What exactly does a receptionist do and is it the right career for you?
HAVE you got a lot of front? Then put your skills to use as a front of house receptionist.
Almost any organisation which deals with the public needs front of house staff, and it’s one of the friendliest and most sociable careers around.
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What is a front-of-house role?
It’s a broad term which can mean different things in different businesses, but the one point all jobs have is that you’ll be the first point of contact with members of the public visiting your organisation.
For example, you could be a receptionist in a big corporate firm, looking after clients and visitors.
For a hotel or restaurant, you’d check reservations and direct visitors to their room or table.
Some roles, such as in housing complexes and retirement villages, are closer to concierges where you greet residents and help with their everyday needs.
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What is the average receptionist's salary?
This depends on where you work, what your additional duties are, and what your seniority is.
First jobber receptionists in small firms typically start at £18,000, with pay up to £24,000.
For a bigger corporation, salaries can be up to £40,000.
If you're working in hospitality, expect to earn anything from £23,000 to £37,000.
What qualifications will I need?
There are no set entry requirements to become a front-of-house receptionist.
Employers usually expect good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, such as English and Maths GCSEs plus experience with software packages such as Microsoft Word or Excel.
Work experience or business administration qualifications will help you stand out from the crowd
What skills will I need?
Plenty! As a people-facing role, you’ll need to be charming in person and on the phone and able to deal comfortably with every type of character.
It helps to be organised and good under pressure, with great interpersonal skills.
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Think of reception work as customer service combined with administration, so multi-tasking and communication skills are prized too.