Pros and Cons of an Intake Representative Career
An intake representative, also referred to as an eligibility representative or customer service representative depending on the field, is a clerical position. Consult the following pros and cons to learn more.
| PROS of Becoming an Intake Representative |
|---|
| Work available in a variety of fields* |
| May find work with just a high school diploma* |
| Licensure and certification usually are not required* |
| Allows for regular interaction with other people* |
| CONS of Becoming an Intake Representative |
|---|
| Most fields have low earnings (customer service reps earned $31,000 in May 2014)* |
| Some positions may require night and weekend work* |
| Some fields have low job growth projections* |
| Work requires excellent computer skills* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Career Information
Popular Career Options
The different careers as an intake representative may be found in human services, business, healthcare and insurance. You may be called an eligibility intake representative, a medical records clerk or a customer service representative. Despite the different industries and job titles, intake representatives usually have similar job duties.
Job Description and Duties
Intake representatives are a clerical type position. The main job duty is to review information from clients, customers or applicants to ensure they are eligible for benefits or services from your company. Your job duties include speaking with clients, customers or applicants in person or on the telephone, recording information in electronic records systems, verifying information and processing the application to either approve or deny it. You may also refer individuals to another agency or company if you can't help them.
Most work for intake representatives is full time. Many positions, such as those in the business sector, have hours during the day, but some positions, such as those in the medical field, may require night, weekend and holiday work. Typically, you'll work in an office or call center environment. Most of your day will be spent sitting and working on a computer.
Salary Info and Job Outlook
Eligibility intake representatives, also referred to as receptionists and information clerks, usually work for government agencies, but they may also work for insurance companies. The BLS projects a job growth of two percent for information clerks and ten percent for eligibility interviewers from 2012-2022. The median annual wage reported in May 2014 for this category by the BLS was $26,000. Medical intake representatives fall under the BLS category of medical records and health information technicians, which has a projected a 22% job growth from 2012-2022. In May 2014, the BLS reported that the median annual salary for these individuals was of $35,000. Intake representatives working in a business setting fall under the BLS category of customer service representatives, who are projected to experience a 13% job growth from 2012-2022. Their median annual wage reported by the BLS in May 2014 was $31,000.
Education and Training Requirements
For most intake representative positions, you only need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Positions in the medical field and some eligibility intake representative positions may require the completion of a certificate program or an associate degree program, depending on your job duties. Employers that don't require formal education will usually provide on-the-job training to prepare you for the job. Personal qualities and skills you need to work in this field include:
- Communication skills
- People skills
- Computer literacy
- Ability to keep information confidential
- Patience to deal with problems or unhappy individuals
What Employers Are Looking For
Intake representative jobs are available across the company due to the large number of fields that employ representatives. Many employers are looking for trustworthy, professional and friendly individuals to fill intake representative positions. The following job listings were posted in April 2012:
- An insurance company in South Dakota was seeking an intake representative to handle incoming insurance claims. The company wanted to hire someone with at least two years of experience in a supporting role, excellent typing skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
- A health insurance company in California was seeking a claims intake representative who can pass a credit check, background check and drug screening. Knowledge of medical terminology and entry-level clerical skills were also required.
- A Georgia auto insurance company was looking for someone with call center or customer service experience and computer skills. Being bilingual in Spanish and English was a preferred.
- A non-profit agency in Ohio was seeking a client intake representative to screen individuals to determine if they were eligible for services. The agency wanted someone with experience in screening interviews.
How to Maximize Your Skills
Most intake representatives need to have strong skills in computers, typing and customer service. You can gain or improve your skills through completing a course or program at a college. Maximizing your skills can also be dependent on what industry you will work in. For example, if you want to work in the medical field, you probably need to learn medical terminology, which can also be done through a certificate program or other college program.
Other Fields to Consider
After reading about a career as an intake representative, you may realize this career is not for you. Regardless of what it is about this career you don't like, there are other career options that, while similar, also differ in many ways from an intake representative career.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
If you are looking for a career that may offer more pay, you may consider becoming a compensation and benefits manager. In this position, you'll handle the salary and benefits a company offers to its employees. Long hours may be required due to the complex nature of trying to organize benefits and salaries. Most employers require a bachelor's degree and some experience in business to work as a manager. In 2010, the BLS reported that the median annual salary was about $89,000.
Financial Clerk
If you would prefer to work in finance, you may consider a career as a financial clerk. These individuals handle finance-related administrative duties. There are jobs available in many different environments, such as businesses, banks and government agencies. Most positions only require a high school diploma and you are trained on the job. The BLS projected a job growth of 11% from 2010-2020, while median pay in 2010 was around $34,000.
