Receptionist/ Front of House

What is a receptionist/ front of house?

A receptionist is the first point of contact for external business visitors. As the face of the company, they are responsible for welcoming guests, taking and redirecting calls, distributing correspondence, booking couriers and giving basic administrative support.

Receptionist/ front of house job description and responsibilities

The front desk of the business belongs to the receptionist. They are tasked with screening incoming phone calls, welcoming guests, receiving mail and booking couriers. They must be approachable, professional and presentable at all times.

Aside from the social aspect of the job, receptionists undertake basic admin tasks, such as filing and data entry. Their tasks can also include light secretarial work, such as organising refreshments for meetings and taking charge of diary management for the business.

Receptionists are expected to undertake general housekeeping tasks as part of their daily duties. The cleanliness of the reception area and meeting rooms are their responsibility.

Daily tasks include:

Managing the phones (taking and screening calls etc.)

Welcoming and redirecting guests

Diary management for the business

Receiving, sorting and distributing mail/deliveries

Ordering office supplies

Data entry and record maintenance

Meeting room co-ordination

Arranging refreshments for meetings

Basic administration

General housekeeping and facility maintenance

Receptionist job qualifications, skills and experience

It isn’t necessary to have a degree for this role, but employers will be looking for previous experience, as well as experience with Microsoft software package. A presentable appearance and outgoing manner are essential for the role.

Receptionists should have some of the following personal qualities:

Outgoing nature

Ability to learn quickly

Good time management

Excellent written and verbal communication

Ability to multitask

Good organisational skills

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