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Interviewing for a receptionist place can appear easy at first, however there’s truly loads of preparation needed if you wish to get the job.

This record of frequent receptionist interview questions will allow you to follow and ship incredible solutions.
Interview tip: When training your solutions, keep in mind to try to maintain your response below two minutes.
1. What ability do you assume is most essential for a receptionist to have?
This receptionist interview query goals to focus on what abilities you carry to the corporate. Asking concerning the abilities you assume are most essential permits interviewers to achieve extra understanding of your work type and method to being a receptionist.
There are numerous abilities you’ll be able to talk about. A few of the greatest embrace:
2. Are you able to clarify the distinction between a receptionist and an administrative assistant?
Whereas many duties an administrative assistant and receptionist performs overlap, the previous tends to be a bit extra complicated. Sometimes, administrative assistants have extra selection of their obligations. They will embrace shopping for workplace provides, drafting memos, dealing with billing, and so forth.
3. Have you ever labored with multi-line telephones earlier than?
Receptionists usually handle multi-line phone techniques. You could be the primary particular person a caller speaks to earlier than you route them to completely different departments or people.
Interviewers ask this query to make sure you know the way to make use of multi-line techniques effectively.
When you have expertise, talk about it. However if you happen to don’t, it is best to reassure the hiring supervisor that it’s a ability you’ll have no downside studying.
4. Are you able to share your typing pace and accuracy fee?
As a receptionist, you could spend appreciable time creating paperwork. Employers need receptionists who can sort shortly and precisely. Ideally, you’ll be able to take typing exams earlier than your interview to have figures you’ll be able to present.
5. What further duties have you ever undertaken as a receptionist?
Receptionists have many core duties, however the day-to-day can range based mostly on the corporate’s wants. Hiring managers use this query to be taught extra concerning the distinctive abilities and experiences you may carry to the desk past the norm.
The easiest way to reply this receptionist interview query is to debate further obligations you had at earlier jobs. Give attention to the duties that could possibly be helpful for this specific employer. For instance, you’ll be able to element the way you have been chargeable for organizing occasions, managing mailroom duties, coaching others, and so forth.
6. Share a few of your previous expertise as a receptionist. What have been your foremost obligations?
This query is your probability to focus on your proficiency on this line of labor.
One of the best method is to offer actual examples of what you probably did in earlier jobs. Give attention to the core obligations and paint an image of your day-to-day. Emphasize how your work benefited your earlier employer.
7. What would you do if a shopper or customer asks a query you don’t know the reply to?
As a receptionist, you’re usually the primary level of contact for purchasers and prospects. In consequence, you’ll hear many questions you could not know the reply to.
Interviewers need to hear about what you do in that scenario. The best response is to ask the shopper to attend as you discover the reply or direct them to somebody who can present a transparent answer.
8. What telecommunication techniques are you comfy with?
Corporations can work with many alternative telecommunication techniques. They might use VOIP (Voice Over Web Protocol) techniques, EPABX (Digital Personal Automated Department Change) techniques for a number of strains, or in-office messaging techniques to speak with each worker.
Talk about the techniques you’ve used and emphasize that you simply’re comfy studying no matter know-how the corporate makes use of.
9. How do you deal with a number of duties when issues get busy?
Issues can get busy for receptionists all through the day. With this query, interviewers purpose to be taught extra about the way you juggle varied duties and prioritize your work for max productiveness.
Present examples and overview some organizational tips you employ to maintain issues working easily.
10. What workplace gear are you comfy utilizing?
This interview query for receptionists is about giving hiring managers extra perception into your proficiency in terms of utilizing customary workplace gear. That features computer systems, copy machines, printers, fax machines, and extra.
Replicate in your previous work as a receptionist and reassure interviewers that you simply really feel comfy studying.
11. What workplace software program or instruments are you proficient with?
Like workplace gear, laptop software program and productiveness instruments play an essential position within the success of a receptionist. Corporations can make use of varied instruments based mostly on their wants.
The easiest way to reply to this query is to debate the software program you’ve used previously. Focus in your proficiency and the way nicely you realized how one can make the most of these instruments for max productiveness.
12. How would you reply if a colleague complained or stated one thing adverse about you?
Workplace drama pops up now and again, and employers need individuals who can navigate these conditions whereas remaining skilled.
Moderately than clarify the way you may hypothetically deal with a scenario, briefly clarify your logic after which, use the STAR technique to elucidate the way you dealt with a grievance about you.
A very powerful factor, nonetheless, is that you simply emphasize your professionalism. Talk about the steps you’ll take to resolve these conflicts with out affecting your work efficiency.
13. What actions have you ever taken at your present or earlier job to enhance effectivity and save time?
This receptionist interview query offers you an opportunity to focus on what constructive modifications you’ll be able to carry to the corporate. There’s at all times room for enchancment. Talk about a number of the methods you’ve used previously to get rid of pointless work and enhance effectivity across the workplace.
It may be so simple as altering the way you prioritize duties to one thing massive, like convincing stakeholders to undertake higher know-how. Spotlight the constructive consequence that adopted these modifications.
14. What safety procedures did you adhere to in your earlier roles?
It’s frequent for receptionists to observe strict safety protocols to guard the enterprise and its purchasers. It is because your position may contain you gaining access to delicate info.
With this query, interviewers need reassurance that you’ve got the background and customary sense to maintain the corporate, colleagues, and purchasers secure. Discuss some safety protocols you utilized in earlier jobs and emphasize the way you caught to these guidelines.
15. What’s your method to managing upset prospects or guests?
This receptionist interview query is all about judging your problem-solving and communication abilities. Not each particular person you work together with will probably be constructive. As a receptionist, you symbolize the corporate.
Right here’s an amazing probability to inform an impactful story. Check with previous experiences, element the way you approached considered one of these delicate situations, and spotlight how your strategies led to a constructive consequence.
16. What obstacles do receptionists sometimes face on the job?
Receptionists face many challenges on the job. Interviewers ask this query to make sure you perceive this position and know how one can navigate hurdles as they arrive. You’ll be able to talk about points like irate prospects, managing a number of duties concurrently, fixed disruptions to your workflow, and extra.
Talk about the way you handle these points to show you’re prepared for any problem.
17. What are the core duties and obligations of a receptionist?
This query could appear apparent, but it surely serves many functions. Employers use it to check your data of the job. It’s about displaying that you simply perceive what it takes to be a receptionist and absolutely know what the position entails.
Whereas duties can range from firm to firm, you’ll be able to clarify that in your previous, these have been the duties you took care of.
Right here are some things you’ll be able to point out in your response:
- Sustaining a file system
- Greeting purchasers and guests
- Connecting callers to applicable departments and people
- Taking messages
- Utilizing, monitoring, and sustaining workplace gear
- Planning conferences or conferences
- Offering secretarial help
- Maintaining the workplace working easily
18. Do you want working with the general public?
Being a receptionist requires you to work together with new folks all through the day. For those who’re not a “folks particular person,” this job won’t be for you!
Hiring managers need to hear that you simply get pleasure from working with the general public and don’t have any downside interacting with strangers.
19. What makes you distinctive among the many different candidates for this place?
Right here’s the place you’ll be able to set your self aside from different candidates.
There’s no proper or fallacious reply, however one of the best ways to go away an affect is to focus in your expertise, abilities, or traits that match up with what the job posting says the corporate is searching for. For instance, you might need further workplace abilities you’ll be able to make use of.
The important thing right here is to debate the main points that you simply possess and that align with the job plus the worth you’ll add to the group.
20. How do you arrange and arrange group conferences?
Organizing conferences or conferences might be overwhelming. Interviewers need to study your actual course of, so depend on your work historical past to offer examples.
You’ll be able to talk about the way you attain out to attendees and ensure an appointment, what you do to make sure that the gear required for the assembly is prepared and out there, and the way you talk particular particulars concerning the assembly to all attendees.
It’s at all times greatest to incorporate a selected instance of the way you’ve organized conferences previously and the result of your effort.
21. How do you retain organized at work?
There are numerous group strategies that receptionists use. This query is your alternative to focus on and clarify how they profit the corporate.
Present examples of your methods in motion and deal with the distinction they made at your former firm. You’ll be able to talk about job prioritization, time administration suggestions, and extra.
22. Would you be open to working further hours if needed?
Receptionists typically must work past the usual nine-to-five resulting from essential conferences, occasions on the workplace, and extra.
Whereas not each hiring supervisor will penalize you for not being out there 24/7, most need to hear that you simply’re open to working further when needed.
Simply know that if you happen to say you aren’t out there to work further hours, it might presumably work towards your candidacy.
23. What sort of work schedule are you hoping to have?
Interviewers use this query to find out in case your availability meets the corporate’s wants. Do your analysis earlier than your interview. Have a look at the corporate’s working hours to raised perceive once you’d have to be out there as a receptionist.
Use that info to offer an instance. Sometimes, receptionists work customary workplace hours, so keep away from any unconventional responses.
24. How acquainted are you with our firm? Are you able to share a few of what you’re keen on?
Employers need to rent individuals who perceive the corporate and are motivated to succeed past a paycheck. For those who genuinely like the corporate, there’s a higher probability you’ll symbolize it to the very best of your capacity. As a receptionist, you might be an envoy of types for the corporate and it helps to be interested by what the enterprise does.
Throughout your pre-interview analysis, be taught the whole lot you’ll be able to concerning the firm. Perceive what compelled you to use and discover belongings you like concerning the firm’s mission assertion, function, and operations.
25. What are the traits of a profitable receptionist?
Right here’s one other interview query for receptionists that requires you to contemplate how your traits can profit the corporate. Receptionists want varied traits and competencies to succeed. What you reply with offers hiring managers perception into your priorities and motivations.
A few of the greatest responses deal with communication and firm illustration. You’re the primary particular person many purchasers work together with when visiting the workplace! Being form, heat, {and professional} makes a distinction.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the receptionist interview questions you’ll possible be requested, it’s time to begin training your solutions. Return by means of this record and discover any that gave you pause, then go over your responses once more!
By doing this, you’ll considerably enhance your probability of getting employed.

Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and profession methods. She based CareerSherpa.internet to teach professionals on how one can maneuver by means of at present’s job search course of. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn High Voice in Job Search and Careers and is an everyday contributor to US Information & World Report. She has been quoted by media retailers, together with Forbes, USA As we speak, Cash Journal, Huffington Put up, in addition to many different publications. She can be creator of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Enterprise Success.
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