Receptionist job description template

A receptionist is often the first person a customer or patient talks to, on the phone or at the front desk. They answer calls, greet visitors, manage the schedule and keep the front of the office running smoothly. A good receptionist post says which phone and scheduling systems you use and how busy the desk gets.

Post this job free

Receptionist

Full-time
Your Company is hiring a warm, organized receptionist to run our front desk. You'll be the first voice people hear on the phone and the first face they see when they walk in. You'll answer calls, schedule appointments, greet visitors and keep the lobby tidy and welcoming. If you like helping people and keeping things in order, we'd love to hear from you.

What you’ll do

  • Answer and route incoming calls, take clear messages and return voicemails promptly
  • Greet visitors, check them in and let the right person know they've arrived
  • Schedule, confirm and reschedule appointments in our booking system
  • Respond to general questions by phone, email and in person
  • Sort incoming mail and packages and prepare outgoing shipments
  • Keep the reception area, waiting room and front desk clean and stocked
  • Take payments at check-in or checkout and record them accurately
  • Help with light office tasks like filing, scanning and copying

What we’re looking for

  • A friendly, professional phone manner and clear written communication
  • Comfortable with email, online calendars and basic computer tasks
  • Organized enough to juggle calls, visitors and paperwork without losing track
  • Discreet with confidential customer or patient information
  • Reliable and on time, since the desk needs to be covered the moment we open

Nice to have

  • Previous front-desk, reception or hospitality experience
  • Experience with scheduling software such as Acuity Scheduling or Calendly
  • Fluency in a second language our customers speak, such as Spanish

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday during regular office hours, with an occasional early start or Saturday when we need coverage.

What we offer

  • Paid time off and paid holidays
  • A steady weekday schedule with evenings free
  • Paid training on our phone and scheduling systems
  • Health insurance options for full-time staff

Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.

Screening questions for a receptionist

Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.

  • Are you available to work Monday through Friday during business hours?Yes / No · required
  • Which phone, email or scheduling systems have you used before?Short answer
  • Tell us about a time you helped a frustrated caller or visitor.Paragraph

Receptionist interview questions

  1. Two lines are ringing and someone just walked in. What do you do first?
  2. Show me how you'd answer our phone, then take a message for someone who's out.
  3. A caller is upset about a billing mistake and wants the owner, who isn't in. How do you handle it?
  4. How do you keep track of appointments, messages and follow-ups during a busy day?
  5. Which scheduling or phone systems have you used, and what did you like or dislike about them?
  6. A visitor without an appointment insists on being seen right away. What do you say?
  7. What do you do to keep the front desk organized when things are quiet?

Tips for hiring a receptionist

  • Do your first screen by phone. How a candidate sounds on a call is a big part of this job.
  • Ask finalists to role-play a few calls: take a message, schedule an appointment and calm an upset caller.
  • When you call references, ask specifically about reliability and punctuality, since an empty front desk is hard to cover.
  • Name your phone and scheduling systems in the post so experienced candidates know they can get up to speed quickly.