Counter and Rental Clerks

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Also known as:
Airplane Charter Clerk, Apartment Rental Clerk, Automobile Rental Clerk, Bicycle Rental Clerk, Boat Rental Clerk, Car Rental Agent, Dry Cleaning Counter Clerk, Layaway Clerk, Rental Clerk, Storage Facility Rental Clerk

See all Marketing, Sales and Service Careers.

ABOUT COUNTER AND RENTAL CLERK CAREERS

Video transcript

Counter and rental clerks facilitate transactions - whether the transaction is a car rental, a video tape rental, or accepting shoes to be repaired or cloths to be dry cleaned. Specific duties vary, but most counter and rental clerks are responsible for answering questions about the product or service being offered, its cost, or rental agreement details. Some may receive incentive pay for selling add-ons, options, or special memberships.

Firms employing counter and rental clerks generally operate when their customers their customers are not at their own jobs, so night, weekend, and holiday work is common. Over half of all people in this occupation work a part-time schedule.

The work itself is not difficult nor well paid. Bu being a counter or rental clerk is an excellent way to learn a business, earn part-time income, and master the art of dealing with customers face-to-face, which is invaluable experience for any job.

SNAPSHOT

Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict	HIGH

Competition for this position	LOW
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Prepare rental forms, obtaining customer signature and other information, such as required licenses.

Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.

Recommend and provide advice on a wide variety of products and services.

Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.

Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.

Receive, examine, and tag articles to be altered, cleaned, stored, or repaired.

Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.

Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.

Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.

Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.

Rent items, arrange for provision of services to customers, and accept returns.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Documenting/Recording Information	Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Processing Information	Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Interacting With Computers	Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Selling or Influencing Others	Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

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.
Clerical	Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Sales and Marketing	Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics	Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Transportation	Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Computers and Electronics	Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

TOP SKILLS

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.
Service Orientation	Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.