Although all parking attendant jobs revolve around the subject of vehicle parking, the nature of the work performed can vary. A valet, a person who directs others about where to park, and a person who monitors parking areas for violators of regulations are all examples of parking attendant jobs. All parking attendants should have a basic understanding of automobiles, including the ability to drive manual and automatic transmissions, parallel and reverse park, and recognize various makes and models on the spot. As part of their job responsibilities, many attendants are required to wear a distinctive uniform.
The valet is one type of parking attendant. Valet parking is available at a variety of locations, including restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs, and it can be free or charge a service fee. The visitor to the establishment is greeted by the valet, who waits in a booth, stand, or other station until the visitor arrives in his or her car. The visitor hands over the keys to the attendant or allows him or her to take his or her place behind the wheel, and the attendant drives the car to a parking space, where it will remain until the visitor is finished with his or her business.
The valet attendant will return to the station and assist other arriving visitors during the time the visitor is in the establishment. The valet must retrieve the vehicle and return it to the guest when the guest wishes to depart. A tip is usually given to valet parking attendants for each vehicle they return to a customer.
Other parking attendant jobs are concentrated in larger venues like stadiums or convention centers. These parking attendants deal with a larger number of people and aren’t expected to park cars themselves; instead, they’re in charge of directing people to the appropriate parking area, collecting fees as needed, and arranging for ticketing and towing of vehicles that break parking rules. These attendants may be stationed inside a garage or in a booth within an outdoor lot, but if they are directing people to self-park, they may also be directing people on foot around the parking area.
Parking enforcement officers are also said to be working as parking attendants. They are usually employed by public or private agencies and are responsible for detecting and ticketing parking violations. Because it is common for an attendant to be in the middle of ticketing a vehicle when the vehicle’s owner returns, this type of parking attendant must have a thick skin. If this is the case, a tense conflict can arise, in which the driver wants his or her presence to indicate that he or she has committed no violation, but the official may be forced to issue a ticket regardless, resulting in angry words and threats from the driver.