Admin & Support
A receptionist greets visitors, answers phones and directs inquiries, serving as the first point of contact for a business. The role matters because the front desk sets a visitor’s first impression and keeps the office orderly and secure.
Ways to hire
4options
contract, contract-to-hire, full-time and executive search
The role
Companies hire one when they open or expand an office, add visitor traffic, or find that calls, deliveries and guests are interrupting other staff.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Typically a high school diploma and up to two years of front desk or customer service experience.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
Request talent
Share a few details and a administrative and support recruiter will be in touch. There is no obligation and no cost to talk.
What happens next
Request talent
Takes about two minutes. A specialist recruiter will call you back within one business day.
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Send your resume once and a administrative and support recruiter will match you to receptionist roles that fit your experience, pay expectations and the way you want to work. We only put you forward for roles you have said yes to, and it is always free.
FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
Still have a question?
Talk to a recruiter about your role or your search. We reply within one business day.
A receptionist greets visitors, answers phones and directs inquiries, serving as the first point of contact for a business. The role matters because the front desk sets a visitor’s first impression and keeps the office orderly and secure. Typical responsibilities include: greet visitors, check them in and notify staff of arrivals; answer and route incoming calls and take accurate messages; manage deliveries, mail and shipping logs at the front desk.
Look for phone etiquette, professional presentation, visitor management, multitasking, microsoft Office and discretion. Experience with Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Envoy and RingCentral is common in this role.
Yes. A receptionist is one of the roles employers most often hire on contract, for projects, busy periods, leave cover and vacancies. Contract-to-hire is also an option if you want to work together before making a permanent offer.
An on-site receptionist suits offices with regular visitors, deliveries and security needs. A virtual receptionist or answering service covers phones only and often costs less when foot traffic is low. Many companies use a hybrid, with on-site staff during core hours.
Yes, many do, including scheduling, mail, filing and light data entry. Keep the front desk covered during business hours, and avoid assigning tasks that pull the person away for long periods. If the admin load is heavy, consider a separate administrative assistant.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
