What does a front desk staff do?
Front desk staff responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real front desk staff resumes:
- Manage agent work schedule base on call metrics to ensure that the desk exceeds contractual SLA agreements.
- Manage patients records by keeping all medical history, insurance and personal information update and verify abiding by HIPAA protocols.
- Update lobby display TV using PowerPoint program.
- Create flyers with PowerPoint for career center events.
- Develop daily SLA metrics reports for upper management.
- Administrate office duties (answer phones, run errands, and file important documents).
- Take in-store orders on a POS system, provide knowledge of the menu, and upsell items.
- Answer phones, greet visitors, organize mail, run department errands, and provide assistance to faculty members.
- Help to maintain office organization and functionality
- Register new patients and updates existing patient demographics by collecting patient detail patient information including personal and financial information.
- Distribute inbound mails/correspondence and prepare outbound mails and packages (USPS and FedEx).
- Maintain office supplies, and place domestic and international FedEx shipments for the company.
- Create transactions, receive payments, and make reports in QuickBooks.
- Organize billing and invoice data and prepare accounts receivable and payable using QuickBooks.
- Used IDX, Powerchart, HealthQuest, and Citrix.
Front desk staff skills and personality traits
We calculated that 33% of Front Desk Staff are proficient in Customer Service, Check-In, and Facility Tours. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Front Desk Staff that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 33%
Provided excellent customer service and updated member's account information using various computer applications.
- Check-In, 15%
Welcomed guests during check-in/check-out, provided concierge services as required and acted as liaison between guests and resort services/management.
- Facility Tours, 8%
Provide facility tours, sell memberships, and assist clients with questions
- Cleanliness, 7%
Lead associate sales and supervised associate returns and overall museum cleanliness.
- Strong Customer Service, 5%
Develop strong customer service relationships.
- Emergency Situations, 4%
Manage daily activities consisting of gaming/room rental, lost items, and dealing with emergency situations.
Most front desk staff use their skills in "customer service," "check-in," and "facility tours" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential front desk staff responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a front desk staff to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "information clerks must be able to explain policies and procedures clearly to customers and the public." Front desk staff often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "team player making certain open communication, cleanliness and safety are top priority. "
Integrity. Many front desk staff duties rely on integrity. "information clerks, particularly human resources assistants, have access to confidential information," so a front desk staff will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways front desk staff responsibilities rely on integrity: "brand representation, office/ clerical work, guest satisfaction, professionalism, integrity. "
Interpersonal skills. front desk staff are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to front desk staff responsibilities, because "information clerks who work with the public and customers must understand and communicate information effectively to establish positive relationships." A front desk staff resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "utilized and further developed important customer service and interpersonal skills. "
Organizational skills. For certain front desk staff responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "organizational skills." The day-to-day duties of a front desk staff rely on this skill, as "information clerks must be able to retrieve files and other important information quickly and efficiently." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what front desk staff do: "performed a variety of administrative tasks and executed organizational procedures. "
The three companies that hire the most front desk staffs are:
- Planet Fitness60 front desk staff jobs
- Marriott International14 front desk staff jobs
- Firstservice Residential California, Inc.8 front desk staff jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable front desk staff resume templates
Build a professional front desk staff resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your front desk staff resume.
Compare different front desk staff
Front desk staff vs. Guest services agent
Guest services agents are the ones who communicate with hotel guests who want to reserve or cancel bookings. Their job includes welcoming guests upon arrival, assigning them their rooms and suites, issuing their room keys, and collecting payment information. They organize housekeeping, transport providers, porters, and kitchen staff to meet the requirements of guests. They also resolve issues and deal with disappointed guests' complaints and coordinate third party services, including taxis, rental cars, tour guides, and airport transfers.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between front desk staff and guest services agent. For instance, front desk staff responsibilities require skills such as "check-in," "facility tours," "cleanliness," and "strong customer service." Whereas a guest services agent is skilled in "reservations," "hotel services," "cash handling," and "room reservations." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Guest services agents really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $28,914. Comparatively, front desk staff tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $29,933.On average, guest services agents reach similar levels of education than front desk staff. Guest services agents are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Front desk staff vs. Night auditor
A Night Auditor is responsible for handling late-night front-desk operations, mostly at hotels or other lodging establishments. Among the primary duties involve greeting guests and handling check-in and check-outs, responding to reservations, process and collect payments, preparing reports and necessary documentation, and attending to the guests' inquiries, requests, and concerns. Furthermore, Night Auditors must also coordinate with day-shift workers to be aware of the daily reports, and as well as oversee the entire establishment's operation to ensure the guest's welfare.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, front desk staff responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "facility tours," "cleanliness," "strong customer service," and "emergency situations." Meanwhile, a night auditor has duties that require skills in areas such as "reservations," "guest service," "guest satisfaction," and "cash handling." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Night auditors may earn a higher salary than front desk staff, but night auditors earn the most pay in the real estate industry with an average salary of $31,410. On the other hand, front desk staff receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $29,933.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Night auditors tend to reach similar levels of education than front desk staff. In fact, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Front desk staff vs. Guest relations representative
Guest relations representatives are professionals who are responsible for providing excellent customer service to customers of a hotel or other establishment. These representatives are required to assist the front office manager in mentoring and developing front office associates by contributing valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. They must provide general hospitality services for VIP guests by arranging transportation as well as special accommodations. Guest relations representatives must also maintain the cleanliness of guest rooms while delivering housekeeping amenities to the rooms.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a front desk staff is likely to be skilled in "check-in," "facility tours," "cleanliness," and "strong customer service," while a typical guest relations representative is skilled in "guest relations," "reservations," "patients," and "front desk."
When it comes to education, guest relations representatives tend to earn similar degree levels compared to front desk staff. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Front desk staff vs. Desk clerk
The desk clerk or general office clerk is an employee who works with little supervision from the manager. The duties and responsibilities of desk clerks vary depending on the industry they belong to. These may include but are not limited to answering phone calls, electronic correspondence, filing paperwork, taking and maintaining inventory levels, and setting calendars and schedules. They are expected to always offer excellent customer service. In hotels, they check-in and check-out their guests.
Types of front desk staff
Updated January 8, 2025
