What does a receptionist do?
Receptionists provide a friendly and multi-faceted service around the office. As their responsibilities can often see them working in many different aspects of the business, receptionists have to be consummate multitaskers. For the most part, daily duties will include: handling customer enquiries, providing assistance to other staff, administrative support, data entry and providing a welcoming face to those who approach the premises.
Tasks:
- Handling lines of communication between clients and staff
- Data entry and administrative duties
- Taking phone and email messages
- Generating staff bulletins and updates
What skills do I need to be a receptionist?
Receptionists tend to possess immaculate people skills, being able to communicate, listen, take notes and assist while maintaining a polite and helpful demeanour. The contact and communication a receptionist has with clients is important in maintaining a positive impression of the company. The ability to multitask is a highly valuable trait in a receptionist; it’s required to meet the everyday demands of a bustling office space.
- Consistently polite manner
- Eagerness to lend assistance
- Ability to multitask
- Friendly demeanour
- Able to work independently
Specialisations
Working as a receptionist will give you a unique insight into the daily functioning of a business. You can adapt the skills you learn as a receptionist to take on a specialisation that you are interested in. With the right experience and qualifications there are many career options available.
Medical Receptionist
Administrative Assistant
Word Processing Operator
Study pathways for receptionists
There are a number of courses available that will teach you all about the skills you’ll need to find employment as a receptionist.
Getting Started
Choosing a course that will act as a stepping stone in your administrative career
Skill Building
Get a step closer to your professional goals with targeted training options
Professional Development
Improve your chances of employment by gaining an accredited qualification
Industry Recognition
Formalising your administrative skill set is a great way of demonstrating your professional accomplishments and dedication to your work.
Getting a job after graduation
Put your training to good use and get the best professional head start in your administration career. Emphasise your personal strengths and achievements in your resume and target your cover letter to the job description listed.