While the role differs from company to company, the foundations of the position effectively stay the same. The primary task of a receptionist is to answer the phone, greet customers as they enter the company and help out a company with basic clerical duties and tasks.
As the face of a company, this role requires candidates that possess a high level of customer service skills and are physically presentable. Greeting customers as they walk in the door is a common requirement of the position, so it is essential to be of a friendly disposition. Receptionists may also find themselves working on various office administration tasks, so a basic grasp of maths and English is required.
Different companies have varying requirements for receptionists; however many look for some background working in an office environment. A high sense of professionalism is required, in addition to a good phone manner and excellent organisational skills. The average salary for a Receptionist is approximately £14,000 to £18,000 a year.

Receptionists are required to provide administrative support for companies and organizations. They are the first point of contact for a company and have to deal with visitor enquiries. They work behind a reception desk and welcome clients and visitors, referring them to the appropriate member and answering questions related to the company. These workers usually keep a record of visitors.

Receptionists usually perform many of the following tasks:
• Dealing with visitors.
•   Answering telephone calls.
• Sorting incoming mail.
• Keeping other members updated with company announcements.
• Referring people to other members.

• Having IT skills.
• Having good written and spoke communication abilities.
• Having smart appearance.
• Being able to work under pressure.
• Having interpersonal abilities.
• Having good memory for faces and appointments.
• Being polite and courteous.
• Being well organised.
• Having high attention to details.
• Being able to prioritise workload.

Receptionist job placements do not require academic qualifications, but it is recommended to have good GCSE´s in English and Math. Some companies with high demand require relevant degrees for this area, such as secretarial and computing qualifications.

Other useful degrees are Intermediate and Foundation GSVQ’s/GNVQ’s in Hospitality and Catering or Business. There are awards that can be obtained through on the job training such as SVQ’s/NVQs levels 1 and 2 in Reception.