Receptionist jobs

To have a successful career as a receptionist, you need to focus on developing your own unique set of skills and bringing them to the table. It is helpful to have an understanding of some of the most crucial characteristics of a successful receptionist, whether you want to become a receptionist yourself or are in the process of hiring one. Openness to experience, extraversion-introversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness are the five characteristics that make up what are often referred to as the "Big 5" in terms of personality traits. On the other hand, we are of the opinion that the same crude method cannot be used when it comes to the recruitment of receptionists. Although agreeability is the most significant trait in a candidate, we've discovered that there are many other qualities that are just as important. When searching for your new receptionist, you need to look for someone who has certain characteristics of personality. Take this fun quiz to find out which famous receptionist you most resemble, whether you already work as a receptionist or are thinking about getting into the field.

Having a willingness to engage with new people and concepts

To welcome and engage in conversation with callers who come from a wide range of cultural and ethnic origins is one of the most crucial roles of an in-house or even a virtual receptionist. Because of this, the receptionist has to have a high level of cultural sensitivity, which is a trait that comes more easily to those who have a great tolerance for trying new things in general. Being open-minded enables receptionists to problem-solve imaginatively and ensures that every caller is treated to in a courteous and polite way. Being open-minded also helps to guarantee that every caller is handled to in a timely manner.

Being kind and courteous to others

Being nice and courteous is a skill that can be learnt, but it is also a feature that comes naturally to certain individuals. Some people are just naturally more sociable and polite than others. There are certain people in our world that just do not need to make all that much of an effort for this quality to be observable in their personalities. They maintain a pleasant demeanor at all times, are helpful and resourceful, and watch carefully to ensure that they do not go over the bounds of politeness. This trait is particularly crucial for receptionists to possess since they are always need to be alert in order to guarantee that no caller or guest is made to feel unwelcome or undesired in the workplace.

Having a knack for making friends

Extroverted traits may be very useful for those seeking a career as a receptionist because of the high volume of talking and socializing that is required of them. However, this does not always exclude the possibility of introverts being recruited for the position of receptionist. It's possible for introverts to have a lot of friends as long as they give themselves time to decompress and regroup after spending a lot of time with other people. When it comes to our virtual receptionists who are introverts, one piece of advice that we often provide is for them to take regular short breaks and carve out some personal time for themselves.

Being cautious and watchful is essential.

If you want to work as a receptionist or if you want to recruit one, you should look for candidates that have a strong attention to detail. Taking notes and keeping a record of information is one of the most crucial responsibilities of a receptionist. While receptionists working on the floor may find it challenging to take orderly notes, virtual receptionists simply input all of the relevant information into their own systems. Quite frequently, these notes are either lost or left in an incomplete state. You should choose someone who is careful about the work obligations they have since this is one of the primary reasons why you should do so.

Able to manage emotions

It is not uncommon for receptionists to find themselves in a difficult situation or to have the impression that they are being hemmed in by calls and visitors. When someone corners you, it is difficult not to feel intimidated and not to become emotionally defensive. This is especially true if the person is an authority figure. However, in order for things to continue to go well at work, it is essential to maintain a cool and controlled manner at all times. Virtual receptionists need to be able to maintain their composure even when a customer is being very demanding or even hostile in their communication style. A greater level of emotional intelligence is required for working in a setting like this than for the majority of other occupations. Keep in mind that you are there to represent your organization in that situation. Therefore, it is essential for any receptionist to maintain a firm attitude at all times.

Capable of having empathy for other people

Customers who phone an establishment may sometimes be annoyed, depressed, or unhappy when they do so. In point of fact, callers can experience a wide range of emotions when they contact the business, and the ability to sense and recognize these feelings in a visitor or caller, as well as respond to them in a professional and appropriate manner, is an essential quality for any receptionist or call center agent to possess. This requires you to have a compassionate disposition. If you have located a receptionist that is able to empathize with others and see things from their point of view, then you have done well in your search for a receptionist. Putting one's own sentiments and well-being to the side to consider the emotions or well-being of another person is not a simple effort for anybody, but those who are capable of doing so are the greatest candidates for careers in customer service and other roles that represent your company.

Capacity to perform well under adverse conditions

Working as a receptionist often involves being exposed to high levels of stress. Even though, like any employment, there is the possibility of some quiet or slower moments throughout the course of a typical workday, receptionists will often find themselves juggling a large number of responsibilities all at once. There are constantly due dates that need to be satisfied, meetings that need to be arranged, phone calls that need to be made, and hundreds of other responsibilities, none of which can be put off or ignored. Naturally, something like this may put a significant amount of pressure on a receptionist. Having said that, a competent receptionist is one who is able to take it graciously, without flinching or complaining about it in any way. It is prudent to look for a candidate for the position of receptionist who is not only able to keep their cool and concentration but also seems to be unaffected by the situation. It is necessary to have the ability to brush off little inconveniences if you want to work as a receptionist.

Capacity to maintain composure

When a caller is upset with their job, they will almost always target their animosity on the person who is receiving the message. There is an ancient proverb that goes, "Please don't shoot the messenger," and I'm sure you've heard it before. This, however, is a perfect illustration of exactly why that adage has stood the test of time. Even when calls or guests are causing commotion, a competent receptionist is able to maintain their composure. It is essential that you "have your wits about you." Another wise proverb that perfectly fits these predicaments.

Capability of making snap choices in a timely manner

Even if it is not within their scope, a receptionist will eventually be required to make significant choices about the operations of the firm when the time comes, which it undoubtedly will. This occurs often in situations in which the boss is not accessible, a manager or supervisor is busy or detained, and the person who is calling or visiting need an immediate response or solution. To put a caller on hold or ask them to call back at a later time is just not an option for answering service personnel. It's simply not good for the bottom line. They will need to have a thorough grasp of fundamental business processes as well as the ability to make some challenging choices in order to keep things moving smoothly.

Being patient

Patience is the most essential character quality and virtue for any individual working as a receptionist. It's true that "patience is a virtue," but it's also a quality that people have. The most important thing is to look for a receptionist who can answer people's inquiries with patience, manage difficult circumstances with composure and calm, and listen to others before responding. In point of fact, if you lack patience, you won't be able to succeed in any sort of customer service role, even working as a receptionist.

As you can see, being a good note-taker and having strong communication skills are not the only requirements for working as a receptionist, whether in an actual office or virtually. In addition to this, they need to possess specific qualities, such as having an open mind, being nice and outgoing, being attentive and meticulous, having empathy and patience, and constantly being in control of both their feelings and their behavior. These are the qualities that will help every receptionist who is just starting to climb to the top of their professional potential. It might seem like a tall order for most people out there who are considering applying for the job, but these are the qualities that will help every receptionist get there. When you deal with Abby Connect, we make sure that the team of virtual receptionists you have will have all of these characteristics and will be ready to help you and take care of any and all of your receptionist needs when you do business with us.