Receptionist

Also known as
Receptionist

Become a “hero of science"

Receptionists are the smiley face of a company and the first person visitors meet. You must have great people skills, be a good communicator, and stay calm and organised even when super busy.

At a glance

What can you expect from this role?
Average salary per year
£18000
Starter
Experienced
£18000
£22000
Typical hours
38 to 40 a week
You could work evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
Flexible working hours?
Need a lab coat?
Not for this role!

What to expect

Day-to-day tasks

As a receptionist, your tasks will depend on where you work. You could:

  • greet visitors and direct them to the correct person or department
  • manage people signing in and give out security passes
  • answer enquiries in person, by phone and online
  • manage reservations, meeting room bookings and appointments
  • deal with incoming and outgoing post and deliveries
  • take payments and handle invoices

Working environment

You could work in a reception area, in an office, in an NHS or private hospital or in a hotel.

You may need to wear a uniform.

More Information

Further information

You can learn more about working as a receptionist in hospitality from Caterer.com.

You can also find out about medical reception work from NHS Careers.

Explore the different ways to get into this role

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

College

You can take a college course before applying for work as a receptionist. Some courses relate to particular types of…
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Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship, such as: Hospitality Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship Customer Service…
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Work

You could begin as an admin assistant in an organisation, for instance by doing temporary work, then apply for a…
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Discover the skills you need for this role

People in these types of job possess skills like the ones below.

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • administration skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Career progression

Career progression opportunities include

With training and experience, you could become a senior receptionist, front of house supervisor or personal assistant (PA).

In a GP surgery or health centre, you could train to become a medical secretary.

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