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Best 5 Tips For Becoming A Perfect Receptionist
The first face with whom an individual greets for any meeting, whether an interview, a hotel booking, or any other business meeting, is none other than a receptionist. Working at the turf level, a receptionist is one of the key elements in every organization. Being a receptionist isn’t restrained to attending visitors, answering calls, and connecting the same to further departments, but there’s a lot more. Receptionists are ‘ambassadors of the company’. Their body language & personality are passable for giving a rough first-hand impression of the company/organization. In the current scenario, the youth is getting inclined towards growing opportunities for receptionist jobs. It is burgeoning at pace and proffers utmost satisfaction to people. However, making it as a profession is challenging. Prior to making it as a full-time profession, give a quick read to some useful tips that will surely assist in carving you out as a perfect receptionist.
1. Strong Communication Skills
A wise scholar once said that good communication is the bridge between confusion & clarity. No doubts that he was absolutely right. When an individual is aplomb and has strong communication skills, he/she can easily express himself/herself adeptly. Not only this, but it makes it facile to handle basic client service problems like forwarding a message to an official in case a caller leaves a message for a particular person. And, when in dilemma, re-confirm with the caller about details and the message.
2. A Pleasing Personality
As mentioned previously that receptionists are ambassadors of the company, it becomes essential for a receptionist to have a charming personality. Now, this doesn’t mean that male receptionists should be hunks with six packs and female receptionists should have bagged Miss Universe accolade in the past. Having a pleasing persona refers to being sharply dressed and greeting everyone with the same warmth. Imagine a receptionist of an MNC reporting on the job in tattered denim. You can’t imagine. Thus, being elegant is an essential quality.
3. Technical Prowess & Multitasking
In the current scenario, familiarity with basic software like Excel and other desktop publishing tools can be an asset for a candidate who has applied for the designation of a receptionist. Since this designation keeps the individual busy round the clock, he/she should be a multi-tasker. The proficiency of juggling between different tasks is what a company seeks while hiring a candidate as a receptionist.
4. Probity
Calmness and politeness are key traits for the receptionist of a company. A receptionist should love ringing the phone and keep a pleasant tone while answering the call & redirecting it to the concerned person. In case the concerned person isn’t available, it the receptionist’s call to request the caller for leaving a message for the person. If you’re determined for a receptionist job, make sure that general pleasantries become an inextricable part of your professional life.
5. Being Sociable
Let’s spill some more beans. Receptionists are highly sociable individuals aka extroverts in a company as they require interacting with numerous people throughout the day. Now, this doesn’t mean that introverts cannot land into this profession. Receptionist jobs are also for introverts and to be a perfect receptionist, introverts should recharge their inner energy levels by taking breaks.
5 Reasons Why You Should Become a Receptionist
Receptionist jobs are often seen as short-term roles, part-time positions, or stepping stones on your overall career path. But being a career receptionist can actually be an incredibly fulfilling career path in itself, with great earning potential. If you’re looking for a new role and are looking for something rewarding, fun, and with great prospects, read on to find out why becoming a receptionist could be the right move for you. As a leading secretarial recruitment agency, we’ll let you in on the inside story of being a receptionist!
1. You’re the face of the company
For many people visiting an organisation, you’re the first and last person they will see. You’re the one who puts a face to the company, the one who dictates how a visitor feel about the place from the very beginning. Many people underestimate just how important a job this is. Being the first point of contact within a business is a vital role, and not one that can be taken lightly.
2. You’ll become incredibly skilled
There’s a misconception floating around that receptionists are usually low-skilled. But in many cases, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Receptionists are often talented multitaskers, able to manage multiple ongoing situations without breaking a sweat. In many companies, individuals are hired for their great computer skills, their ability to speak to people, or their organisational skills. Receptionists often boast all of these skills and more. They’re adept at using most office suites, can handle phone switchboards, and can even step into office managerial or customer service positions if needed.
3. Pay can be generous
Many receptionists will start out on average salaries, but there’s ample opportunity for that to grow over time. As you develop more skills, gain more experience, and move around the organisation, you could earn up to £40,000 per year. Receptionists working in corporate settings, especially in the worlds of banking and finance, an enjoy great salary prospects the longer they’re in their position.
4. You’re at the centre of everything
Receptionist jobs are often high-pressure roles. You’re at the very centre of a business, keeping everything ticking over. You support everyone within that business, whether they’re temporary PAs, IT staff, cleaners, sales teams, or the most senior executives. That’s a lot of responsibility – and it makes working as a receptionist a very rewarding role for the right candidate. At this premier London recruitment agency, we’ve known many incredibly fulfilled receptionists!
5. Progression is available
If you treat a receptionist job as a temp role, that’s all it will be. But if you embrace it as a permanent career path, there are lots of ways it can take you. You could go into the worlds of medicine or law, working as a medical or legal secretary. You could step up to become an office manager, or make the move into customer service if you enjoy working with the public. Being a receptionist opens up a lot of other doors and can give you the skills and experience you need to enjoy a fruitful and enjoyable career.
Become a Receptionist: Education and Career Roadmap
Step 1: Obtain the Necessary Skills
The minimum education needed to become a receptionist is a high school diploma. However, many employers prefer to hire receptionists with administrative skills in addition to experience. One way to obtain administrative skills is by earning a certificate in clerical studies or office assistance, which can be earned in about a year and generally covers data entry, switchboard operation, word processing, payroll accounting, business math, customer service, office management, and office software.
These programs can be found at many community, technical and vocational colleges. Keep in mind that associate’s degree programs related to communications or business may give you an edge over the competition, though a 2-year degree is generally not expected for receptionists.
Those who choose not to attend college may want to pursue training independently. For instance, you might complete online training for office software, such as tutorials and webinars on Microsoft Office and other office technology. You might also volunteer in an office setting to develop office and communication skills. Such volunteers may gain experience operating basic office equipment, such as multi-line phone systems, and communicating with the public.
Step 2: Seek Employment
After gaining the skills required for the job, it’s time to begin the job search. Many different industries employ receptionists. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics points out, many receptionist jobs are in healthcare. However, the list of potential employers is long and includes religious organizations, design firms, publishing companies, insurance companies, market research firms, scientific organizations, charities, real estate companies, and educational services.
It’s wise to direct your job search according to your skills. Different employers need people with specialized skills. For example, individuals who are bilingual have an advantage when applying for jobs in organizations where knowledge of another language is needed.
When seeking employment, consider your long-term career goals. Working as a receptionist can provide insight into the daily ins and outs of other positions within your industry. For example, an individual with an interest in becoming a veterinarian can learn about the industry by working at the reception desk at a veterinary clinic. Or, a prospective architectural drafter can gain a perspective on the industry by working as a receptionist at an architecture firm.
Step 3: Advance in the Field
Receptionists who show great proficiency in clerical skills may have the opportunity to advance to a higher position such as an administrative assistant, personal assistant, or secretary. When considering career advancement, receptionists should focus on honing administrative skills and networking to make connections within their industry.
Many receptionists earn certificates in clerical studies or office assistance to obtain the administrative skills necessary for this career. And with time, they may advance to positions such as administrative assistant, personal assistant, or secretary.
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