The receptionist is the first person clients see when they enter your offices, they are the face of the business and are responsible for handling a lot of the administrative duties. Here are some of the benefits of being a receptionist:
- Be the face of the company
- Meet and greet new and interesting people
- Gain new scarce skills
- Earn a decent salary
- Gain inside knowledge
- Room for growth
Be The Face Of The Company
As a receptionist, you are the first person a client sees when they are visiting an organisation. As the first point of contact, their interaction with you sets the mood for how the rest of the visit is going to go.
For example, if a client visits your organisation, and you meet them with a bad attitude, they will not be impressed with the customer service. It will make them less likely to want to do business with your organisation, and they might not even want to meet with whomever they came to see.
If, however, you greet the client with a positive attitude, that might also brighten their mood. By doing so, they will enter the organisation with a positive mindset, and they will be ready and eager to do business.
Meet And Greet New And Interesting People
As mentioned above, you are the first person clients meet when they enter the organisation. This gives you the opportunity to meet new people and work your networking skills. It may be possible for you to make professional contacts that can assist you in your future career plans and professional development.
Gain New Scarce Skills
You’ll learn how to work well with others and manage tasks in a busy office. As a receptionist you could gain a few new skills. Here are some additional skills you could gain working as a receptionist:
- Transferable skills
- Professional skills
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Organisational skills
- Computer skills
- Time management skills
Earn A Decent Salary
Your salary is dependent on where you work, your experience and what qualifications you have. The average salary for a receptionist is R 7 208 per month according to payscale.
If you add to your qualifications, for example by studying a Management Assistant or Legal Secretary course, you could earn more.
Gain Inside Knowledge
As the receptionist, you will be able to observe and learn the ins and outs of a business. You will be able to observe:
- How the business operates
- Where the business falls short
- What the business lacks
- How employees feel
- What kinds of clients the business attracts
This information could be shared with the manager or CEO. They can use this in order for the business to benefit or use the information to their advantage. All of this can be observed from the front desk, as a receptionist.
Room For Growth
With all the new skills, connections and knowledge you gain as a receptionist, you could improve your qualifications and apply for a higher position. There is always room for growth, you could apply for a:
These courses could help you improve your skills, gain more qualifications and apply for higher positions.
What Is A Receptionist?
The receptionist manages the front desk of a business and is the first point of contact when you enter. The receptionist manages the front desk of a business and welcomes you into the business. They answer phone calls, forward phone calls, and direct guests to the department or person they are looking for.
What Are The Duties Of A Receptionist?
Receptionists help make sure everything at the front desk runs smoothly. Therefore, these are some duties you will be expected to perform to accomplish this:
- Meeting and greeting clients upon arrival
- Arranging meetings
- Keeping the reception area neat and tidy
- Answering and forwarding phone calls
- Keeping track of office supplies, and order more supplies when necessary
- Maintaining office security
What Skills Do I Need To Become A Receptionist?
You need excellent communication skills. In addition to great communication skills, you will also need the following to become a receptionist:
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Great customer service skills
- Multitasking and time management skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Computer skills
- Organisational skills
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Receptionist?
Being a receptionist can be a fun and rewarding job, but like any career, it has its good and bad sides. It’s important to know what to expect so you can decide if this role is right for you.
These are the pros and cons of being a receptionist:
| Pros | Cons |
| Minimum requirements are usually a Matric Certificate and some experience, so it will be easy to get a job. | If you only have a Matric Certificate, there might not be any opportunities for growth. Companies require you to have some type of qualification if you plan to apply for a higher position. |
| You will gain a variety of skills. | You will mostly be performing the same duties. Routine based work is not ideal for people who like change. |
| You will be able to meet a lot of new people and make a lot of new professional connections. | Not a high earning potential if you do not upskill yourself. |
Where Can I Study To Become A Receptionist?
Bellview Institute of Distance Learning offers great secretarial courses that could help you become a receptionist or if you are already a receptionist, our courses could help you improve your qualifications and get a higher position.
The great thing about studying with Bellview Institute of Distance Learning is that once you complete one of our courses, you will be qualified for more than just one career path.
What Are The Courses Available To Me?
We offer a variety of receptionist courses that can be studied with or without matric. These are the courses you can study that will help you become a receptionist or improve your qualifications and grow your career:
What Are The Career Paths Available To Me?
You will gain essential skills that can be applied to various administrative roles in different industries. These courses prepare you for responsibilities that include managing office tasks, handling communication, and supporting senior staff. When you study any of our secretarial courses, there will be a few job opportunities available to you:
Management Assistant Diploma
With your knowledge of how to work in a structured environment and support office teams. You can pursue various management assistant careers. These are the job opportunities available to you when you choose to do a Management Assistant course:
Legal Secretary Diploma
Since, you will gain knowledge of legal terminology, procedures, and how to work in a legal office. You can apply for the following jobs with your Legal Secretary course:
- Legal Secretary
- Junior Secretary
- Litigation Secretary
- Legal Advisor
Office Administration
Upon the completion of your course you will be able to manage staff records, create reports, and deal with clients professionally. Therefore, the following the job opportunities will be available to you if you study an ICB Office Administration course:
- Office Administrator
- Office Manager
- HR Administrator
- Project Administrator
How Do I Qualify For The Course?
Our entry requirements help make sure that you are ready to handle the course content and complete your studies successfully.
To qualify for any one of our courses, you will need to be:
- 16 years old or older
- Have a National Senior Certificate or Amended Senior Certificate
- Be able to read, understand and write in English
- Be able to study via distance learning
What Are The Benefits Of Studying With Bellview Institute Of Distance Learning?
Bellview Institute of Distance Learning has a few benefits that you will be able to enjoy when you choose to study one of our courses.
These are some benefits you will be able to enjoy with Bellview Institute of Distance Learning:
- Study from anywhere in the country
- Distance learning has no set schedule
- You can work and study at the same time
- We have support systems that you will have access to
- You will have access to tutors as well
- You can create your own schedule
- Study at your own pace
Application Process
Applying at Bellview is relatively simple with our team of experts. If you are interested in studying one of our courses, here are the ways you can apply:
- Fill in an online application form
- Contact one of our course specialists
- You can call us on our landline: 021 838 8280
- Call or WhatsApp us on: 065 656 9818
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, being a receptionist opens the doors to different opportunities because of the people you get to meet and make professional connections with. You will be able to work hours that allow for a good work – life balance, and you will get to be the face of a company.
Being a receptionist is a demanding job that can sometimes be a bit intense. If you have good organisational skills, and you know how to multitask and manage your time well, then you will be able to handle it.
If you are thinking about a long-term career as a receptionist, there are certain qualities you should possess. These are qualities that a receptionist should have:
- Social skills
- Technical skills
- Organisational skills
- Multitasking skills
The most important role of a receptionist is their ability to communicate clearly and know all the information about the business, in the event that a client enquires about something.
Acknowledging the clients as soon as they enter the office, have a high energy and a positive attitude. Provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for the client.
Author: Jodie brown
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: August 25, 2022