working during the day is much easier because there are people all around who can answer questions and help out if needed. Day shifts are usually from 7-3 or from 8-4. Keep your head up and expect some age discrimination. Being a desk clerk is one of the harder jobs at a hotel because you what is termed a "Front Line" employee. That means you get it all and it is up to you to decide how to deal with it and who to tell about it. If you can't get in a hotel position this summer try going to conflict resolution classes at your local community college. This can only serve to boost your resume and will serve you well at a hotel's desk. Being a former hotel desk clerk I've had keys thrown at me, been spit on, screamed at, and hit on. I've also been hugged, given tips, and been offered other job opportunities. Other things front desk clerks are responsible for... Securing payment for room(s) Directing guests around town Ensuring that guests are properly blocked in rooms per their requests Signing them up for the hotels' rewards program Helping guests get on the Internet at the hotel Dealing with complaints Ensuring a guests' stay is as productive as it can be ----- most important. It sounds like later in life you may be interested in Guest Relations. This is the part of the hotel that gets the worst of the worst complaints. But they are also the part that can make the biggest impact on a guests' stay or opinion of the hotel. One more thing...if you do get an interview at a hotel you applied to...what will knock their socks off is if you bring in reviews of the hotel you're interviewing at from say travel.yahoo.com or www.travelpost.com, or www.tripadvisor.com and you critique them. That is to say you, in your own words, describe how you could have helped out a situation before it turned into a negative comment on one of these websites. It shows that you have a real understanding of what a hotel is really about...the guests. Hope this helps!

From what I understand it is pretty much impossible to get a job as a desk clerk at a hotel unless you have at least a bachelor's degree in hospitality. Best of luck!
Answered by SingingCrab7

A position at the front desk of a hotel is a great place to get an entry-level position. It depends a lot on the hotel and their policies. Some may start hiring at 18, but I knew a few girls in high school who were working at hotels, so they're not all like that. This type of position is also a great way to get your foot in the door in the hotel industry if you're at all interested in hotel/hospitality management. It can be a very interesting career path with lots of options. Find a few nice places you'd like to work at, and contact their hiring manager. Ask what the requirements are. If a degree is required, ask if there are any other positions in the hotel (ie, hostess for the restaurant, etc) that you could start at and work your way up. They will value the fact that you really want to work at their establishment and are anxious to work your way up the ladder.
Answered by Michelle J