Receptionists Career Information
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Nature of the Work
Receptionists and information clerks are
charged with a responsibility that may have a lasting impact on the success
of an organization—making a good first impression. These workers often are the
first representatives of an organization a visitor encounters, so they need
to be courteous, professional, and helpful. Receptionists answer telephones,
route calls, greet visitors, respond to inquiries from the public and provide
information about the organization. In addition, receptionists contribute to
the security of an organization by helping to monitor the access of visitors.
Whereas some tasks are common to most receptionists and information clerks, the specific responsibilities of receptionists vary depending upon the type of establishment in which they work. For example, receptionists in hospitals and doctors' offices may gather personal and financial information and direct patients to the proper waiting rooms. In beauty or hair salons, however, they arrange appointments, direct customers to the hairstylist, and may serve as cashier. In factories, large corporations, and government offices, they may provide identification cards and arrange for escorts to take visitors to the proper office. Those working for bus and train companies respond to inquiries about departures, arrivals, stops, and other related matters.
Increasingly, receptionists use multiline telephone systems, personal computers, and fax machines. Despite the widespread use of automated answering systems or voice mail, many receptionists still take messages and inform other employees of visitors' arrivals or cancellation of an appointment. When they are not busy with callers, most receptionists are expected to perform a variety of office duties including opening and sorting mail, collecting and distributing parcels, making fax transmittals and deliveries, updating appointment calendars, preparing travel vouchers, and performing basic bookkeeping, word processing, and filing.
Receptionists and information clerks held about 1.1 million jobs in 2009. More than 90 percent worked in service-providing industries. Among service-providing industries, healthcare and social assistance industries—including doctors' and dentists ' offices, hospitals, nursing homes, urgent-care centers, surgical centers, and clinics—employed about one-third of all receptionists and information clerks. Manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, government, and real estate industries also employed large numbers of receptionists and information clerks. More than 3 of every 10 receptionists and information clerks worked part time.
Training, Qualifications, Adv.
Technology should have conflicting effects on the demand for receptionists and information clerks. The increasing use of voice mail and other telephone automation reduces the need for receptionists by allowing one receptionist to perform work that formerly required several receptionists. However, increasing use of technology also has caused a consolidation of clerical responsibilities and growing demand for workers with diverse clerical and technical skills. Because receptionists and information clerks may perform a wide variety of clerical tasks, they should continue to be in demand. Further, they perform many tasks that are of an interpersonal nature and are not easily automated, ensuring continued demand for their services in a variety of establishments. Job Outlook
Employment of receptionists and information clerks is expected to for all occupations through 2010.
Median hourly earnings of receptionists and information clerks in May 2009 were $10.50. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.62 and $12.88. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.21, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $15.53. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of receptionists and information clerks in May 2004 are shown below:
| Offices of dentists | $12.37 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 11.07 |
| Offices of physicians | 10.92 |
| Employment services | 10.28 |
| Personal care services | 8.16 |
In 2009, the Federal Government typically paid salaries ranging from $22,937 to $27,818 a year to beginning receptionists with a high school diploma or 6 months of experience. The average annual salary for all receptionists employed by the Federal Government was about $29,185 in 2009.
Related Occupations
Receptionists deal with the public and often direct people to others who can assist them. Other workers who perform similar duties include dispatchers, secretaries and administrative assistants, and customer service representatives.
Sources of Additional Information
State employment offices can provide information
on job openings for receptionists.