Receptionists perform administrative and secretarial duties that include greeting clients, and answering emails and phone calls. Many of these jobs are entry-level positions and some companies attempt to recruit new employees by listing job positions on the firm's own website or by placing advertisements at the local employment office. In other situations, receptionist recruitment may involve an outside staffing agency especially if the employer requires job applicants to possess specific academic credentials or prior work experience.
The first step in the receptionist recruitment process begins when the hiring manager creates a job posting. This document details the day-to-day responsibilities of the person filling this role such as answering the telephone, handling customer service issues or scheduling appointments. Many employers prefer to hire experienced receptionists in which case the job posting should detail the number of years of relevant job experience that an applicant must possess. Other requirements such as a minimum typing speed, or a familiarity with certain word processing programs or bookkeeping techniques, should also be included in the job advertisement.
Having created a job posting, the next step in the receptionist recruitment process involves actively promoting the position. Aside from placing job postings in local employment offices, many firms also place advertisements on internet recruitment websites. Typically, jobs that are in similar in nature are bundled together on these sites so that people seeking such positions can easily locate jobs that match their skill set. Some employers may also place job postings in the classified sections of local newspapers or magazines.
While most receptionist jobs are similar in nature, some employers prefer to hire individuals who have prior experience working within a specific industry. A physician may wish to hire a someone who has a background in the healthcare field because such an individual would have little difficulty understanding industry jargon. Additionally, receptionists often have to answer emails and letters from the firm's business partners, in which case having some knowledge of industry procedures and practices could be helpful. To find someone with the appropriate knowledge level, an employer may place advertisements in industry journals or head hunt people who work for other firms that operate within the same industry.
Some hiring managers attempt to save time by conducting the receptionist recruitment process with the assistance of staffing agencies. These firms regularly accept resumes from job seekers and attempt to match up these individuals with open positions. Typically, agencies are paid on commission but some people would rather cover this upfront cost than suffer the financial impact of managing for a length of time without a qualified receptionist.
