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How a counter / rental clerk can use AI, task by task

O*NET 41-2021.00: Counter and Rental ClerksMedian pay $41,300/year (BLS, May 2025)16 tasksJob Zone 2: Some preparation

Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Counter Clerk, Counter Service Representative, Leasing Consultant, Rental Agent, Rental Assistant, Rental Associate, Rental Clerk, Rental Counter Clerk, Rental Sales Representative, Video Clerk.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 17%AI-assist 58%Stays human 24%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 3 AI-ready, 9 AI-assist and 4 human-led tasks out of 16. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork
Thinking & planning
People & communication
Leading & teaching
Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

  1. Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.Crunch the numbers · Several times a day
  2. Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.Answer questions · Several times a day
  3. Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.Handle the admin · Several times a day

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

  1. Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.Be there for people · Several times a day
  2. Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.Watch & inspect · Several times a day
  3. Receive, examine, and tag articles to be altered, cleaned, stored, or repaired.Watch & inspect · Several times a day

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

🔒 Many of these tasks involve people's information. Remove names and identifying details before using AI, or use only a tool your employer has approved.

AI can draft these 3

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Prepare rental forms, obtaining customer signature and other information, such as required licenses.

Several times a day

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to prepare rental forms, obtaining customer signature and other information, such as required licenses.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Deal: [booking, rental, sale]
Terms: [parties' roles, price, dates, payment, cancellation]

Draft a clear contract with standard sections and blanks to fill. Flag clauses that need legal review.

10-minute exercise: Contract draft

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare rental forms. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Deal] and [Terms] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Have anything unusual reviewed by a lawyer before signing. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare sales or other contracts..

Reserve items for requested times and keep records of items rented.

Daily

AI handles forms, records and routine paperwork for you to verify.

Show prompt & steps

Forms, records, data entry, scheduling and routine paperwork are where AI saves the most time. It drafts, sorts, extracts and reformats while you verify.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to reserve items for requested times and keep records of items rented.

Context: We use Inventory management systems and Oracle Database.
Records: [paste purchases, sales, requisitions]
Format: [ledger, spreadsheet]

Organize into a clean record with totals by category. Point out anything missing or inconsistent and suggest a template I can reuse.

10-minute exercise: Sales and purchase records

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you reserve items (today).
Step 2Fill in [Records] and [Format] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Reconcile totals with receipts or the register.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Maintain records of sales or other business transactions.. Also involves: Take product orders from customers..

Keep records of transactions and of the number of customers entering an establishment.

Several times a day

AI handles forms, records and routine paperwork for you to verify.

Show prompt & steps

Forms, records, data entry, scheduling and routine paperwork are where AI saves the most time. It drafts, sorts, extracts and reformats while you verify.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to keep records of transactions and of the number of customers entering an establishment.

Context: We use Inventory management systems and Oracle Database.
Records: [paste purchases, sales, requisitions]
Format: [ledger, spreadsheet]

Organize into a clean record with totals by category. Point out anything missing or inconsistent and suggest a template I can reuse.

10-minute exercise: Sales and purchase records

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you keep records of transactions and of the number. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Records] and [Format] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Reconcile totals with receipts or the register.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Maintain records of sales or other business transactions..

AI can help you prep these 9

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.

Several times a day

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Transaction: [purchase, rental, admission]
Prices and rules: [rates, discounts, taxes]

Calculate totals with a reusable formula sheet. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Billing calculation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you compute charges.
Step 2Fill in [Transaction] and [Prices and rules] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Calculate costs of goods or services.. Also involves: Process sales or other transactions..

Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.

Several times a day

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Product or service: [insurance, publication]
Questions: [list]

Write clear answers. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Product question answers

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you answer telephones.
Step 2Fill in [Product or service] and [Questions] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Answer customer questions about goods or services.. Also involves: Take product orders from customers..

Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.

Several times a day

AI preps the paperwork; approving and paying stay with you.

Show prompt & steps

AI can prep the paperwork, extract details from documents and make checklists. Approving, paying and verifying stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.

Context: We use Inventory management systems and Oracle Database.
Orders: [rentals, repairs, parts]
Info needed: [describe]

Make an order form template. Point out anything missing or inconsistent and suggest a template I can reuse.

10-minute exercise: Order intake

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you receive orders.
Step 2Fill in [Orders] and [Info needed] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the template and use it on the next one. Time both.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Take product orders from customers..

Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.

Several times a day

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 49% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to advise customers on use and care of merchandise.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Product or service: [describe]
Common questions: [list]

Write follow-up advice and tips. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Usage advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you advise customers. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Product or service] and [Common questions] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise customers on the use of products or services..

Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.

Several times a day

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 48% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Situation: [complaint or question, no names]
Policy and options: [what we can offer]

Draft a response that acknowledges, explains and offers a solution. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Resolve a customer question or complaint

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you provide information about rental items.
Step 2Fill in [Situation] and [Policy and options] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Make sure the offer is within your authority.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Explain technical product or service information to customers.. Also involves: Advise customers on the use of products or services..

Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.

Several times a day

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Product: [rental, policy]
Terms: [fees, features]

Explain options and trade-offs clearly. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Explain fees and options

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you explain rental fees, policies and procedures.
Step 2Fill in [Product] and [Terms] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Explain financial information to customers..

Rent items, arrange for provision of services to customers, and accept returns.

Several times a day

AI preps talking points and practice; the relationship is yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI preps you: talking points, objection handling, tailored outreach and negotiation scenarios. The relationship and reading the room are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to rent items, arrange for provision of services to customers, and accept returns.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
What I'm selling: [products, services, memberships]
Customer: [type, needs]

Prepare a pitch, questions and honest answers to objections. Keep claims honest, list likely objections with responses, and role-play the other side so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Sales conversation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you rent items. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [What I'm selling] and [Customer] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Ask for feedback on your answers and write down your best line for the real conversation.

Make sure every claim AI writes about your product is true and allowed. Over-promising is on you.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Sell products or services.. Also involves: Process sales or other transactions..

Recommend and provide advice on a wide variety of products and services.

Daily

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 42% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to recommend and provide advice on a wide variety of products and services.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Customer needs: [describe]
Options: [products, treatments]

Write honest recommendations with pros and cons. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences and flag any that depend on the situation.

10-minute exercise: Recommendations

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you recommend and provide advice (today).
Step 2Fill in [Customer needs] and [Options] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the answers you'd actually use and tweak each one the first time you send it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

Importance 3.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Recommend products or services to customers.. Also involves: Advise customers on the use of products or services..

Allocate equipment to participants in sporting events or recreational activities.

Weekly

AI preps the paperwork; approving and paying stay with you.

Show prompt & steps

AI can prep the paperwork, extract details from documents and make checklists. Approving, paying and verifying stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to allocate equipment to participants in sporting events or recreational activities.

Context: We use Inventory management systems and Oracle Database.
Service: [laundry, shipping, repairs]
Details: [describe]

List arrangement steps and a confirmation note. Point out anything missing or inconsistent and suggest a template I can reuse.

10-minute exercise: Arrange patron services

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you allocate equipment (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Service] and [Details] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Save the template and use it on the next one. Time both.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

Importance 3.3/5 · O*NET work activity: Arrange services or reservations for patrons..

These stay human 4

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Face-to-face discussions: every day · Contact with others: constant contact with others · Dealing with the public: very important · Frequency of decisions: once a week or more but not every day

Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.

Several times a day

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Setting: [clinic, store, office]
What comes next: [check-in, finding items]

Write warm greetings and how to handle busy moments. Then play a visitor. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Greeting script

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you greet customers. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Setting] and [What comes next] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3After the real conversation, write down what worked so you can reuse it.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.. Also involves: Gather customer or product information to determine customer needs..

Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.

Several times a day

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Items: [merchandise, equipment, property]
Standards: [pricing, display, storage]

Make a condition checklist. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

10-minute exercise: Condition check

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you inspect and adjust rental items. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Items] and [Standards] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Take it with you next time, tick it alongside your usual routine, and add anything it missed.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Examine condition of property or products..

Receive, examine, and tag articles to be altered, cleaned, stored, or repaired.

Several times a day

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to receive, examine, and tag articles to be altered, cleaned, stored, or repaired.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Items: [merchandise, equipment, property]
Standards: [pricing, display, storage]

Make a condition checklist. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

10-minute exercise: Condition check

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you receive, examine, and tag articles.
Step 2Fill in [Items] and [Standards] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Take it with you next time, tick it alongside your usual routine, and add anything it missed.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Examine condition of property or products..

Prepare merchandise for display or for purchase or rental.

Daily

Physical, in-person work. AI helps with checklists and write-ups.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI helps around the job: decoding manuals and instructions, pre-job checklists, calculations and writing up what you did afterward.

Prep prompt

I work as a counter / rental clerk. Part of my job is to prepare merchandise for display or for purchase or rental.

Context: The work draws on sales and marketing, customer and personal service and administrative.
Products: [describe]
Space: [shelves, table, window]

Plan layout, pricing and restock. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

10-minute exercise: Display set-up

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare merchandise (today).
Step 2Fill in [Products] and [Space] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check it against the manufacturer's manual and your site rules, and add the steps only experience teaches.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Set up merchandise displays..

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Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

  • Active Listeningimportance 3.8/5
    Used in: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Writingimportance 3.0/5
    Used in: Documenting/Recording Information
  • Speakingimportance 3.4/5
    Used in: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Reading Comprehensionimportance 3.2/5
    Used in: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

Getting into this job

High school diploma is most common (56% of workers)

  • High school or less 57%
  • Certificate or some college 14%
  • Associate's 9%
  • Bachelor's 20%
  • On-the-job training: 1–3 months
  • Related experience: 1–3 months

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOracle Database

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