- NATURE OF WORK
WHO IS A RECEPTIONIST?
A receptionist is the back bone of an office. Receptionists are considered to be the face of any company. They usually take care of the front office tasks like greeting visitors or customers and answering telephone calls. Receptionists are the first persons to interact with when anyone enters a hotel, organization, hospital, clinics, or restaurants.
A receptionist is an employee who is trained to manage visitors, clients, telephone calls, messages and different clerical tasks of an office professionally and efficiently. They also provide information to customers and clients about the organization.
Receptionists usually answer telephone calls and provide the required information to the caller or transfer it to the concerned department. They also make calls if required, assist visitors with their enquiry and reply to mail messages and update office records.
Receptionist Job Description:
- Attending telephone calls and providing necessary information to the caller or transfer it to the concerned section of the office.
- Taking and conveying messages to the concerned department.
- Greeting visitors, customers or clients and assisting them accordingly.
- Handling customer, clients and visitors enquiries.
- Providing assistance in administrative duties and clerical tasks.
- Reading and responding to letters, mails and fax.
- Preparing and updating office related documents and records.
- Scheduling and arranging meetings and appointments.
- Maintaining and updating appointment records.
- Performing the data entry work and maintaining office records properly.
- Helping customers, clients or consumers to locate the office address.
- Making sure that office is equipped with required office materials and tidy.
- Monitoring the staff movement in and out of the office.
- Maintaining and keeping the front office neat and clean.
- Maintaining office and staff security issues.
- Maintaining and keeping track of attendance and visitors registers.
- Dealing with incoming and outgoing postal packages and couriers.
- Entering and updating information into the computer system.
Qualifications and Expertise Required:
Education / Training:
- To become a receptionist you should have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- You should also possess some knowledge of computers and software applications.
- Receptionists are usually trained on the job.
- The main qualifications required to become a receptionist is strong communication skills and language skills.
- Most of the employers search for candidates who possess experience in clerical tasks like preparing spreadsheets or using MS office software packages.
- Most of the companies usually offer on the job training to receptionists.
Skills:
- Should possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong presentation skills and time management skills.
- Strong customer service skills.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Should be detail-oriented and enthusiastic.
- Should be able to work under pressure.
- Should posses good listening and computer skills.
- Should be confident and be able to multi-task.
- Should have the ability of independently managing the office work.
- Should possess good interpersonal skills.
CAREER GROWTH:
Receptionists Future Growth:
- Receptionists are usually employed in clinics, private offices, government offices, hospitals, shopping malls, museums, universities and other sectors.
- The hourly pay of a receptionist usually ranges from $9 to $13. However, a receptionist earns an average salary of $20,000-$29,000 per year.
- A receptionist can work in different sectors like government, private, legal, medical, government and other civil service sectors like military.
- The career advancement options for a receptionist are very limited.
- A receptionist can actually become an administrative assistant, or a secretary.
- They can also become an office supervisor if they possess proper skills and good level of experience.
- A receptionist can progress to different administrative positions and also to management positions.
- Receptionists can progress in their career and advance to higher level positions like supervisory position.
- Receptionists possessing relevant experience, a bachelor’s degree and strong computer skills can become administrative assistant or manager.
- The growth opportunities are huge for persons with a strong clerical and technical skills, qualification and relevant work experience.