As a receptionist what are the responsibilities and duties

Job Overview

Here at Example Co., we are a leading company in our industry in the region. We're proud of our 4.4 rating on Glassdoor from our employees. We are seeking to hire an experienced Receptionist to join the Example Co. team. If you're a passionate self-starter, Example Co. is a great company for you. Apply now!

Responsibilities for Receptionist

• Answer and direct phone calls in a polite and friendly manner
• Welcome visitors in a warm and friendly manner, and answer any questions visitors have
• Maintain reception area and all common areas in a clean and tidy manner at all times
• Operate standard office equipment on a regular basis, including a fax machine, a copy machine, and a computer
• Keep detailed and accurate records of visitor requests and of calls received
• Receive deliveries; sort and distribute incoming mail
• Take inventory of supplies and restock as needed
• Maintain the general office filing system

Qualifications for Receptionist

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in an office environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Able to type 35 wpm minimum
• Strong phone skills
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and speak English
• Comfortable multi-tasking and prioritizing tasks without guidance
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Punctual with strong attendance history

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Having a cheery and chatty personality can feel like an undervalued or unwanted trait, but it’s something lots of employers want in a Receptionist.

Expected to be incredibly organised and friendly, this role is so much more than picking up the phones.

Duties and responsibilities of a Receptionist

Receptionists need to have an ear to the ground and be aware of everything that’s going in an organisation, from knowing which important meetings will be taking place to coordinating deliveries and organising travel arrangements for staff. You’ll also often be the first person that employees and potential clients see, so you’re always representing the company.

A receptionist’s daily tasks will involve:

• Meeting and greeting clients
• Booking meetings
• Arranging couriers
• Keeping the reception area tidy
• Answering and forwarding phone calls
• Screening phone calls
• Sorting and distributing post

Receptionist working hours

Pointing out the obvious, this is a desk-based job as the reception needs to be manned at all times. Your hours will depend on where you work: while a hospital receptionist is likely to work shifts, a corporate receptionist will work 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, so you’re bound to find a company to suit your needs.

While you can’t move from the reception desk, you can move up the career ladder quite easily. Receptionists often climb up through the ranks of the company they work for, just ask former Hewlett-Packard’s CEO Carly Fiorina who once manned a front desk. With a little experience and hard work, receptionists can move to bigger companies and more supervisory roles managing a team of receptionists or take a side step into administration or HR.

How much does a Receptionist make?

Starting salaries for rookie receptionists is around £12k while experience can take you all the way to £25k for a job as a senior receptionist.

To see the average Receptionist salary in the UK, use the Totaljobs Salary Checker.

Reasons for becoming a Receptionist

“What I really like about this job is that I get to meet new people every day. It makes the job interesting and it’s really sociable” says Emily.

Hardest part of being a Receptionist

“Staff members change their minds on a regular basis with things like booking train times. It can get quite complicated and confusing!”

What qualifications do you need to be a Receptionist?

As with many roles in administration there are often no minimum requirements; however, employers will value GCSEs in English and Maths as well as proven IT skills. If you want to get some qualifications under your belt, there are plenty of courses that will give you the edge, including:

• NVQ/SVQ in Customer Service, Levels 1 – 4
• NVQ/SVQ in Business and Administration, Levels 1-4

There are more specific qualifications for receptionists working in industries such as beauty, hospitality and health. Companies that deal directly with international clients will also value receptionists who can speak more than one language.

Need additional qualifications? Find a course on our Courses site

Skills needed to be a Receptionist

“You need great people skills, patience and be able to multitask to be good at this job,” says Emily Toomer who works as a receptionist for a busy publishing company. It also helps if you are:

• Well-organised
• Friendly and polite (manners cost nothing after all)
• Efficient
• Able to deal with difficult clients or customers (not everyone knows the manners rule)
• Self-motivated
• Good with computer systems
• Have polished communication skills

Receptionist jobs FAQs

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