A receptionist is the first person you will meet immediately when you enter any organization. As a result of their job description, they always appear elegant and smart.
The receptionist job is very interesting because you meet many people daily. And you also answer a lot of phone calls.
So it does not get boring at any time of the day.
You probably read this article because you want to work as a receptionist.
Or, you are an employer who needs a template for the job description of a receptionist.
Whichever category you fall into, this article answers the question, ‘What is the job description of a receptionist?’
What Does a Receptionist Do?
As a receptionist, you will be the first point of contact in any organization. You will be in charge of welcoming guests who visit the organizations.
You will also perform various administrative tasks across the organization and see to the smooth running of all front desk activities.
To be a good receptionist, you must always appear happy and kind and know how to work well under pressure.
Receptionist Duties and Responsibilities
The duties of a receptionist are as follows. Although not limited to this.
- Greet and welcome visitors of the organization.
- Help visitors navigate the organization by directing them to the appropriate person or office.
- Respond to and direct incoming calls to the right office.
- Provide the necessary and correct information to individuals via calls or physical conversation.
- Maintain optimum security in the organization by monitoring who goes in and out and issuing a visitor badge when necessary.
- Take proper record of all company visitors per day.
- Order necessary supplies for the front desk office, and keep record of stock.
- Make sure calendars are up to date and schedule meetings.
- Arrange for necessary official travels and book accommodation.
- Prepare vouchers
- Keep up to date records of all office expenses.
- Perform other office duties such as printing, photocopying, typing and faxing.
- Receive and distribute office deliveries to the appropriate office or person.
- Announce visitors to the appropriate office or person.
- Ensure that visitors in the waiting room are well attended to.
Your duties and responsibilities may be more or less depending on the organization you work for.
But these are the basic responsibilities of a receptionist irrespective of their employer.
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What are the Skills and Personality that Suit a Receptionist?
The welcome a guest receives immediately after he gets into an organization goes a long way toward determining his perception of the company.
Therefore before taking a job as a receptionist, or employing one, here are some skills or personal traits to check out.
1. Give attention to details
A good receptionist must be able to pay attention to every tiny detail. This will enable you attend to every task without leaving any one out, and also maintain security at all times.
2. Ability to multitask
The responsibility of a receptionist are numerous and are all important. A receptionist should be able to do more than one thing at a time without making mistakes.
3. Cheerful at all times
As a receptionist, you will be the first person every visitor will meet immediately they step into an organization. Therefore, you must be cheerful and express happiness at all times.
4. Great communication skills
A receptionist must be eloquent in English or any required language. She should also be able to properly communicate to effectively to guest and other staffs.
5. Proficiency in MS office suite
It is advantageous for a receptionist to know how to use Microsoft office properly. Because she may need to use it to keep records.
6. Good customer service skills
A receptionist must be polite and well mannered in having conversations, whether via phone calls or physical conversation.
What are the Qualifications Required to Become a Receptionist?
It is not necessary to have a bachelor’s degree before taking a job as a receptionist.
Here is a list of some qualifications that puts you at edge.
- Professional attitude and appearance at all times.
- Proficiency and certificate in Ms office
- Good writing and verbal communication skills
- Ability to use certain machines such as photocopying, faxing and printing machines.
- Good multitasking and time managerial skills.
- Great customer care skills.
- High school certificate.
- Work experience as a receptionist or front desk manager.
Where Do Receptionists Work?
Practically every business and organization, in one way or another, requires the service of a receptionist.
Some of such organizations include:
- Governmental organizations
- Private owned businesses
- Non governmental or profit organisations
- Super markets
- Religious offices
- Companies
How Much Do Receptionists Make Per Year?
According to totaljobs.com, the average salary of a receptionist is about $19,000 per year.
The salary of a receptionist may also be dependent on location, work experience, qualification and employer.
Receptionist in more developed countries earn more than those in less developed countries.
What Should I Include to My Receptionist Job Posting?
When you list a receptionist job, you must include all duties and responsibilities you expect from your employee.
You should also include the necessary qualifications and skills you expect the employee to have
Use the information in this article to list the duties, skills, and qualifications the receptionist you intend to employ should do and have respectively.
What are Some Questions to ask During a Receptionist Job Interview?
The questions should be in sync with the organization’s job requirements.
Since a receptionist’s duties and qualifications are similar, here are possible questions to ask.
- How do you treat persuasive customers?
- How can technology be used to handle administrative tasks?
- While preparing a conference room for a meeting, a customer comes in and the phone rings simultaneously. How do you prioritize these tasks?
- When asked to schedule a meeting by the manager, what are some enquiries to make in order to schedule it properly to suit his activities?.
What Skills are Tested During a Receptionist Job Interview?
- Organizational skills
- Multitasking skills
- Managerial skills
- Customer service skills
- Communication skills.
- Ms office suite proficiency
Conclusion: Receptionist Job Description Guide
The job of a receptionist is very significant, as a result, a receptionist must stay presentable at all times.
A good receptionist is the face of the organization to every visitor and therefore should represent the organization well.
if you want to explore other careers, then here is a list of related job descriptions
References
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