Receptionist job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed receptionists about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed receptionists about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Social
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Detail-oriented
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a receptionist
Receptionists are usually placed near the entry to a business at the front desk to assist and communicate with visitors and colleagues. They also have processes to deal with business administration and a good knowledge of the company.
What does a receptionist do? A receptionist’s duties can include:
- Assisting people who call the business and taking messages
- Answering and directing phone calls and scheduling appointments
- Record keeping, maintaining databases and filing systems
- Greeting and directing customers and visitors
- Supplying refreshments to colleagues or visitors
- Ordering stock of office supplies
- Scanning, printing and handling post
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Makes a difference
A receptionist is often the first person a visitor sees when they walk into a business, and the way a person is treated in the first instance by a company leaves a long-lasting first impression. Being the face of a business is a huge responsibility and can make a big difference to a person’s day.
Enjoyable
Every day as a receptionist is different from the last. The role is varied, can be fast-paced and allows you to work directly with various stakeholders, colleagues and customers.
Job security
A core part of a larger team, receptionists are integral to the smooth running of many businesses, often know things no one else does about a company and are a valued role in all sectors.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a receptionist
The receptionist occupation is enormous in Australia and has a workforce of approximately 180,400. Job projections look set to remain stable over the next five years.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
A job as a receptionist might be a great fit for you and be a fantastic life-long career. However, it can also be an excellent platform to start a career in business administration at a more senior level.
Possible receptionist career pathways:
Junior
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Office assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Business (BSB30120)
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Administrative assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Business (Administration) (BSB40120)
Mid
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Administrative officer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Business (Administration) (BSB40120)
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Executive assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Business (BSB30120)
Senior
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Business manager
Most common qualification: Diploma of Business (Business Development) (BSB50120)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
As the face of a company and an employee that needs to have a broad knowledge of a business, receptionists need to have a specific soft skill set. These skills are often acquired naturally from birth or past employment and life experiences.
Some of the soft skills desired for receptionists:
Customer service
A receptionist’s job involves dealing with all people in a business, from CEOs to delivery people. Dealing with visitors to the company or customers is a critical part of the job and requires excellent customer service skills, good communication skills and sometimes patience.
Computer operation
In most of today’s workplaces, employees must use a computer. In reception jobs, you may need to use several software applications or data systems, and they depend on the company you work for. Good base knowledge of computers and operating systems is essential for a receptionist role.
Time management
A receptionist role can become busy and involve many moving parts. Having good time management, multi-tasking, and organisational skills means you can keep track of what needs to happen when and helps streamline your workday processes.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
Although formal training isn’t required to start a receptionist position, you need some fundamental skills to hit the ground running. These skills are learned on the job or through a vocational course.
Some technical receptionist skills:
Reception and front office maintenance
Microsoft Office and other software applications
Safe workplace practices
Workplace communication
Electronic document writing and creation
Business spreadsheet creation and data entry
Basic bookkeeping skills
How to become a receptionist
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Volunteer
A great way to get work experience in reception is to offer your time to local community efforts. Often these community-run programs are low on funds and need volunteers, especially for administrative support. Helping out is a great way to learn how to do the job effectively.
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Study
Completing a course with a TAFE or registered training organisation (RTO) is the best way to ensure you have the core skills to work in reception. Courses like a Certificate III in Business BSB30120 or a Certificate IV in Business BSB40120 give you the training you need, can be taken part-time if required, and can be affordable.
Explore related qualifications
To get the skills and knowledge you need to work confidently as a receptionist and to be in the best position to gain employment, explore these courses:
Certificate III in Business BSB30120
This course provides you with the skills and knowledge in business administration tasks suitable for office administration or reception roles.
The average duration for this course is one year. You can study full-time or part-time, with flexible study methods available from some course providers.
3 providers offer this course
Certificate IV in Business BSB40120
This course covers a combination of specialist and more complex skills in office administration on a deeper level. It focuses on customer experience, digital technology, data literacy and problem-solving.
This qualification can lead to office administration, word processing, legal and medical receptionist, or office management roles.
The average duration of this course is one year. Study online and enrol at any time.
10 providers offer this course
Related subjects
Jobs that require great team players, people that are excellent with customers and strong organisational skills come in many forms. Other roles in business support are plentiful and always looking for enthusiastic newcomers.
Job cluster: The Coordinator
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Roles in the beauty industry require newcomers that genuinely like people, want to make them feel good and are committed to offering a thorough and professional service.
A job as a lash technician would be perfect for the career persona of The Coordinator. The Coordinator is systematic, organised, has exceptional time management and has an innate desire to make others feel good. Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a receptionist with no experience?
You don’t need experience or formal qualifications to get a job as a receptionist, but studying a VET course can be a great way to learn the skills you need and attract prospective employers.
How do I start as a receptionist?
To become a receptionist, you can offer to volunteer within the local community to get some work experience. You could also enrol in a short course to gain the core skills you need for the job. Many of these courses are flexible and easy to fit with other life priorities.
What qualifications do you need to be a receptionist?
No formal qualification is needed to work as a receptionist, but training gained through a course run by an RTO can be advantageous when applying for a job.