3. Front Desk Clerk/Night Auditor
The nitty-gritty: Whether it's a boutique hotel or an RV park and campground, guests come and go at all hours of the night and day. The basic drill: Meet and greet with a smile. Check guests in and out, access their reservation in the computer system and run their credit card, assign rooms, hand over keys, and answer guests' questions on hotel services. You'll even dole out directions. You'll be expected to answer telephones and schedule reservations. But the underbelly is when something goes wrong: A reservation can't be found; there's a dispute over charges; the air conditioning in the room is on the fritz. That's when patience and a cool head prevail. Some employers combine these desk clerk duties with bookkeeping, so be clear about what you are ready to tackle. They may want someone on the front desk to assist night owls but realize that you'll still have billable hours to fill that can be fairly quiet. If you have a knack for numbers, you might have a bit more to offer doing double duty as a night auditor who can balance accounts and perform overnight bookkeeping chores.
The hours: Seasonal and part-time schedules of 20 to 30 hours a week, or four days a week, are common. Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays is usually required. Overnight generally means availability from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Median pay range: $7.73 to $14.15. More is possible depending on advanced degrees.
Qualifications: Hotel or retail experience is a plus, but on-the-job training is the norm. Each hotel or motel has its own reservation and billing systems. Most important, employers are always on the lookout for someone with a customer service sweet spot. A degree in accounting is desirable for night auditors. A certified public accountant (CPA) certification is best. Relevant experience or formal training in accounting/auditing services is a plus. Check out AARP's job search tool for night auditor jobs near you. Your room is ready!
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