Attributes and Responsibilities of a Front Desk Receptionist

The front desk receptionist works in an organization, office or administrative support position usually in the lobby or waiting area of ​​the company or organization. The basic duty that this individual performs is receiving and greeting visitors, clients and even patients in an organization or hospital. Therefore, the person who handles this job is known as a receptionist.

The duties performed by a receptionist are varied: answering inquiries about the company and also its policies, its products and the services that the company provides. Other functions include directing visitors to the people they want to meet, sorting and handling all mail, answering the phone, scheduling appointments for the boss and for people who want to get in touch with the top managers of the company, filing as well record keeping, data entry and also different office communication tasks like handling faxes and emails.

In certain offices and organizations, the receptionist also has financial responsibilities that include bookkeeping. Sometimes the receptionist also performs “security duties” such as verifying the identity of employees, issuing passes to visitors, and also observing and reporting any kind of suspicious activity or people they may come across.

Since she is the face of the company or organization and the first business contact a person encounters upon entering the office, she should always convey a sense of calm and courteous professionalism. The personal qualities that she should possess include a neat and immaculate appearance, attention to detail, the ability to deal with situations maturely, a sense of loyalty to the organization, trustworthiness, and also a positive attitude.

The front desk clerk job description involves having to deal with different types of people with different demands and personalities. At the same time, the receptionist is also expected to be proficient at multitasking, which can be stressful. In some organizations or companies, the receptionist position is seen as menial, while in others the job profile is seen as having an element of glamor and sophistication.

A smart receptionist would take the opportunity during her working hours to learn and become familiar with the workings of the office and slowly and steadily advance to higher positions and administrative jobs within the office. However, in a small medical or law practice, she would also have to take on other duties and responsibilities such as practice manager. In the 24-hour hospitality industry, the night shift receptionist is responsible for consolidating and reporting the daily bill. This is known as night auditing.

Some of the must-have attributes for this job are possessing excellent telephone and manners skills, a clear and pleasant voice, strong technical and clerical skills. At the same time, if she is naturally discreet, diplomatic, and courteous, she is definitely an asset to the organization.