Job Descriptions

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation

About 59 percent of wage-and-salary workers in the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry are employed in service occupations.  

Amusement and recreation attendants—the largest occupation in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry—perform a variety of duties depending on where they are employed.  Common duties include setting up games, handing out sports equipment, providing caddy services for golfers, collecting money, and operating amusement park rides.

Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors lead or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities and in the fundamentals of sports.

Recreation workers organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, drama, social recreation, camping, and hobbies.  They generally are employed by schools; theme parks and other tourist attractions; or health, sports, and other recreational clubs.  Recreation workers schedule organized events to structure leisure time.

Gaming services workers assist in the operation of games, such as keno, bingo, and gaming table games.  They may calculate and pay off the amount of winnings, or collect players, money or chips.

Tour and travel guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries. They may also plan, organize, and conduct long-distance cruises, tours, and expeditions for individuals or groups.

Animal care and service workers feed, water, bathe, exercise, or otherwise care for animals in zoos, circuses, aquariums, or other settings.  They may train animals for riding or performance.

Other service workers include waiters and waitresses, who serve food in entertainment establishments; fast food and counter workers and cooks and food preparation workers, who may serve or prepare food for patrons; and bartenders, who mix and serve drinks in arts, entertainment, and recreation establishments.

Building grounds, cleaning, and maintenance occupations include building cleaning workers, who clean up after shows or sporting events and are responsible for the daily cleaning and upkeep of facilities.  Landscaping and groundskeeping workers care for athletic fields and golf courses.  These workers maintain artificial and natural turf fields, mark boundaries, and paint team logos.  They also mow, water, and fertilize natural athletic fields and vacuum and disinfect synthetic fields.  Establishments in this industry also employ workers in protective service occupations. Security guards patrol the property and guard against theft, vandalism, and illegal entry.  At sporting events, guards maintain order and direct patrons to various facilities.  Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators observe casino operations to detect cheating, theft, or other irregular activities by patrons or employees.

Professional and related occupations account for 11 percent of all jobs in this industry. Some of the most well-known members of these occupations, athletes and sports competitors, perform in any of a variety of sports.  Professional athletes compete in events for compensation, either through salaries or prize money.  Organizations such as the Women』s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Football League (NFL) sanction events for professionals.  Few athletes are able to make it to the professional level, where high salaries are common.  In some professional sports, minor leagues offer lower salaries with a chance to develop skills through competition before advancing to major league play.

Coaches and scouts train athletes to perform at their highest level.  Often, they are experienced athletes who have retired and are able to provide insight from their own experiences to players.  Although some umpires, referees, and other sports officials work full time, the majority usually work part time and often have other full-time jobs.  For example, many professional sport referees and umpires also officiate at amateur games.

Musicians and singers may play musical instruments, sing, compose, arrange music, or conduct groups in instrumental or vocal performances.  The specific skills and responsibilities of musicians vary widely by type of instrument, size of ensemble, and style of music.  For example, musicians can play jazz, classical, or popular music, either alone or in groups ranging from small rock bands to large symphony orchestras.

Actors entertain and communicate with people through their interpretation of dramatic and other roles.  They can belong to a variety of performing groups, ranging from those appearing in community and local dinner theaters to those playing in full-scale Broadway productions.  Dancers express ideas, stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies through different types of dance, including ballet, modern dance, tap, folk, and jazz. Dancers usually perform in a troupe, although some perform solo.  Many become teachers when their performing careers end. Choreographers create and teach dance, and they may be called upon to direct and stage presentations.  Producers and directors select and interpret plays or scripts, and give directions to actors and dancers.  They conduct rehearsals, audition cast members, and approve choreography. They also arrange financing, hire production staff members, and negotiate contracts with personnel.

Archivists, curators, and museum technicians play an important role in preparing museums for display.  Archivists appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents.  They may also participate in research activities based on archival materials.  Curators administer a museum』s affairs and conduct research programs.  Museum technicians and conservators prepare specimens, such as fossils, skeletal parts, lace, and textiles, for museum collection and exhibits.  They may also take part in restoring documents or installing and arranging materials for exhibit.

Audio and video equipment technicians set up and operate audio and video equipment, including microphones, sound speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, recording equipment, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, and related electronic equipment for theme parks, concerts, and sports events.  They may also set up and operate associated spotlights and other custom lighting systems.

About 8 percent of all jobs in this industry are in sales and related occupations. The largest of these, cashiers, often use a cash register to receive money and give change to customers.  In casinos, gaming change persons and booth cashiers exchange coins and tokens for patrons』s money.  Counter and rental clerks check out rental equipment to customers, receive orders for service, and handle cash transactions.

Another 9 percent of jobs in this industry are in office and administrative support occupations.  Receptionists and information clerks, one of the larger occupations in this category, answer questions and provide general information to patrons.  Other large occupations in this group include general office clerks and secretaries and administrative assistants.  Gaming cage workers conduct financial transactions for patrons in gaming establishments.  For example, they may accept a patron』s credit application and verify credit references to provide check-cashing authorizations or to establish house credit accounts.  Also, they may reconcile daily summaries of transactions to balance books or sell gambling chips, tokens, or tickets to patrons.  At a patron』s request, gaming cage workers may convert gaming chips, tokens, or tickets to currency.

Management, business, and financial occupations make up 6 percent of employment in this industry.  Managerial duties in the performing arts include marketing, business management, event booking, fundraising, and public outreach.  Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes represent their clients to prospective employers and may handle contract negotiations and other business matters.  Recreation supervisors and park superintendents oversee personnel, budgets, grounds and facility maintenance, and land and wildlife resources.  Some common administrative jobs in sports are tournament director, health club manager, and sports program director.

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations make up 4 percent of this industry』s employment.  General maintenance and repair workers are the largest occupation in this group.

 

 

Education

Workers in the educational services industry take part in all aspects of education, from teaching and counseling students to driving school buses and serving cafeteria lunches.  Although 2 out of 3 workers in educational services are employed in professional and related occupations, the industry employs many administrative support, managerial, service, and other workers.

Teachers account for almost half of all workers in the industry. Their duties depend on the age group and subject they teach, as well as on the type of institution in which they work.  Teachers should have a sincere interest in helping students and should also have the ability to inspire respect, trust, and confidence.  Strong speaking and writing skills, inquiring and analytical minds, and a desire to pursue and disseminate knowledge are vital prerequisites for teachers.

Preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school teachers play a critical role in the early development of children.  They usually instruct one class in a variety of subjects, introducing the children to mathematics, language, science, and social studies.  Often, they use games, artwork, music, computers, and other tools to teach basic skills.

Middle and secondary school teachers help students delve more deeply into subjects introduced in elementary school.  Middle and secondary school teachers specialize in a specific academic subject, such as English, mathematics, or history, or a career and technical area, such as automobile mechanics, business education, or computer repair.  Some supervise after-school extracurricular activities, and some help students deal with academic problems, such as choosing courses, colleges, and careers.

Special education teachers work with students—from toddlers to those in their early twenties—who have a variety of learning and physical disabilities.  While most work in traditional schools and assist those students who require extra support, some work in schools specifically designed to serve students with the most severe disabilities.  With all but the most severe cases, special education teachers modify the instruction of the general education curriculum and, when necessary, develop alternative assessment methods to accommodate a student』s special needs.  They also help special education students develop emotionally, feel comfortable in social situations, and be aware of socially acceptable behavior.

Postsecondary teachers, or faculty, as they are usually called, generally are organized into departments or divisions, based on their subject or field.  They teach and advise college students and perform a significant part of our Nation』s research.  They prepare lectures, exercises, and laboratory experiments; grade exams and papers; and advise and work with students individually.  Postsecondary teachers keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues and businesses, and participating in professional conferences.  They also consult with government, business, nonprofit, and community organizations.  In addition, they do their own research to expand knowledge in their field, often publishing their findings in scholarly journals, books, and electronic media.

Adult literacy and remedial education teachers teach English to speakers of other languages (ESOL), prepare sessions for the General Educational Development (GED) exam, and give basic instruction to out-of-school youths and adults.  Self-enrichment teachers teach classes that students take for personal enrichment, such as cooking or dancing.

Education administrators provide vision, direction, leadership, and day-to-day management of educational activities in schools, colleges and universities, businesses, correctional institutions, museums, and job training and community service organizations.  They set educational standards and goals and aid in establishing the policies and procedures to carry them out.  They develop academic programs; monitor students』s educational progress; hire, train, motivate, and evaluate teachers and other staff; manage counseling and other student services; administer recordkeeping; prepare budgets; and handle relations with staff, parents, current and prospective students, employers, and the community.

Instructional coordinators evaluate school curricula and recommend changes to them. They research the latest teaching methods, textbooks, and other instructional materials and coordinate and provide training to teachers.  They also coordinate equipment purchases and assist in the use of new technology in schools.

Educational, vocational, and school counselors work at the elementary, middle, secondary, and postsecondary school levels and help students evaluate their abilities, talents, and interests so that the students can develop realistic academic and career options.  Using interviews, counseling sessions, tests, and other methods, secondary school counselors also help students understand and deal with their social, behavioral, and personal problems.  They advise on college majors, admission requirements, and entrance exams and on trade, technical school, and apprenticeship programs. Elementary school counselors do more social and personal counseling and less career and academic counseling than do secondary school counselors.  School counselors may work with students individually or in small groups, or they may work with entire classes.

Librarians help people find information and learn how to use it effectively in their scholastic, personal, and professional pursuits.  Librarians manage library staff and develop and direct information programs and systems for the public, as well as oversee the selection and organization of library materials.  Library technicians help librarians acquire, prepare, and organize material; direct library users to standard references; and retrieve information from computer databases.  Clerical library assistants check out and receive library materials, collect overdue fines, and shelve materials.

Teacher assistants, also called teacher aides or instructional aides, provide instructional and clerical support for classroom teachers, allowing the teachers more time to plan lessons and to teach.  Using the teacher』s lesson plans, they provide students with individualized attention, tutoring and assisting children—particularly special education and non-English speaking students—in learning class material. Assistants also aid and supervise students in the cafeteria, in the schoolyard, in hallways, or on field trips.  They record grades, set up equipment, and prepare materials for instruction.

School bus drivers transport students to and from schools and related activities.

The educational services industry employs many other workers who are found in a wide range of industries.  For example, office and administrative support workers such as secretaries, administrative assistants, and general office clerks account for about 12 percent of jobs in educational services.

 

Hotels and other Accommodations

The vast majority of workers in this industry—more than 8 out of 10 in 2004—were employed in service and office and administrative support occupations (table 2). Workers in these occupations usually learn their skills on the job.  Postsecondary education is not required for most entry-level positions; however, college training may be helpful for advancement in some of these occupations.  For many administrative support and service occupations, personality traits and a customer-service orientation may be more important than formal schooling.  Traits most important for success in the hotel and motel industry are good communication skills; the ability to get along with people in stressful situations; a neat, clean appearance; and a pleasant manner.

Service occupations, by far the largest occupational group in the industry, account for 65 percent of the industry』s employment.  Most service jobs are in housekeeping occupations—including maids and housekeeping cleaners, janitors and cleaners, and laundry workers—and in food preparation and service jobs—including chefs and cooks, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, fast food and counter workers, and various other kitchen and dining room workers.  The industry also employs many baggage porters and bellhops, gaming services workers, and grounds maintenance workers.

Workers in cleaning and housekeeping occupations ensure that the lodging facility is clean and in good condition for the comfort and safety of guests.  Maids and housekeepers clean lobbies, halls, guestrooms, and bathrooms.  They make sure that guests not only have clean rooms, but have all the necessary furnishings and supplies.  They change sheets and towels, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, empty wastebaskets, and mop bathroom floors.  In larger hotels, the housekeeping staff may include assistant housekeepers, floor supervisors, housekeepers, and executive housekeepers.  Janitors help with the cleaning of the public areas of the facility, empty trash, and perform minor maintenance work.

Workers in the various food service occupations deal with customers in the dining room or at a service counter.  Waiters and waitresses take customers』 orders, serve meals, and prepare checks.  In restaurants, they may describe chef』s specials and suggest appropriate wines.  In smaller establishments, they often set tables, escort guests to their seats, accept payment, and clear tables.  They also may deliver room service orders to guests.  In larger restaurants, some of these tasks are assigned to other workers.

Hosts and hostesses welcome guests, show them to their tables, and give them menus. Bartenders fill beverage orders for customers seated at the bar or from waiters and waitresses who serve patrons at tables.  Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers assist waiters, waitresses, and bartenders by clearing, cleaning, and setting up tables, replenishing supplies at the bar, and keeping the serving areas stocked with linens, tableware, and other supplies.  Counter attendants take orders and serve food at fast-food counters and in coffee shops; they also may operate the cash register.

Cooks and food preparation occupations prepare food in the kitchen.  Beginners may advance to more skilled food preparation jobs with experience or specialized culinary training.  Chefs and cooks generally prepare a wide selection of dishes, often cooking individual servings to order.  Larger hotels employ cooks who specialize in the preparation of many different kinds of food.  They may have titles such as salad chef, grill chef, or pastry chef. Individual chefs may oversee the day-to-day operations of different kitchens in a hotel, such as a fine-dining full-service restaurant, a casual or counter-service establishment, or banquet operations.  Chef positions generally are attained after years of experience and, sometimes, formal training, including apprenticeships.  Larger establishments also employ executive chefs and food and beverage directors who plan menus, purchase food, and supervise kitchen personnel for all of the kitchens in the property.  Food preparation workers shred lettuce for salads, cut up food for cooking, and perform simple cooking steps under the direction of the chef or head cook.

Many full-service hotels employ a uniformed staff to assist arriving and departing guests.  Baggage porters and bellhops carry bags and escort guests to their rooms. Concierges arrange special or personal services for guests.  They may take messages, arrange for babysitting, make restaurant reservations, provide directions, arrange for or give advice on entertainment and local attractions, and monitor requests for housekeeping and maintenance.  Doorkeepers help guests into and out of their cars, summon taxis, and carry baggage into the hotel lobby.

Hotels also employ the largest percentage of gaming services workers because much of gaming takes place in casino hotels.  Some gaming services positions are associated with oversight and direction—supervision, surveillance, and investigation—while others involve working with the games or patrons themselves, by tending the slot machines, handling money, writing and running tickets, dealing cards, and performing related duties.

Office and administrative support positions accounted for 18 percent of the jobs in hotels and other accommodations in 2004.  Hotel desk clerks, secretaries, bookkeeping and accounting clerks, and telephone operators ensure that the front office operates smoothly.  The majority of these workers are hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks.  They process reservations and guests』 registration and checkout, monitor arrivals and departures, handle complaints, and receive and forward mail.  The duties of hotel desk clerks depend on the size of the facility.  In smaller lodging places, one clerk or a manager may do everything.  In larger hotels, a larger staff divides the duties among several types of clerks.  Although hotel desk clerks sometimes are hired from the outside, openings usually are filled by promoting other hotel employees such as bellhops and porters, credit clerks, and other administrative support workers.

Hotels and other lodging places employ many different types of managers to direct and coordinate the activities of the front office, kitchen, dining room, and other departments, such as housekeeping, accounting, personnel, purchasing, publicity, sales, security and maintenance.  Managers make decisions on room rates, establish credit policy, and have ultimate responsibility for resolving problems.  In smaller establishments, the manager also may perform many of the front-office clerical tasks. In the smallest establishments, the owners—sometimes a family team—do all the work necessary to operate the business.

Lodging managers or general and operations managers in large hotels often have several assistant managers, each responsible for a phase of operations.  For example, food and beverage managers oversee restaurants, lounges, and catering or banquet operations.  Rooms managers look after reservations and occupancy levels to ensure proper room assignments and authorize discounts, special rates, or promotions.  Large hotels, especially those with conference centers, use an executive committee structure to improve departmental communications and coordinate activities.  Other managers who may serve on a hotel』s executive committee include public relations or sales managers, human resources directors, executive housekeepers, and heads of hotel security.

Workers at vacation and recreational camps may include camp counselors who lead and instruct children and teenagers in outdoor-oriented forms of recreation, such as swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and camping.  In addition, counselors at vacation and resident camps also provide guidance and supervise daily living and general socialization.  Other types of campgrounds may employ trail guides for activities such as hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Hotels and other lodging places employ a variety of workers found in many other industries.  Maintenance workers, such as stationary engineers, plumbers, and painters, fix leaky faucets, do some painting and carpentry, see that heating and air-conditioning equipment works properly, mow lawns, and exterminate pests.  The industry also employs cashiers, accountants, personnel workers, entertainers, and recreation workers.  Also, many additional workers inside a hotel may work for other companies under contract to the hotel or may provide personal or retail services directly to hotel guests from space rented by the hotel.  This group includes guards and security officers, barbers, cosmetologists, fitness trainers and aerobics instructors, valets, gardeners, and parking attendants.