Tour guides and escorts chaperone individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.

  • Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
  • Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
  • Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
  • Conduct educational activities for school children.
  • Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
  • Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
  • Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
  • Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
  • Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
  • Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
  • Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites.
  • Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations.
  • Train other guides and volunteers.
  • Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing.
  • Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment.
  • Collect fees and tickets from group members.
  • Perform clerical duties, such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, or routing mail and messages.
  • Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs.
  • Speak foreign languages to communicate with foreign visitors.
Work Context
  • Public Speaking — 58% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 58% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 70% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Deal With External Customers — 76% responded "Extremely important".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 46% responded "Very important".
  • Physical Proximity — 67% responded "Moderately close (at arm's length)".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 56% responded "A lot of freedom".
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Work Activities
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Gather information in order to provide services to clients.
  • Train service staff.
  • Teach daily living skills or behaviors.
  • Guide patrons on tours.
  • Provide attraction or event information to patrons.
  • Respond to customer inquiries.
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Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
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Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Hot Technology
  • SmugMug Flickr Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
  • Pear Deck
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