You must be able to provide excellent customer service, have a pleasant telephone demeanor, and a clear speaking voice to work as a reservationist. In order to avoid overbooking, reservationists may be required to learn specialized computer programs that are commonly used businesses when taking reservations. A high school diploma or comparable certification is also required for most reservationist positions. On-the-job training at a hotel, restaurant, or transportation agency can also help you become a reservationist.
Strong customer service skills are required as a reservationist because you will be working directly with the public. Whether you want to work as an airline reservationist or a restaurant reservationist, you must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Natural skills required for becoming a reservationist include a positive attitude, patience, and a willingness to serve others.
Before you can work as a reservationist, you may need to complete formal training, depending on where you want to work. Local colleges and private travel agencies occasionally offer courses. Investigate the industry you want to work in to see what kind of training, if any, is required.
Job postings for reservationists may appear in your local classifieds. You can also look up individual companies online to see if any of them are hiring reservationists right now. If you don’t have any prior experience, look for companies that provide on-the-job training for reservationists.
Hotel reservationist and ticket agent positions are increasingly hiring employees to work from home. However, special telephone equipment and computer software may be required to become a reservationist who can work from home. New employees may also be required to train for a set period of time at a supervised location before being allowed to work remotely in these positions.
You may be required to learn special codes and jargon specific to the industry you work in in order to become a reservationist. This is especially important if you want to work in the tourism industry. You must be familiar with the various codes used to identify airports and other ports when arranging or confirming travel destinations for clients.
When you’re first starting out as a reservationist, you might want to consider working in less-than-ideal situations to gain the skills and experience you’ll need to advance. Businesses that require reservations, for example, frequently operate on 24-hour schedules. As a new reservationist, you may come across jobs that require you to work overnight shifts or other unusual hours, or that only offer part-time work, but that provide valuable training and experience.