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Counter and Rental Clerks

In the Counter and Rental Clerks occupation, workers receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. One core duty is to compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments. The strongest interest signal is Conventional (5.9 of 7), then Enterprising (3.9) and Social, which gives it the code CES. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in active listening, speaking, and service orientation helps most here. The job can ask you to receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage. It tends to suit people who want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, and it offers little for anyone seeking research, analysis and working through hard problems.

What they do

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

Main tasks

  • Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
  • Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
  • Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
  • Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
  • Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
  • Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Service Orientation
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on active listening and speaking.

May not suit you if

  • You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
  • You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CES takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Counter Clerk
  • Counter Service Representative
  • Leasing Consultant
  • Rental Agent
  • Rental Assistant

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.