Receptionist Job Description

What Does a Receptionist Do?

Visitors and callers get their first impression of an office at the front desk, often before they meet anyone else who works there. Receptionists staff that desk in medical offices, schools, companies and government buildings. Between greeting arrivals and answering a busy multi-line phone, they also book appointments, sign for deliveries and point people to the right office, building or staff member.

Also known as: Office Assistant Receptionist, Senior Office Assistant Receptionist

Receptionist Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a receptionist include:

• Greet visitors, check them in and issue badges or parking passes where required.
• Answer and transfer calls on a multi-line phone system and take accurate messages.
• Schedule appointments and meeting rooms in shared calendars and send reminders.
• Direct visitors, students or patients to the right office, building or staff member.
• Sign for deliveries and let recipients know when items arrive.
• Keep the reception area tidy, stocked with forms and ready for the next visitor.
• Collect payments or documents at the counter and record them in the office log.
• Handle routine email inquiries and forward complex ones to the right colleague.
• Follow building security steps for unexpected visitors, after-hours callers and emergencies.
• Update staff directories, visitor lists and the office's out-of-office notices.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To succeed as a receptionist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:

• Multi-line phone systems and call transfer
• Microsoft Outlook calendars and Word
• Visitor sign-in software such as Envoy
• A warm, clear speaking voice
• Calm with upset or confused visitors
• Memory for names, faces and office layouts
• Discretion with private information
• Spanish or another second language, a plus in many areas

Education and Training

Friendliness, organization and a steady voice on a busy phone line are what employers check for first at the front desk. A high school diploma is enough for most posts, and BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical, so new receptionists learn the phones, calendars and visitor rules at the desk itself. Senior office assistant, office manager and executive assistant jobs can follow.

Salary and Job Outlook

BLS projects employment of receptionists and information clerks to decline about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 105,100 openings a year. Answering calls is often less of the job than it used to be because automated phone menus and online booking take many of them. Visitors still need a person. Clinics, schools and offices with steady foot traffic will keep hiring receptionists who can also handle scheduling and payments.

Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Receptionists and information clerks.