MightyRecruiterTour guides show groups of people around points of interest around a city, building or other establishment. They may work for art galleries or public buildings, and the goal of the tour can either be to educate individuals or simply to entertain.
Public speaking skills are crucial in this line of work, which should be stated on your tour guide job description. Excellent customer service skills are beneficial to possess because tour guides frequently need to respond to people’s questions and ensure everyone enjoys their time on the trip.
Time management skills are advantageous because tour guides need to ensure enough time is dedicated to each point of interest and move on when appropriate. You want skilled individuals applying for positions at your company, so use this tour guide job description template to see what kind of information is generally good to have.
Tour Guide Job Summary
Do you love to entertain and educate? Do you jump at the opportunity to speak to strangers about subjects you’re knowledgeable about? Do you enjoy long walks in the city? If so, then our opening of tour guide is right up your alley. You will share your passion during several walking tours every day to show tourists exactly what this city has to offer. You may also provide private tours to smaller groups of people when requested, providing plenty of new experiences and opportunities to get to know different personalities. This is a perfect line of work for creative jobseekers, so apply today.
Job Responsibilities
- Describe points of interest around the city to the group and answer any questions, which requires learning a comprehensive history of each check point
- Provide directions to visitors who would like to check out a specific area at a later date, and provide information related to lodging, food and other amenities
- Monitor the behavior of the group, especially when young children are in it, and ensure everyone remains in compliance with the rules
- Distribute materials to the group at the beginning of the tour, which includes audio headsets and brochures
- Greet visitors as soon as they get on board the bus, and show people to their seats if necessary
- Be willing to put own spin on tour points, such as making jokes and providing insightful commentary
- Work with management to develop new tour routes based on sites visitors have expressed interest in
- Maintain a positive, friendly demeanor at all times
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Great public speaking skills
- Outgoing personality
- Punctual
- Previous experience with some kind of performance-based art
- Flexible schedule to work on weekends
Preferred:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Previous experience working as a tour guide
Tour Guide Job Responsibilities
Tour guide job responsibilities can be as varied as the companies that offer tours. This means it’s important to clearly communicate the type of role you’re looking to fill in your tour guide job description.
Will the tour guide handle scheduling, documentation or other administrative tasks? Is this a tour of a private facility or public property? Does the tour involve walking up stairs or other accessibility issues? Will the position involve writing, customizing or updating the tour, or will your new hire be working solely with materials you provide? It’s helpful to answer all of these questions in the job responsibilities section of your tour guide job description, filling it out to be the meatiest part of the posting.
Here are some suggested bullet points you might modify for use in your own list:
- Lead 4–6 tours daily with enthusiasm and energy
- Prepare tour materials, including staying up to date on company developments and relevant industry news to add flavor and value
- Schedule private and public tours of the production facility
- Follow all safety guidelines and ensure that guests remain within designated areas
- Record and report any unusual incidents or violation of safety guidelines
- Collaborate with the sales team for smooth handoff at the end of each tour
Tour Guide Job Specifications
Adding a job qualifications and skills section to your tour guide job description may not seem like a daunting task. However, those 4-6 bullet points can do a lot to help your hiring process. Jobseekers often rely on the specifications to determine whether to apply for a position, which means you can use the list to help candidates self-select in a way that benefits you.
Few tours require rigorous academic backgrounds, so unless there’s a compelling reason to hire a college graduate, it’s best to omit mention of education in your tour guide job specifications. You’ll also want to clarify whether you expect the new hire to come in with expertise already. For example, new hires would likely learn the facts on the job for a factory tour of your own company. In contrast, city tours usually call for jobseekers who are already knowledgeable about the specific city, and wineries tend to recruit tour guides who have general knowledge of wine.
The following are some ideas you might want to use in your own tour guide job description:
- Strong, captivating storytelling skills a must
- Enthusiasm for and thorough knowledge of wine required, with previous work experience in the wine industry preferred
- Minimum 1 year experience as a tour guide, public speaker, actor or salesperson
- Terrific attitude and willingness to collaborate as part of a team
- Must be 21 years of age or older
