What to Look Out for When Hiring a Receptionist 

The majority of people believe that first impressions last longer. Well, I agree and there is an element of truth in that simple phrase. When it comes to business, first impressions do matter and have an impact.

When it comes to first impressions of businesses, it is not just about your buildings and your taste in interior design. It also depends on the type of people you have on your team.

Also, check out How to Become a Portfolio Manager.

We will focus on one, in particular, the receptionist. When it comes to giving your customers the right impression of your company, the receptionist is crucial.

Therefore, in this post, I will explain the top qualities you need to look out for when recruiting and vetting candidates for the position of receptionist.

Who is a receptionist?

A receptionist is an employer of a company tasked with the responsibility of creating a good impression of the organization while addressing the needs of the customers. 

They are the major link between the customers – both new and old and the company. They are very important in an organizational structure.

Many people believe that the job of a receptionist only involves welcoming people into the company. This statement is not entirely true; receptionists do so much more than that, they perform other administrative work too. The administrative works performed differ from one organization to another.

Qualities to look at when hiring a Receptionist 

This section is the major reason for the creation of this post. Let’s dive right through it as I will be sharing some of the qualities that you need to look out for to help you select the best from the pool of candidates.

I know as a boss or a company you might have some structure in place to help you vet your candidates. Nevertheless, it does not hurt to learn one or two from the information shared in this post. It will bolster your selection process. As they say, we learn every day.

With all said and done, these are the qualities you should look for when you want to hire a receptionist.

Also, check out How to Write a Resignation Letter.

Ability to absorb information

This attribute is key for anyone who claims to be a good receptionist and wants to work in your organization. A good receptionist should be like a sponge as this will help learn about the organization’s dealings and structures because this information helps with giving the customers the answers to their inquiries and complaints. 

Furthermore, a good receptionist must have the ability to retain information long enough. Absorbing information easily and retaining the information guarantees that the receptionist is reliable when it comes to dishing out the correct information to the customers.

Poise

Poise in the sense speaks to how confidently an individual can carry themselves in calm and tense situations. When selecting a receptionist for an organization, you need to pay attention to this area. You need to answer the following questions

• Is the candidate confident enough?
• Does the manner of communicating exude confidence and a good character?
• Does the candidate have the tactfulness to handle different scenarios whether pleasant or not?
• Does the appearance of the candidate show confidence?

Technology Literacy

Technology literacy means the candidate must have the fundamental knowledge of how to use any form of technology related to the job. However, it does not necessarily mean that the person must be a technology expert.

The ideal receptionist must know how to work with computers and other computer-related applications. The digital age is changing a lot of things and you can not afford to hire someone who is not technology inclined as a receptionist. The company will lag when it comes to efficiency and productivity.

Command of Language 

The command language speaks volumes about how well an individual can speak and communicate effectively with a particular language. When you want to hire a receptionist, you need to ensure that such a person has a good understanding of the language and can speak well.

Communication between customers and the other members of the organization is paramount for the growth of the business and you cannot afford to have a weak link in the communication channel. 

Concentration

A high level of concentration comes with the job of a receptionist. You need to make sure that the selected candidate has no weaknesses when it comes to the matter of concentration. Such a person must not be easily distracted when taking instructions, attending to customers, and handling administrative tasks. 

Active Listening 

Active Listening is key and a result of a high level of concentration. It is that one skill that you need to check out in your candidates. When your receptionist is good with active listening, you are sure of him or her getting the right information, following the correct cues, and giving you back the correct feedback needed.

Experience

You must investigate your candidates’ level of experience. In reality, a more experienced employee will outperform an inexperienced employee on the job. However, this does not imply that inexperienced workers cannot find work. You can consider them if they meet all of your other requirements and demonstrate adaptability. In a nutshell, all I am saying is that when you have the problem of choosing between candidates having other essential qualities, choose the experienced one.

Physical Fitness

The job of a receptionist involves physical and mental strength. You need to vet your candidate to ensure they are physically fit for the job. I am not saying that you need to ask them to tender their medical records but rather you need to be sure they can handle the physical stress that comes with the job.

Final Notes on What to Look Out for When Hiring a Receptionist 

Receptionists are ambassadors of an organization, your customers begin to evaluate your organization right from their interactions with your receptionist at the front desk.

You do not want a bad impression and as such you need to be careful in selecting the right candidate for the job. I have provided some of the qualities that you need to check out when making your selection process.

Before you go, check out How to Write a Guarantor Letter.