Receptionist Job Description: Know Top Duties and Skills in 2022

Planning to build a career as a receptionist?

Receptionists are the first person that clients contact when visiting any office. They manage the front desk and perform general administrative tasks.

Entering this profession could be a wise career choice as there are approximately 142,300 openings expected every year due to people leaving the workforce or switching jobs. The primary receptionist duties include answering phone calls, greeting clients, and setting appointments.

To crack the receptionist job interview, you should know what a receptionist job description looks like.

Read on to learn all about the receptionist job description, including responsibilities, skills, pay scale, and related FAQs:

What Does a Receptionist Do?


A receptionist is pivotal to the company as they act as an interface for the customers and employees. While receptionists offer exceptional customer service, they also assist employees by coordinating with clients or addressing their concerns.

Based on the field of service, a receptionist can be hired in a hotel, hospital, school, or corporate company. The receptionist job responsibilities may vary slightly depending on the employer, but the general duties remain the same.

Some common duties and responsibilities of a receptionist are mentioned below:

  • Greeting visitors, welcoming them warmly, and directing them to the appropriate person
  • Taking phone calls and transferring phone calls to suitable departments
  • Sending and responding to emails important to the office
  • Organizing meetings for employees and coordinating with clients
  • Scheduling appointments and maintaining event calendars
  • Making travel arrangements based on office itineraries
  • Maintaining documents in soft copy format and taking printouts wherever required

Also Read: How to make an impressive receptionist resume in 2022?

What Are the Skills Required to Be a Receptionist?


Since receptionists are the first point of contact, they need to possess several skills that would make them warm and welcoming to visitors. It includes personality traits as well as technological knowledge.

Some common skills that you must imbibe if you wish to grow in this profession are mentioned below:

Communication Active Listening
Data Entry Mail Management
Time Management Visitor Tracking Software
Empathy Multitasking
Problem Solving Mail Management
Customer Service Invoice Generation
Attention to Detail Stress Management
Client Relationship Management Microsoft Office
Hubspot Google Calender
Organization Package Tracking Software
Hiration pro tip:
If you are still confused about what skills should you put in your receptionist resume, you can read the receptionist job description to select the skills that the company requires.

Also Read: What skills should you put on your resume in 2022?

What Does a Receptionist Job Description for Resume Include?


When you gothrough a receptionist job description, you will notice that the receptionist job description is divided into a few sections that would explain what the company expects from you.

If you fulfill the requirements mentioned in the job description, chances are that you will make it through the screening process of the receptionist hiring process.

The receptionist job description will offer you valuable insight into the nature of the job, and you can prepare yourself for the job accordingly.

Given below is the detailed breakdown of a receptionist job description that you must read to understand what makes a compelling receptionist job description.

Job Title of Receptionist Job Description


The job title is a primary keyword that would be overtly mentioned in a job description. It suggests what profile the advertisement is about and the seniority level for the job.

Given below are some popular titles that you would come across in a receptionist job description based on the field of employment:

  • Receptionist
  • Hotel Receptionist
  • Front Office Executive
  • Front Desk Receptionist
  • Medical Receptionist
  • Front Desk Attendant
  • Admin Receptionist
  • Clerical Receptionist
  • Gym Receptionist
  • Desk Receptionist
  • Dental Assistant Receptionist

Overview of Receptionist Job Description


In the receptionist job description, you will find that the first few lines give the overall essence of the job. The overview will be the job summary of the receptionist job description, giving you an instant idea of what the company expects from you.

The overview briefly describes the receptionist responsibilities and requirements that you must meet if you want to move ahead in the recruitment process.

Hiration pro tip:
You can pick suitable keywords for your receptionist job description resume from the job overview section to qualify for the ATS software, which is extremely popular among recruiters.

Example: Our company is seeking a dynamic and self-motivated receptionist who can warmly welcome customers. As a successful receptionist, you will direct customers and clients to the designated office. Additionally, you will handle taking messages, answering phones, and sorting mail.

Responsibilities of Receptionist Job Description


Below the job overview, you will find the receptionist responsibilities mentioned that you need to go through carefully to understand the duties you will perform in the organization.

The duties and responsibilities of a receptionist will be expressed in bullet points so that you get a concise idea of what you will be doing every day.

You can match the job responsibilities to your previous job role and highlight the ones that fit your receptionist's resume, as the recruiters would value them the most.

In the receptionist duties and responsibilities section, you will find the core tasks you would perform using software that the company finds extremely useful. In most cases, Microsoft Office and Hubspot are the preferred software that a receptionist must be familiar with to perform the tasks effortlessly.

Qualifications of Receptionist Job Description


The minimum qualification for a receptionist is a high school diploma or equivalent. On average, 33% of high school diploma holders account for receptionists, while only 28% of receptionists are graduates with a bachelor’s degree.

Some companies might look for candidates with some vocational education or college degree in administration.

The receptionist job description will state the education qualification in the requirements section, and you must qualify for it to get shortlisted for the receptionist interview.

Also Read: What are the most common receptionist interview questions?

Sample Job Description for Receptionist


Given below is the receptionist sample job description you will come across in job posts that can help you learn more about receptionist responsibilities and duties.

Receptionist Job Overview

We are looking for a dynamic and dedicated receptionist to join our team of professionals to be the face of our company. You will nurture healthy client and customer relationships and perform administrative tasks. To excel in this role, you must have effective communication skills, exceptional organizational abilities, and knowledge of MS Office.

Receptionist Job Description Responsibilities

  • Greeting clients or customers warmly and directing them to the appropriate point of contact.
  • Maintaining visitor logs and ensuring office security by checking the identification proof of visitors and employees.
  • Maintaining digital documentation and converting hard copy documents into electronic ones whenever required.
  • Performing administrative tasks such as mailing, faxing, organizing meetings, photocopying, and making travel arrangements.
  • Professionally taking phone calls and forwarding them to the appropriate personnel.
  • Scheduling appointments and offering excellent customer service.
  • Placing orders for office supplies and managing stock inventories.
  • Keeping records of office expenses and updating them on a timely basis.

Receptionist Job Description Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field.
  • Minimum 2 years of prior working experience as a receptionist.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to maintain customer satisfaction.
  • Prior experience with administrative tasks is mandatory.
  • Proficient in using Microsoft Office and Hubspot to manage administrative tasks.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.

Also Read: How to analyze job description to crack the interview?

Receptionist Job Description and Salary


How much does receptionist make?

The average annual salary of a receptionist is $47,294 in the US for an entry-level candidate. Those with experience of 3-5 years can expect to earn $48,231, and candidates with more than 10 years of experience can expect $57,833.

The salary you would receive as a receptionist will vary depending on factors like location, experience, company, and skills.

Given below is the salary of receptionists offered by top companies in the US:

COMPANIES AVERAGE SALARY
VCA Animal Hospitals $69,238
Kaiser Permanente $66,474
Hampton by Hilton $65,143
Wyndham Destinations $58,735
Allstate Insurance $57,768
BPL Plasma $52,839
The Joint Chiropractic $51,873
Securitas $51,688
Regus $51,172
RE/MAX $50,090

Since the salary can also vary depending on the location, here is a list of average salaries of receptionists in different US cities:

US CITIES AVERAGE SALARIES
New York, NY $54,868
Chicago, IL $51,373
Dallas, TX $49,362
Houston, TX $48,381
Phoenix, AZ $48,299
Tampa, FL $47,030
Miami, FL $46,955
Las Vegas, NV $46,703
Orlando, FL $46,105

Key Points from the Blog


  • Receptionist responsibilities include greeting visitors and directing them to the appropriate offices, receiving emails and phone calls, forwarding essential calls, and maintaining stock inventory.
  • The job description for receptionist will mention the most valued skills that the companies want in their candidate.
  • Effective communication skills, ability to multitask, interpersonal skills, and mail management are some of the top skills for a receptionist.
  • Receptionist job description mentions the job overview, responsibilities, and requirements that you can read to understand what the company is looking for in a suitable candidate.
  • The minimum educational qualification mentioned in the job description of a receptionist would be a high school diploma or a degree in business administration.
  • Top companies prefer candidates who are proficient in using MS Office and CRM software.
  • The average annual salary of a receptionist is $47,274 for an entry-level professional in the US.

If you want professional assistance related to the receptionist job description or seeking any help for career-related issues, go to Hiration's Career Activator Platform, which offers 24x7 chat help. Alternatively, you can write to us at support@hiration.com.