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. 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. In some hotels, trainees start as switchboard operators and key clerks, information clerks, or mail clerks.