How many times have you wanted to check out that new home video, rented a pair of bowling shoes or needed to hire a car to get from the airport? If so, chances are, you probably were helped by a rental clerk. Whether leasing cars, renting out videos, providing access to tools, computers or sports equipment, rental clerks are essential to any business where customers need a knowledgeable professional to guide them through the process of choosing and renting goods and services. For the job seeker who enjoys meeting people and learning about ways to use products and services, being a rental clerk is a great part time job that’s essential in a wide variety of modern businesses.
Rental Clerks are the front line for many businesses. They’re the friendly face behind the counter, who has the information the customer needs about the availability, cost and best uses of a rental product. Rental clerk jobs require that the prospective part time job seeker become knowledgeable about the company’s products. They take customer orders, find materials, locate stock, ring up sales, accept payment and receive returned rentals. Sometimes rental clerk jobs involve special skills—maintaining sports equipment, repairing or cleaning rented equipment, or restocking inventory as it comes in.
Car rental clerks, for example, need to learn all about the features, rental costs and procedures for renting the different types of automobiles their company offers—a perfect part time job if you’re interested in cars and trucks. They also often pick customers up and delivering them to and from the rental agency—a great extra perk if you like to drive different types of cars. If you’re a home handyman, an equipment rental clerk job may be a great way to work with all kinds of equipment and tools. Movie buff? Movie rental clerk jobs are a great way to learn about the thousands of films available and recommend your favorites to interested customers. And you’ll be in great company—even famed director Quentin Tarantino started out working in movie rental clerk jobs!
Perfect for Part Time
The flexible nature of rental clerk jobs is perfect for a part time job seeker.
Since their customers generally use their services at the end of their busy workdays or on their off days, most rental companies are open nights and weekends, which mean that a part time employee can often fit a rental clerk job around another “day” job or going to school. If you like working in a clean, well lit environment and don’t mind standing behind a counter interacting with the public, rental clerk jobs are a great place to meet people and help them find the products they need. There’s less stress than in other retail positions, inasmuch as you’re generally not selling a product, only guiding the customer and helping them make the best selection from your selections. You may have to lift moderately heavy objects depending on the job, and you will spend a lot of time on your feet, using inventory systems and cash registers.
Employment Outlook
Rental clerk jobs are on the increase; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 451,000 people worked in rental clerk jobs last year, and the need for leasing and rental services is increasing. With the current push to improve customer service and reach new markets, more companies than ever are employing rental clerks, whether in full or part time positions (Approximately 50% of all rental clerks hold part time jobs). About 22 percent of all retail clerks work in various types of consumer goods rentals, including video and game rental stores.
Most rental businesses list open positions in newspaper ads or on the Internet; but the best way to apply for a part time position as a rental clerk is to apply directly at a business that rents the sort of equipment or service you’re interested in. Be prepared to work evening and weekends, as rental businesses are often open during these key customer times.
Because rental clerks must learn a great deal about the businesses they represent, they are often well positioned to move up into the management level of a rental business. Larger leasing companies (such as auto rental firms or national equipment rental companies) often promote from within, elevating employees to regional managers or even executive positions. So if you enjoy working part time in a rental clerk position, you can consider moving up to a full time career as a later option.
Qualifications
While there are rarely any formal educational requirements for rental clerk jobs, most companies prefer hiring applicants with a minimum of a high school diploma. Sales and customer relations experience is a big plus when applying for rental clerk jobs. If the product to be rented involves some specialized knowledge such as with medical or technical equipment, some previous expertise may also be a requirement, but for most rental clerk jobs, training is provided on the job, from other experienced employees or through tapes, computer learning or employee manuals.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a great part time job option, with flexible hours, good pay and the chance to move up into a full time position, a rental clerk job is an excellent opportunity. With job growth increasing by 23% this year alone, this part of the job market is booming—and you could be part of it!
