How long does it take to become a Front Desk Agent?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a front desk agent. That is the time it takes to learn specific front desk agent skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Front Desk Agent: What It Is and Career Path

What is a front desk agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A front desk agent works at the reception desk of a hotel, office, or facility. They greet guests, answer questions, check guests in and out, make reservations, and handle payments. Additionally, they may provide information about attractions and amenities, arrange transportation, and handle complaints. Front desk agents use excellent communication and organization, as well as the ability to multitask and remain calm. They help create a positive impression for guests and ensure a pleasant experience.

ScoreFront Desk AgentUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $31,008

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

4.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.45%

Asian 9.91%

Black or African American 9.74%

Hispanic or Latino 22.13%

Unknown 6.78%

White 49.98%

Gender

female 68.84%

male 31.16%

Age - 34

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34

Stress Level

8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.8

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

9.3

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Front Desk Agent?

Pros

Possibility for flexible scheduling
Opportunity for advancement within the hospitality industry
Potential for tips or commission on sales
Exposure to cultural diversity
Access to employee discounts or perks

Cons

High level of stress during peak times
Long periods of standing or sitting in one place
Exposure to illness or disease from sick guests
Need to work holidays, weekends, and evenings
Low pay compared to other industries with similar qualifications

Newest jobs for Front Desk Agent in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become a front desk agent

Explore front desk agent education requirements

Most common front desk agent degrees

Bachelor's

42.1 %

High School Diploma

24.9 %

Associate

21.1 %

Start to develop specific front desk agent skills

Skills	Percentages
Reservations	22.53%
Team Work	8.29%
Guest Service	6.26%
Customer Service	4.70%
Computer System	4.22%

Complete relevant front desk agent training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New front desk agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a front desk agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real front desk agent resumes.

Gain additional front desk agent certifications

Front desk agent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific front desk agent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for front desk agents include Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) and Certified Front Desk Manager (CFDM).

More About Certifications

Research front desk agent duties and responsibilities

Train new associates to Hyatt standards and the most efficient way to accomplish the day's tasks.
Work as front desk, PBX, and make error free reservations for a full size hotel consisting of 123 rooms.
Welcome guests into the 2nd largest Hyatt in the world.
Receive recognition for dependability and a``can-do"attitude.

Prepare your front desk agent resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your front desk agent resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a front desk agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Front Desk Agent Resume templates

Build a professional Front Desk Agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Front Desk Agent resume.

Apply for front desk agent jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a front desk agent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do front desk agents rate their job?

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Front Desk Agent reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Helping People.As a child my Mom was a Nurse in Long-term Care. And as My Mom, I get the most out of life when I'm helping someone.

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019

Pros

Leaving aside all cons of living opposite to the rest of the world, working the night shift has also its pros: You avoid most of the Check Outs of that day and dealing with most of the guests, meaning (almost) no angry people asking for discounts because they couldn't reach the remote control. Also, no queues at the Front Desk. In some cases, working the nights could mean that there will be no bosses or supervisors around, and if you get along with they guys at the bar you might even get unlimited free coffee or sodas (and even snacks). Also: Breaks! You get to have a lot of breaks during the night shift, which you would only dream having during the day. Remember that new meme's website your friend told you about? Yes, you can watch the whole 293 pages in a quiet night during the low season. Lastly, as you are treated just like another Recepcionist, you also get your cut of all comissionable sales.

Cons

Lay overs: Everyone hates getting their flight cancelled or delayed, but no one hates it as much as the clerks of the hotels that receive the passengers of those flights. No more rest: You never get used to sleep while there's so much sun and so much noise and movement outside. You start feeling permanently tired. No amount of hours of sleep are enough to feel well rested. Earplugs and eyepatches become your new best friends No more social life: If you have no friends, then you're good. But if you do, then you will have to accept to sacrifice a lot of moments in your life. Depending on what part of the globe you live in, working the nights could mean no more going out for a drink with the guys, or no more dining with your wife or gf, or no more b-day parties, or no more going out to the theater. Bsically anything that is usually done during the evening, unless you stay in the same place long enough to get your days off on weekends, which is rare in hospitality. If you live in a country where you would have dinner at 6 or 7 p.m., then perhaps you're gonna have it a bit better. All alone, for everything: No bosses could mean you're all alone to make all decisions for any trouble that may arise, and theb take whole responsibility on it. Get ready to get woken up by your boss who would like to get more details.

What is a front desk agent and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Front Desk Agent?

Newest jobs for Front Desk Agent in Columbus, OH

Front Desk Agent career paths

Key steps to become a front desk agent

Explore front desk agent education requirements

Most common front desk agent degrees

Start to develop specific front desk agent skills

Complete relevant front desk agent training and internships

Gain additional front desk agent certifications

Research front desk agent duties and responsibilities

Prepare your front desk agent resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Front Desk Agent Resume templates

Apply for front desk agent jobs

How Did You Land Your First Front Desk Agent Job

Average front desk agent salary

How do front desk agents rate their job?

Front Desk Agent reviews

Front Desk Agent FAQs

How long does it take to become a Front Desk Agent?

Search for front desk agent jobs

Front Desk Agent jobs by state