Receptionists provide the first impression for companies and businesses and they are very often the first point of contact that customers and clients interact with upon entering the establishment. This article will provide an informative guide on everything that you need to know about how to become a receptionist from the relevant skill set to career progression in many industries including business and hospitality.

In pursuing a career as a receptionist, most businesses will require you to have a series of formal high school qualifications in subjects such as business administration and English. College courses in administration can be particularly useful as they demonstrate to employers that you have the necessary IT skills and the ability to use computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

Seeking career advice from employers and career services can help you to decipher the necessary experience that you will need to have to become a receptionist.

As a beginner wanting to become a receptionist, it is important to seek work experience, particularly in working with the public as excellent customer service skills are paramount to the role of a receptionist. Taking a job in retail, for example, is a good starting place to build up experience working with the public.

Volunteering within an office or enrolling in an administrative internship could also be advantageous as not only do such opportunities allow you to gain work experience in the field but you also build up a body of contacts that can be instrumental in helping you to secure a permanent position.

In our current, technology-heavy world, receptionists need to have a diverse skill set that includes knowledge of computers as well as many other skills, namely:

A receptionist job involves sitting at the front desk of an organisation and greeting visitors. The specific responsibilities of a receptionist will, however, depend upon the particular place of work. For example, working as a dental receptionist or medical receptionist will require you to perform administrative tasks such as gathering patients’ medical records, whereas if you work as a beauty salon receptionist, you will be responsible for scheduling appointments.

Receptionists are required in most businesses and organisations, ranging from hotels and factories to solicitors and schools. A career as a receptionist incorporates skills such as the ability to multi-task and developing an excellent telephone manner; therefore, these skills are transferable to other secretarial roles such as an administrative assistant or as a personal assistant.