Who exactly is an office receptionist? This is probably the first question that pops up in your mind when you read this article.
Simply put, an office receptionist is a receptionist at the office of an organization. Their job responsibilities are fairly simple and straightforward: greet visitors, manage calendars, schedule meetings, take messages and answer general inquiries.
Working as an office receptionist can be very rewarding; not only will you gain skills to help you advance your career but also you’ll be able to help people on a daily basis.
But before we dive into the details of what it takes to become an office receptionist and how you can land a job as one, let’s first understand the role better.
What Does An Office Receptionist Do?
As an office receptionist, your primary role is to welcome guests, visitors, and clients (both in person and over the phone), confirm appointments, and take messages.
You may also be required to provide information about the company and its services and products. If you’re in an office that has a lot of interaction with customers, you are expected to know the ins and outs of customer service.
This includes how and when to handle complaints, how to refer customers to other employees, and when to escalate issues to management.
If you work in a customer-facing or service-oriented department like sales, marketing, or P.R., you will have to adhere to your company’s customer service guidelines and standards.
You might be expected to be knowledgeable about your product or service and be able to answer customer questions. Working in a customer-facing department can often be a lot more demanding than working in an office administration department.
Office Receptionist Job Responsibilities
As an office receptionist, your job responsibilities include a wide range of tasks. Some of them are listed below:
- Greet visitors and guests: When you’re the first person visitors will meet, you’re setting the tone for the rest of their visit. Make sure to be polite and professional at all times. It’s also important to make sure visitors are directed to the right place.
- Manage calendars: Answering phone calls and scheduling meetings are two of the most important tasks that an office receptionist does. You’ll need to be familiar with your company’s calendar and know who can meet with whom at what time.
- Take messages: Often, your visitors will leave a message for someone in the office. This can be anything from questions about the product or service to scheduling appointments with specific employees.
- Answer general inquiries: You will likely be the first person that many people in the office go to with their questions. This can include everything from how to use the coffee machine to general questions about the company.
How to Become an Office Receptionist In the U.K.?
If you’re interested in becoming an office receptionist, the first thing you need to do is thorough conduct research on the skill set required to be successful in the role.
The following are the basic skills and knowledge you should possess:
- Excellent Communication Skills: Communication is one of the most important skills for an office receptionist. You will be required to communicate with visitors frequently, via phone and email, as well as verbally with other employees.
- Customer Service: As an office receptionist, you will be tasked with providing customer service to visitors. You will be required to be courteous and helpful at all times.
- Scheduling: An office receptionist is responsible for managing the company’s calendar and scheduling meetings. You will have to be familiar with your company’s conference room schedule and available dates.
- I.T. Skills: You will have to use company-provided equipment to perform your job duties. This includes telephones, computers, and other equipment.
- General Computer Skills: You will be required to use general computer skills such as typing, sending emails, and accessing the Internet.
- Problem Solving Ability: You will have to deal with various issues such as incorrect information, misspelled names, and incorrect timing of meetings. You will have to resolve these issues effectively.
Salary Range for Office Receptionists in the UK
Annual: £35, 564 – £45,320
Tips for Landing a Job as an Office Receptionist in the U.K.
So, you’ve decided to become an office receptionist. Fantastic.
Now, let’s see how you can land a job in the profession. A good way to start is by visiting your local job center and searching for “office jobs.”
You can also use online job boards such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to find suitable positions at different companies.
When applying for a job as an office receptionist, you’re going to need to show that you possess the skills listed above. Ensure that your resume and cover letter highlight these skills.
The best way to do this is to write out examples of when you’ve applied these skills in the past.
Conclusion
If you love helping people and want to work in a customer-facing environment, becoming an office receptionist is a great option.
With a little bit of research and preparation, you will be well on your way to landing a job in the field. Keep in mind that although the job duties and requirements may seem simple, it’s actually a very challenging job.
You will be required to deal with a lot of different people from different backgrounds, cultures, and environments.
You need to be able to relate to all of them and keep your cool in any situation. If you want to work in a fast-paced environment, enjoy dealing with people from different backgrounds, and want a career that is ever-evolving, becoming an office receptionist may be the right career path for you!