Administrative Support

Receptionist

Overview

A receptionist greets visitors, answers calls, and provides general office support. They schedule appointments, manage incoming and outgoing mail, and perform data entry and other administrative tasks. They are the first point of contact for customers, and must have excellent communication and organizational skills.

The main responsibilities of a receptionist include greeting visitors, answering and transferring phone calls, scheduling appointments, managing mail and packages, and performing basic administrative tasks such as data entry, filing, and faxing. They may also be responsible for directing visitors to the appropriate person or department and providing general information about the company or organization.

Common tasks 

    TaskRelated trait(s)
    Greeting visitors, customers and responding to enqueries Amiability Extroversion Cheerfulness Teamplayer Respect for rules
    Answering and forwarding phone calls, taking messages scheduling appointments and events Conscientiousness Organization
    Maintaining office records and performing administrative tasks, such as copying, scanning, and printing documents Conscientiousness Competence Organization
    Monitoring office supplies and placing orders Organization
    Ensuring that the reception area and conference rooms are clean, organized, and presentable Conscientiousness
    Collaborating with others Helping Others  Integrity – Honesty and Confidentiality

    Soft skills measured by TraitForward

    TraitNo of QuestionsCronbach’s  alpha (α)
    Conscientiousness60.76
    Do they have a desirable work ethic?
    Amiability60.81
    Will they remain calm in the face of adversity?
    Competence50.73
    Can they find solutions?
    Extroversion70.82
    Can they handle social situations?
    Helping Others60.75
    Do they like helping others?
    Organization100.74
    Are they organized?
    Teamplayer Respect for rules90.74
    Do they follow rules?
    Teamplayer Positive group practices90.72
    Do they like being included in a group?
    Integrity – Honesty and Confidentiality110.71
    Do they have principles?
    Activity Level – Multitasking50.67
    Can they multitask? Can they handle demanding workloads?
    Cheerfulness60.78
    Do they have a cheerful attitude?
    *Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) determines the extent to which the questions consistently measure each trait and it is expressed as a number ranging between 0 and 1 . Higher values indicate higher agreement between questions.  A value of α equal to greater than .7 indicates acceptable reliability or internal consistency.  For more information on the psychometric properties of the solution, please click here.

    Did you Know?

    Source: US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Median wage: 

    $29,950 / per year

    $14 / hour

    The median annual wage for this profession is $29,950. Nonetheless several professionals may not be paid in that rate. A relatively low salary the 10th percentile of the annual wage is $23,050 whilst a relatively high salary, the 90th percentile of the annual wage is $45,760.

    Expected employment growth:

    Number (in thousands in 2021): 1037.1

    Number (in thousands in 2031): 1041.4

    Employment percent change: 0.4

    Entry Education level:

    To become a receptionist, one typically needs a high school diploma or equivalent, although some employers may require additional education or experience. Receptionists must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as they are often the first point of contact for visitors and customers. Additionally, they must have strong organizational and multitasking skills and be able to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously. Basic computer skills and knowledge of office software such as Microsoft Office are also important for receptionists. Finally, a friendly and professional demeanor is essential for this role, as receptionists must create a positive first impression for visitors and customers.

    Find out the psychometric properties for the Receptionist Traitforward questionnaire