What does a Receptionist do?
Receptionists are employees assigned at the entrances or lobbies of offices. They welcome guests, check identification, issue visitor badges, attend to questions or inquiries, and direct guests to where they are supposed to go. They also receive general mail or packages, answer calls, and manage schedules. Receptionists perform various clerical or administrative functions as assigned by their supervisors. They should have good client relations skills.
Receptionist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real receptionist resumes:
- Manage invoicing with QuickBooks, taking customer calls and helping with any issues, parts and equipment delivery/pickup/ordering.
- Manage multiple employee/resident databases utilizing an EMR system.
- Verify insurance information and manage medical records while ensuring confidentiality according to HIPAA requirements.
- Manage desk operations for the YMCA, organizing and documenting members' payments and collating operational documents
- Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
- Bill patients for medical services provide by various doctors using ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding.
- Answer student, alumni, and employer questions.
- Develop new procedures to help ensure the desk run smoothly.
- Use ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding references to code medical diagnoses and procedures.
- Act as reliable DePaul resource by answering inquiries from students, parents, and other public.
- Assist providers with information referring to processes, procedures, data elements, ICD-9 and CPT-4 codes.
- Verify identification of those entering the building and act as a safeguard to the DePaul dormitory residents.
- Schedule appointments -check patients in -Sent out patient invoices and EOB's to insurance carriers -work in medical records
- Perform receptionist relate duties requiring the operation of a multi line international telephone system (PBX) and facsimile.
- Assist guests with hotel check-in, reservations, breakfast, cleaning, and any other duties request by manager.
Receptionist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Receptionists are proficient in Patients, Phone Calls, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Receptionists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 17%
Notified and supported patients with abnormal test results- scheduled follow-up testing and referrals to physicians.
- Phone Calls, 14%
Received and directed telephone calls and relayed conversations and pertinent messages, while maintaining accuracy, clarity, and confidentiality.
- Customer Service, 9%
Greeted customers/clients, provided quality customer service by answering customer inquiries, describing package of selected massage package.
- Data Entry, 9%
Completed general clerical duties including data entry and filing; operated office machinery.
- Telephone Calls, 8%
Directed office callers by answering telephone calls from customers; determined nature of business and directed callers to appropriate destination.
- Front Desk, 8%
Managed demanding front desk office, executed patient management, scheduled and maintained patient appointments.
"patients," "phone calls," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that receptionists use at work. You can find even more receptionist responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a receptionist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "receptionists must speak and write clearly when providing information and corresponding with customers." Additionally, a receptionist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "focused on providing exceptional customer service to salon clientele including appointment scheduling, phone and email communication and register transactions. "
Computer skills. Another essential skill to perform receptionist duties is computer skills. Receptionists responsibilities require that "receptionists should be adept at using computers." Receptionists also use computer skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "sell memberships and products, appointment scheduling, customer interactions, clerical duties including answering phones and entering information into computer. "
Customer-service skills. receptionists are also known for customer-service skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to receptionist responsibilities, because "receptionists represent the organization, so they should be courteous, professional, and helpful to customers and the public." A receptionist resume example shows how customer-service skills is used in the workplace: "provided customer service activities including greeting customers, provide doctor referrals, and appointment scheduling. "
Integrity. For certain receptionist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "integrity." The day-to-day duties of a receptionist rely on this skill, as "receptionists may handle confidential data, especially in medical and legal offices." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what receptionists do: "sorted and distributed inter or intra departmental/unit mail and courier deliveries.interim business office manager maintained resident trust fund accounts. "
Interpersonal skills. A commonly-found skill in receptionist job descriptions, "interpersonal skills" is essential to what receptionists do. Receptionist responsibilities rely on this skill because "receptionists should be comfortable interacting with people in different types of situations." You can also see how receptionist duties rely on interpersonal skills in this resume example: "greeted customers answered telephones scheduled appointments multi-tasked data entry exceptional interpersonal skills"
Organizational skills. Lastly, "organizational skills" is an important element of what a receptionist does. Receptionist responsibilities require this skill because "receptionists take messages, schedule appointments, and maintain employee files." This resume example highlights how receptionist duties rely on this skill: "experienced organizational skills computer literate, including skills in e-mail communication, and word processing. "
The three companies that hire the most receptionists are:
- Robert Half194 receptionists jobs
- Jetro Cash & Carry Enterprises Inc.132 receptionists jobs
- Genesis HealthCare116 receptionists jobs
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Compare different receptionists
Receptionist vs. Support clerk
A support clerk is primarily in charge of performing administrative support tasks in an office, making the daily workflow easier. Their responsibilities typically include preparing and processing documentation, answering and forwarding calls, handling correspondence, disseminating and organizing files, and running errands as needed. They may also update databases, maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a support clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating to ensure efficient and smooth workplace operations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between receptionists and support clerk. For instance, receptionist responsibilities require skills such as "phone calls," "appointment scheduling," "direct calls," and "greeting visitors." Whereas a support clerk is skilled in "medical terminology," "patient care," "inventory control," and "provide clerical support." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Support clerks tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,567. In contrast, receptionists make the biggest average salary, $31,030, in the finance industry.On average, support clerks reach similar levels of education than receptionists. Support clerks are 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist vs. Clerk
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, receptionist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "phone calls," "appointment scheduling," and "multi-line phone system." Meanwhile, a clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "pos." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Clerks earn a higher average salary than receptionists. But clerks earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,380. Additionally, receptionists earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $31,030 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than receptionists. In fact, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist vs. Front office clerk
A front office clerk performs various administrative and secretarial duties, including welcoming and greeting clients and visitors, answering telephone calls, and managing the office budget. You will be responsible for monitoring, organizing, and forwarding emails and maintaining files and records. Other duties include following company policies and procedures, organizing transportation for guests, and handling and resolving guest complaints. In addition, you will also be responsible for invoicing and billing guests for their stay and used services.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from receptionist resumes include skills like "phone calls," "greeting visitors," "hr," and "collating," whereas a front office clerk is more likely to list skills in "check-in," "patient care," "hipaa," and "hotel services. "
Front office clerks earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $32,238. Comparatively, receptionists have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $31,030.When it comes to education, front office clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to receptionists. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist vs. Office clerk
Office clerks are administrative employees who handle clerical activities for the organization. They are in charge of managing company records, organizing and storing documents, filing and sorting hard copies of documents, and liaising with other departments or external partners. They are also in charge of handling and scheduling meetings and appointments, managing the reservation of office meeting rooms, and manning telephone lines. Office clerks may also be in charge of ordering office supplies, preparing purchase requisitions for office needs, sending out and receiving official company documents, and other correspondences.
Types of receptionist
Updated January 8, 2025
