How Does a Receptionist Spend a Workday?

General Overview

A receptionist, also known as a secretary or assistant, is someone who works in an office and takes care of administrative duties such as answering the phone, running errands for a supervisor and other similar activities. A receptionist is a very important figure in an office setting and helps to keep the everyday activities organized. He must make sure that all appointments are kept and meetings are scheduled appropriately. It is up to the receptionist to make sure that everything in the office is running smoothly.

Typical Workday

A receptionist begins the workday early in the morning, around 8:00 a.m, and may even be the first one to arrive at the office. For the majority of the day, the receptionist spends a significant part of her workday answering the phones, taking messages, transferring calls to the appropriate party and screening phone calls to determine their level of importance. The receptionist will also be responsible for writing business letters and memos as ordered by a supervisor and distributing the memos throughout the office. Other duties include organizing office supplies, filing important documents, updating contact lists and mailing letters and packages.

Qualifications

A high school degree or equivalent is often enough of an educational qualification for someone to obtain a position as a receptionist. Strong writing and communication skills are also extremely important as is an innate ability to work cordially with different types of people. A receptionist must also be highly organized, responsible, friendly and punctual.