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Receptionist Job


Looking for a receptionist job? A receptionist is "an employee who greets visitors, customers, or patients, answers the telephone, and makes appointments" says The Microsoft Encarta Encyclopaedia. Meeting people is thus central to this job. If you think you've got what it takes to be one, go for it. Be a receptionist today!

Of the over 4.2 million companies and businesses in the UK, a greater number of these employ the services of a receptionist of a sort. As a receptionist, you have a lot to bring to a company. You will be the first contact of the business in most cases. An image maker. An administrator.

Commonly used synonyms for a receptionists include:

  • Customer Services Assistant / Manager
  • Administrator
  • Secretary
  • Director of First Impression
  • Clerk
  • Telephonist
  • Switchboard Operator and Administrator.



But what does it take to be a receptionist? What is the job description like and what opportunities exists?

Receptionist Job Requirements

To get a UK job as a receptionist, you will need good persons and organizational skills. You need to meet a minimum educational qualification, some computing knowledge and proficient in spoken and written English language.

In brief, specific requirements for a receptionist job in the UK include:

EDUCATION

Generally, the minimum educational entry requirement as a receptionist will be a GCSE. Further educational qualification requirements for a receptionist job will largely depend on the type and size of the employing establishment.

In some corporations, you need to have a higher diploma or even a university degree. As you would expect, some have master’s degree! When applying for this type of job, just check the advertisement page for the person’s specification to know what will be required of you.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Having good IT skills is an essential job requirement to work as a receptionist. Specifically, proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and other basic data based application is increasingly mandatory. The European Computer Driving License (ECDL) is a widely accepted international computer qualification that provides all the required IT skills to work in any office or administrative environment.

It is easy to study for, and could even get self help books from popular book shops like Amazon.

If you prefer, you can Learn Office and Business Skills Online at The Training Center to enhance your abilities as a receptionist.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Are you people friendly? Having a good interpersonal skill is an absolute requirement if you must enjoy your job as a receptionist. Your foremost job is to always keep a calm courteous, friendly yet professional look and comportment at all times.

Do not be put off if you think you do not have those traits for now. What is important is to recognize that these are important receptionist job requirements and to be willing to work towards cultivating these skills.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

Your organizational skills as a receptionist will be tested to the limit. You will be required to take calls, write down telephone messages, book meetings, raise invoices, order stationery, keep a log book of visitors coming and going out of the department and a lot more.

You must have an excellent prioritization and time management skill, as well as been able to multitask.

Remember, as a receptionist, you may be required to work as the office administrator or office manager too.

Other requirements for a receptionist job include:

  • Excellent telephone manners

  • Switchboard experience

  • Use of photocopier, scanner and fax machine

  • Flexibility with work time

  • Good stress and anger management ability

Receptionist Job Description

A receptionist job description will vary from one company to the other, but generally, duties, roles, and responsibilities of a receptionists include:

  • Meeting, greeting, and welcoming visitors

  • Entering visitors details into the visitors log book

  • Assist visitors fill out visitors pass, and issuing of visitors pass

  • Assisting new employees as well as old ones in some cases with provision of ID badges, time sheet, rotas, photocopying, sending fax messages, posting notices and mail distribution

  • Taking incoming telephone calls, dealing with such calls promptly in a professional manner, and re-directing appropriate calls to other individuals or departments within and outside the establishment

  • General administrative duties including photocopying, invoicing, collecting cash and other forms of payments from customers if necessary, filing, booking and organizing board and or meeting rooms, ordering stationery, dispatching and accepting mails and couriers services (parcels)

  • Ordering taxis for visitors

  • Other specific duties tat may be required of the receptionist by the employer.

Receptionist Job Opportunities

Job prospects as a receptionist are legion. A receptionist could work as a clerk, secretary, customers services or administrative staff in virtually any establishment. Mention the type of industry you like, they need a receptionist. You can work as a:

  • hotel receptionist
  • dental receptionist
  • medical receptionist
  • bank receptionist
  • beauty receptionist
  • gp receptionist
  • gym receptionist
  • hospital receptionist
  • legal secretary
  • office receptionist
  • school receptionist
  • switchboard operator
  • ward receptionist... and more.

You can even work as a receptionist with agency. Such job abound in London and other big UK cities.

To fit in properly, you may need training as a receptionist in that field if it is a bit more specialized like medical receptionist at G.P surgery or legal receptionist.

An unpaid or paid work experience for one to there months may be all you need to get into that field.

How Much can I Earn as a Receptionist - Receptionist Salary

A receptionist salary in the UK vary from £12,000 to £25,000 on the average. It could get up to £37,000 as an executive receptionist.

Depending on your qualification, years of experience, field of work and company you work for, you could earn from £8000.00 annually as a trainee receptionist to £10,000 - £18,000.00 as an experienced receptionist, and above £35,000.00 as a very senior executive receptionist.

If you think that taking up a receptionist job is your calling, go for it. It could be rewarding. Only never "play dead like a receptionist when the phone rings".



For model CV and job interview skill for receptionist, see our receptionist job CV tips and Job Interview Questions page .

Get UK Job as a Receptionist

Looking for a receptionist job in the UK? Upload your CV here and get discovered by prospective employers. Come back often and see receptionist jobs in the UK posted here.

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Are You An Employer? View CVs Submitted

Click below to see CV submitted by applicants looking for job as a receptionist in the UK here...

Mrs. Maria Hanan, BSc. (hons)  starstarstarstarstar
Mrs. Maria Hanan


Home Address: Email: mariasohail1@yahoo.co.uk
Flat 4
33 Salisbury ...

GENNIE C. REGINALDO  starstarstarstarstar

Gennie C. Reginaldo
Cell No: +639285802250/+639232436061


POSITION DESIRED

RECEPTIONIST

SUMMARY ...

Mr Shashi Kumar. - Mechanical Engineer  starstarstarstar
SHASHI KUMAR P V
NAGRAJACHARS BUILDING, OPP.N.D.R.K COLLEGE UDAYAGIRI, HASSAN-573201
KARNATAKA
India
Contact No: (91)9742918143 , (91) 9886125676
Email ...

Receptionist   Not rated yet
Lee-Ann Ratcliff
Married with two children
8 Acer Grove, Chapelhall, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
ML6 8HQ
Home: 01236748367
Mobile: 07710115701
Email:...

Sohaib Qureshi - studied uptill A level (starting university next year)  Not rated yet
I am highly organised, focused and have adaptable management skills. Self-motivated and a quick learner. Key to my skill set is my ability to communicate ...

MISS SHESHA PATEL   Not rated yet
CURRICULUM VITAE

SHESHA PATEL

Personal Details:

Date of Birth: 24-4-1987
Sex: Female
...

Interiour Disigner  Not rated yet

CURRICULUM VITAE
Mrs.Vaishnavi

? Career History:
Year 2001-2003
Company Name City Park(INDIA)
Position Secretary

? Essential Functions:-
? Prepare ...

Joel E. Luna Salmiya Kuwat  Not rated yet
Curriculum Vitae
Joel E. Luna
28 years old
Mobile#: 97521773
joel_luna23@yahoo.com

Career Objective : To work in a challenging suitable position ...

DEPLOMA IN AGREECULTURAL  Not rated yet
to get a job in greate environment to the progress of organisation and for the progress of my professional skills
name; syed asif
qualification; sslc ...

jane diviney cse maths b english b r.e c history c  Not rated yet
MISS JANE DIVINEY

1 CARLTON CLOSE
NORTHOLT
MIDDX
UB5-4LQ

TEL NO
02088646043
MOBLIE
07946802622
DATE
12/10/2009

job history
william ...

Josephine Agu Ogochukwu.  Not rated yet
Josephine Agu

17 Agulu Street, Federal Housing Abakpa, Enugu State.
08033723204
...

Software Engineer  Not rated yet
Rouzbeh Yakhchi.L
Roozy_yl@yahoo.com
Mobile: 075346633183
22 Altash way, Eltham , London , SE9 3EL

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Customer friendly receptionist ...

Gurjit Kaur. recently finished Accounting AAT level 2.  Not rated yet
Curriculum Vitae

Name: Gurjit Kaur
Address: 36 Tyersal walk
Bradford ...

Alex Noronha, PGHRM, B.Com graduate, with good inter-personal communication skills and proficiency in computing.  Not rated yet
ALEXANDER NORONHA

Hulmakki House,
Koppa Post
Chikmagalur ? 577126
Mobile ...


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