What to Look for When Hiring a New Receptionist

 
11/28/2022

By Stephanie Snyder

A receptionist is a vital position in any company. They greet all visitors and take messages from people, many of which are the most important clients. The responsibility of a receptionist largely depends on the company and industry they are in. They are often in charge of sales, customer service, office services, and worker procedures such as time-keeping. For this reason, you must find a receptionist that will suit your needs and expectations. Here are tips to help you hire the right receptionist:



1. Experience

 
One of the essential qualities of a new receptionist is experience. They will handle your clients and take their calls, messages, and emails. This means they will be the first person to represent your company and have direct contact with everyone who comes to your office. A new receptionist should have some years of experience in a similar position.
 
This will help them understand the company they are working for and familiarize them with their industry. A receptionist with extensive experience will also better understand how to answer questions, what information to give out, and how to handle different situations.
 


2. Qualifications

 
A new receptionist should hold a high school diploma or equivalent. This gives the impression that they are competent enough to work without constant supervision. A college degree will give them more job experience than someone who did not attend college. This can be useful for companies that have strict hiring requirements.
 


3. Communication

 
A receptionist should be fluent in the native language and know other languages. Many foreign companies will not consider anyone who cannot speak a foreign language. There are many translation tools on the internet, but a receptionist needs to be quick at interpreting and speaking to customers. They should also be familiar with any critical phrases for their industry to keep their clients happy and satisfied with their services.
 
Good receptionists will screen incoming calls and politely speak to the caller, passing on messages to their best corresponding department. They will also know the number of their corresponding departments and call them without consulting their employer. In addition, a receptionist should have excellent writing skills to facilitate their work and ensure that their message is conveyed without any mistakes. They will answer incoming calls and emails, keeping their employers informed of important details so they can act accordingly.
 
In addition, a receptionist should have excellent listening skills when receiving messages or calls from clients or colleagues. They should also have proper phone etiquette and remain calm during difficult conversations. A receptionist needs to be polite, friendly, capable of keeping calm under pressure, and highly attentive to the needs of clients and other workers that come into their office.
 


4. Skills

 
An effective receptionist must have excellent interpersonal skills to work with everyone in the company. They also need to have excellent technical skills like computer knowledge.
 
A receptionist will face many challenges from customers and coworkers; they should always remain professional. They should also have administrative skills to keep their employers updated with time management and other critical information. You should consider acall routing service to ensure that your company receives all client calls. This will ensure that you get all calls and be able to handle them in the most efficient way possible.
 


5. Personality

 
The personality of the receptionist is another crucial thing to consider when hiring a new one. They will work closely with many others and should understand their place in the workplace without overshadowing their superiors or coworkers. A receptionist should always be friendly and welcoming to people that come into your business and treat them with respect and kindness. They also need to havestrong leadership skills to manage callers peacefully, regardless of their situation.
 


6. Flexibility

 
A receptionist must be flexible when scheduling their working hours. They must know they might need to work additional hours on short notice when the company is short-staffed. A receptionist should also be punctual for their scheduled shifts and flexible when taking new shifts. That way, they can cover shifts whenever necessary while ensuring they are also available to their families.
 


Conclusion

 
There are many things to consider looking to hire a new receptionist. And with all of the information and tips for finding the best receptionist for your company, you should have no trouble finding that perfect candidate.
 


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