Receptionist jobs London
The receptionist is the first person any visitor will come into contact with, and their manner, professionalism, presentation and warmth all reflect on your brand.
A good receptionist is an integral role in any business, and is often underestimated in the role they play and the impact they have in an office. The reception area of a company reflects the brand, the style, the employees and the work the company do, and it is crucial that the right impression is made and the one you want to convey.
What Does a Receptionist Do?
A receptionist's responsibilities include:
- Answering calls, so they must be articulate, friendly and have bags of common sense, be able to screen calls and maximise your time with the callers you need and want.
- They are often responsible for meeting rooms, so they must be organised, and have the strength of character to effectively manage and prioritise premium space in the office.
- They must be well presented, calm and people focussed; a receptionist who remembers a name and something about a regular visitor will always make a lasting impression and make key people you work with feel valued and important when they arrive.
- A good receptionist will take pride in the reception area they manage.
A bright, personable, well-presented, articulate and professional person does not always come across on a CV, and in any job market, it requires exceptional recruitment experience to filter the best talent.
How We Link You With The Top London Receptionist Jobs
We work on a true one-to-one basis giving you a bespoke service based on a thorough understanding of your business ethos. We look deeper than a Job Brief, we look at office culture, personalities and your needs to ensure the perfect match in the shortest time.
The Bain and Gray interview registration process allows us to spend time with the candidates, find out what motivates them, and gives us a unique insight into their professionalism and abilities through our expertise and experience. This enables us to give you the best shortlist for your vacancy, ensuring you meet only the highest calibre and don’t waste your time. All candidates meet more than one consultant when they register, which allows different opinions and competency-based interview styles to screen the candidates, and also allows the team to brainstorm effectively in searches. This allows us to shortlist our candidates in a way that a database is simply not able to.
The meeting our Consultants have with you prior to beginning a search is crucial. It maximises our understanding of your business, how it works, who your clients are, the footfall through your reception area, the nature and level of the visitors; and it also allows us to gain a unique insight into the ‘fit’ that is so key to the search for your perfect receptionist. They are ‘the face’ of your company and they are your brand personified. This cannot be underestimated and we are experts in seeking out the very best talent for your office and reception area. Technical skills alongside these more traditional attributes are crucial. Front of house staff are required to schedule online meetings, set up conference facilities and manage increasingly busy room scheduling.
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Frequently asked Questions
Receptionist positions are a great way to start your career, and get a springboard into a company. You can make an impression very quickly from a receptionist role, and come into contact with all company staff whether junior or senior board members from the start of your role.
Receptionist jobs are also great to move into from customer service, hospitality or cabin crew positions. They offer reliable office hours, responsibility and people skills, as well as insight into businesses and future opportunity to progress into an office job.
Receptionists are the first person people ‘meet’ when they arrive at an office.
- professional presentation is very important.
- Welcoming; a true people person who cares and takes pride in their role.
The first impression is everything when people enter a building, and the person walking in could be the CEO of a multi billion pound corporation down to one of the directors personal friends to someone coming in for an interview who is nervous. All need to be treated with warmth and professionalism.
- Professional telephone answering skills
- Good organisational skills and ability to multi-task
- Ability to stay calm and professional under pressure
- Friendly and approachable
- Tidy, flexible and taking pride in presentation of the ‘gateway’ into the company they work for
Your ability to gauge a person very quickly whether on the phone or in person.
Someone who can quickly read a situation and act in the best way possible whether that’s making sure someone speaks to the person they need to, or can deliver the information someone is seeking when they call.
Reassuring efficiency and professionalism is paramount.
Receptionists can expect to start on a salary of £25,000 and earn up to £40,000 with experience. Reception managers can earn more.
Find out more on our salary survey page for market insights and salaries.
Receptionists are often the first physical person to create an impression for a company, so presentation and professionalism is key. This must be your first impression on interview, so think carefully about presentation, eye contact and professional friendly interpersonal skills from the start of your interview.
You must be good at thinking on your feet and trouble shooting, and someone who takes pride in their position in a company. First impressions and a helpful attitude need to be demonstrated in interview whilst maintaining a resiliant and efficient manner.
Receptionists should demonstrate a responsible attitude to their job and examples of dealing with and communicating with a wide variety of people is a great way to impress at interview. Any hospitality, or customer service work is always good to highlight on interview.
For more help and advice on interview preparation please call one of our consultants who will be happy to help.
