15 Key Attributes Reservation And Transportation Ticket Agents And Travel Clerks Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Ava Rodriguez

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets. They may also check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets, contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.

The core tasks that reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks are likely to carry out include:

Plan routes, itineraries, and accommodation details, and compute fares and fees, using schedules, rate books, and computers.
Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
Answer inquiries regarding information such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, and policies.
Assemble and issue required documentation, such as tickets, travel insurance policies, and itineraries.
Determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 94.2%

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 93.4%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 93%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 92.6%

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 90.43%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.2%

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 87.6%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 87.6%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87%

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 85%

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 85%

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.6%

Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 82.4%

Actively looking for ways to help people.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 82.4%

Having a strong preference for enterprising work environments. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 81%