Receptionist – Definition and job description

Receptionist – job description, definition and job description

Let’s start with a simple definition of the word receptionist:

The receptionist takes care of welcoming customers in hotels, restaurants, businesses, offices and other contexts where the entrance provides a reception area.

Many economic activities and offices open to the public have a person responsible for welcoming customers or users in the building, in a place provided for this purpose: this can be the front office (or front desk) or the reception.

The receptionist therefore works in reception structures such as hotels and holiday villages, but also in a large number of other contexts: restaurants, private companies and public organizations, professional offices (for example medical offices, health studies). lawyers, accountants and architects), management centers, sports halls, hairdressers, beauty centers.

Let’s see what a receptionist does:

The receptionist is the first person a visitor comes into contact with when entering a building or office. She must therefore be kind, courteous and know how to communicate in a positive and constructive manner with everyone she meets. The receptionist represents the company, and must ensure that users or customers have a positive first impression. This is why one’s attire is often regulated by company standards.

Receptionist – key skills

The functions of a receptionist are very varied: she welcomes the customer, guest or visitor, responds to requests for information according to the standards and regulations established by the establishment, provides instructions, accompanies people in the building to where they need to go (an office, a room, a department). She monitors entrances to the building and helps ensure security.

A receptionist also has administrative functions, similar to those of a secretary: she answers the telephone and forwards received calls, handles emails and mail, and completes and files documentation.

But that’s not all :

Depending on the characteristics of the establishment in which she works, a receptionist is also responsible for various other functions aimed at helping her colleagues and superiors, as needed.

In large companies, the receptionist manages the planning of the meeting room, provides visitors, customers and suppliers with any identification badges and arranges escort to the appropriate offices.

In hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices, the receptionist organizes doctors’ appointment schedules, collects patients’ personal information and directs them to waiting rooms.

Many job offers for receptionists come from the tourism and hospitality sector, and these are often seasonal employment contracts.

In a hotel the receptionist takes care of welcoming customers and allocating rooms, reservations using management systems, arrival and departure of customers, cash register operations. The receptionist is also responsible for the telephone switchboard and is available to customers to respond to requests for information and explanations, for example on prices, and possibly complaints.

The working hours of a receptionist are linked to the opening and closing hours of their workplace: in a business, office or professional practice traditional hours are often followed, Monday to Friday.

In hotels, restaurants and other businesses open in the evening, working hours can be very variable and more flexible (for example, they can be divided into shifts).

Similar jobs: Hotel Receptionist, Hospitality Receptionist, Full Time Receptionist, Weekend Receptionist, Seasonal Receptionist, Receptionist Internship

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Tasks and Duties of a Receptionist

Receptionist – duties and responsibilities

The main functions of a receptionist are as follows:

Greet people entering the building

Respond to public requests for information

Manage phone calls and forward them to recipients

Accompany customers to where they need to go

Manage inbound and outbound mail

Organize and archive documents

Manage reservations

Set appointments and meetings

Perform additional administrative functions

Skills of a receptionist

The skills required to work as a receptionist include:

Knowledge of customer care principles

Communication skills (by phone, email or in person)

Ability to use major IT devices and management software

Basic administrative/accounting knowledge

Ability to interact with the public, kindness and availability

Ability to manage several different activities at the same time (multitasking)

Attention to detail

Problem resolution

Send your CV to the email address guapaprisca@gmail.com

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