Career Advice for a Receptionist

Working as a Receptionist, you will greet clients and visitors, answer incoming calls, take messages, and sort and distribute the mail.

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How to Become a Receptionist

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Receptionist

Should you wish to work as a Receptionist you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Receptionist

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office.
  • Two GCSEs including Math and English.
  • Level 1 Certificate in Business and Administration.

Key Responsibilities for a Receptionist

  • Greeting visitors and clients with a positive and helpful attitude.
  • Logging visitors as they enter and leave the business, and issuing security passes.
  • Helping clients and visitors navigate the premises.
  • Answering incoming phone calls, taking messages, and distributing them.
  • Preparing conference, meeting, and training rooms.
  • Sorting and delivering mail.
  • Performing administrative duties as directed.

What to expect as a Receptionist

When you work as a Receptionist, you will work in a reception area or office, working for a business, hotel, hospital, fitness centre, or other type of organisation. You may need to wear a uniform or smart business dress. To find success as a Receptionist, you will need excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Recommended Receptionist Jobs

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How to get Receptionist Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Receptionist job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Receptionist application. If you have not held a Receptionist position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Receptionist role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Receptionist CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Receptionist application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Receptionist in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Receptionist 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Receptionist and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Receptionist experience.

How to get Receptionist Experience

What does it take to be a Receptionist? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Receptionist jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Receptionist through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Receptionist Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Receptionist part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Receptionist or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Receptionist freelance work

If you have impressive Receptionist qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.