Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Office and administrative support / 43-4171.00

Receptionists and Information Clerks

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.

US jobs
910,180
Median wage
$38,010 a year
Job family
Office and administrative support

Can agents do the work of receptionists and information clerks?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Office and administrative support: Most tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 60% or more of the tasks (or projects) on two direct benchmarks from independent institutions.

Evidence: OSWorld-Verified, 90.2% of tasks completed; SpreadsheetBench, 83.1% of tasks completed.

37% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 12%Perform administrative or clerical activitiesMeasured
  • 11%Schedule appointmentsMeasured
  • 9%Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motoristsNot measured
  • 8%Process shipments or mailNot measured
  • 7%Explain technical details of products or servicesNot measured
  • 7%Respond to customer problems or inquiriesMeasured
  • 7%Provide information to guests, clients, or customersNot measured
  • 6%Collect fares or paymentsNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in office and administrative support, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • 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.
  • Receive payment and record receipts for services.
  • Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
  • Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
  • Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
  • File and maintain records.
  • Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
  • Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
  • Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
  • Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
  • Analyze data to determine answers to questions from customers or members of the public.
Other job titles for this occupation (60)

Clerk Specialist · Front Desk Receptionist · Greeter · Information Assistant (Info Assistant) · Medical Receptionist · Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) · Office Assistant · Receptionist · Registration Clerk · Scheduler · Appointment Clerk · Appointment Scheduler · Appointment Setter · Automobile Club Information Clerk (Auto Club Info Clerk) · Bilingual Receptionist · Call Center Agent · Call Center Operator · Call Center Representative (Call Center Rep) · Call Taker · Clinic Receptionist · Customer Care Representative (CCR) · Dental Receptionist · ER Clerk (Emergency Room Clerk) · Front Desk Associate · Front Desk Clerk · Front Desk Officer · Front Office Receptionist · Guard Entrance Registrar · Hospital Receptionist · Hospitality Aide · In File Operator · Information Receptionist (Info Receptionist) · Land Leasing Examiner · Land Leasing Information Clerk (Land Leasing Info Clerk) · Legal Receptionist · Medical Office Receptionist · Medical Scheduler · Outpatient Clerk · Pay Station Attendant · People Greeter · Policyholder Information Clerk (Policyholder Info Clerk) · Quoter · Referral and Information Aide (Referral and Info Aide) · Referral Coordinator · Register Clerk · Registrar · Research Clerk · Salon Receptionist · Schedule Announcer · Spa Receptionist · Space Scheduler · Telephone Answerer · Telephone Appointment Clerk · Telephone Clerk · Telephone Information Clerk (Telephone Info Clerk) · Telephone Operator · Telephone Operator Receptionist · Telephone Quotation Clerk · Tourist Information Assistant (Tourist Info Assistant) · Utility Clerk