what you need to know as a receptionist.
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working as a receptionist at the front desk requires a fair amount of knowledge and skills
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the scope of the role is broad and varied, so boredom is rarely an issue. On the contrary, things can get quite hectic at the reception, so it’s helpful if you’re good at handling stress
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most of the time, employers expect employees to be willing to work shifts
- after basic training as a merchant, in the hotel or hospitality industry, those interested often specialise in the reception area because the work offers a lot of variety
what is a receptionist?
A receptionist is someone who welcomes and/or assists visitors or guests at the reception, front desk, or counter of a company, institution, or accommodation provider, such as a hotel. Female staff members working at the reception are also referred to as receptionists. The English term for this role is "Front Office Manager."
For visitors, the receptionist is the first point of contact on site. They greet guests, provide information, organise the next steps for suppliers and tradespeople, handle guest check-ins, operate the phone system, and carry out various tasks on the computer. This includes, for example, creating invoices or booking rooms. Guest correspondence also falls under their responsibilities.
Receptionists are the face of the organisation and should present themselves well, with a neat and professional appearance, and demonstrate excellent manners. Knowledge of foreign languages is especially valued in the hospitality industry and is often a requirement.
The role and responsibilities of a receptionist are very diverse and require a high level of organisational skills, flexibility, and strong communication abilities.
receptionist jobsworking as a receptionist.
your area of responsibility
As a receptionist, you'll be faced with an exciting and diverse range of tasks.
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what does a receptionist do?
A receptionist is the company's business card and has a variety of different tasks to carry out. As the first point of contact at the reception, they are responsible for, among other things, the following duties:
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Reception of visitors at your workplace, the reception, you welcome visitors or guests and attend to their needs.
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The forwarding of visitors to the appropriate departments within the building. In a hospital, for example, you explain to visitors the way to the patient’s room or the relevant department. In a hotel, you show guests where their room is located or direct them to the concierge.
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The registration of visitor data in some places, it is common practice to record visitors' details and enter them into the database.
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Creating and receiving visitor badges in larger companies that have a visitor management system, visitor badges are standard. Your responsibilities include issuing and collecting visitor badges.
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The operation of the telephone in almost every organisation, the telephone service is an integral part of the receptionists' responsibilities. You answer calls, address any questions, or transfer the callers as needed.
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The scheduling of appointments for example, in private clinics or practices, appointments are arranged by receptionists.
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The reservation of rooms in most accommodation establishments, room reservations are handled at the reception. They can be made by phone, in person, or via email.
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The processing of incoming and outgoing mail initially, the incoming mail arrives at reception. You sort it, pass it on if necessary, or prepare it for dispatch. The outgoing mail is also managed by the receptionist.
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The creation of invoices in hotels, clinics, or medical practices may be part of your responsibilities.
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As the point of contact for tradespeople and suppliers, every supplier or tradesperson first approaches the reception before carrying out their work internally. You manage the smooth running of these processes.
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Check-in and check-out of guests at accommodation establishments, the receptionist welcomes and bids farewell to guests. During both check-in and check-out, the necessary details are recorded, and guests are provided with professional service.
- Guest correspondence: Guest correspondence begins with the booking and ends with the billing. In the meantime, requests such as restaurant reservations, theatre tickets, or taxis may be made, which you handle on behalf of the guests.
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who are your colleagues?
Who you work with specifically depends on your workplace. In the hospitality industry, you work with many colleagues, all of whom share the goal of ensuring the guests' well-being.
If you work at the reception of an event venue, then hosts and hostesses are your colleagues.
In an office, your responsibilities sometimes overlap with those of administrative assistants. You work alongside cleaning and security staff, couriers, chauffeurs, and other employees.
types of receptionists.
As a receptionist, you have the opportunity to work in various locations. The goal is always the same: to warmly welcome guests and to coordinate and organise different tasks.
- Receptionist in an office building: There, you come into contact with visitors, customers, applicants, and business partners.
- Receptionist in a hospital: Patients often check in at the reception first. Visitors also ask for room numbers or directions.
- Receptionist in a hotel: At the hotel, you welcome guests, assist them with check-in and check-out, and support them throughout their stay.
- Receptionist at an event venue: At a venue such as a theatre or stadium, you welcome suppliers, artists, and other staff.
- Remote Receptionist: There are companies with remote reception. There, you speak to visitors via video call.
salary as a receptionist.
How much do I earn as a receptionist in a permanent position?
According to Lohncheck.ch, the average salary range is between 50,490 and 69,038 CHF per year. This means the typical earnings of a receptionist are around 4,500 CHF per month.
Entry-level professionals start with an average salary of around 50,000 CHF per year. Experienced receptionists can earn 100,000 CHF or more annually.
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how much do I earn as a receptionist in a permanent position?
According to Lohncheck.ch, the average salary range is between 50,490 and 69,038 CHF per year. This means the typical earnings of a receptionist are around 4,500 CHF per month.
Entry-level professionals start with an average salary of around 50,000 CHF per year. Experienced receptionists can earn 100,000 CHF or more annually.
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how much do I earn as a receptionist per hour?
If you consider the average monthly salary of a receptionist as a guideline and convert it to an hourly rate, it amounts to around 30 CHF per hour. Factors such as training, experience, and the workplace also play a role. Additionally, whether the work involves day or night shifts is important. Night and weekend work are generally compensated at a higher rate.
training and further education as a receptionist.
Receptionists initially complete basic training. This is either in the commercial sector or within the hotel or tourism industry.
The basic training to become a hotel management assistant lasts three years. Depending on the canton, classes are held once a week at a vocational college or two inter-cantonal specialised courses of five weeks each per year at a school hotel operated by Hotellerie Suisse.
Hotel specialists gain their professional experience by working in a hotel where they work for 35 weeks each year.
At the end of the training, there is the Swiss Federal Vocational Certificate in Hotel Management (EFZ).
The apprenticeship for a retail specialist with a Federal VET diploma (EFZ) also lasts three years and includes both a school-based component and a practical part, which is completed in a training company.
Later, it is possible to pursue further business studies at a higher technical college (Hotelier-Restaurateur HF) or at a university of applied sciences.
positions as receptionist.
Receptionists are consistently in demand; it is a sought-after profession. In many places, a reception area is indispensable, for example in a hotel, hospital, government offices, and other authorities, as well as in larger companies. There, staff are needed to handle the diverse tasks at the reception and to carry them out responsibly. Receptionists are the face of many organisations, which is why careful attention is paid to filling this important communication hub within a company. Since receptions often need to be staffed around the clock, multiple shifts with employees are usually required, increasing the chances of securing a position.
jobs for career changers as receptionists.
Depending on the requirements profile, a career change into a receptionist role is also possible. The opportunities for receptionists are quite diverse. A not-too demanding job at a reception desk can also be appealing to inexperienced workers, provided they meet certain prerequisites. These include a well-groomed, stylish appearance, fluency in languages—ideally with knowledge of foreign languages—computer skills, and organisational talent. If you're interested in a reception position as a career changer, you should definitely try to convince potential employers of your qualities. If your qualifications are not quite enough for your desired role, there are numerous interesting training opportunities available. It’s also conceivable to start with a temporary position as a receptionist in a less demanding role, with the aim of progressing later on.
career opportunities as a receptionist.
As a receptionist you have various options to climb the career ladder. First and foremost, it’s essential that you work for a company where there are opportunities for advancement. In a small business with only one person at the reception, these opportunities are limited, whereas at a large hotel reception, for example, you could progress to team leader. The responsibilities of a reception team leader include:
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managing the reception team, including duty and holiday planning, staff recruitment and interviews, and so on
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first point of contact for visitors, patients or guests
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assisting visitors, guests, or patients
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general reception and administrative duties, including cash management
competencies as a receptionist.
As a receptionist, you should have a solid basic training in business, hospitality, or tourism. In upscale hotels, several years of professional experience are often also required. At the reception, a very well-groomed appearance and excellent manners are expected. Knowledge of foreign languages and good IT skills are also essential. Important soft skills include strong communication abilities, meticulous work habits, good organisational talent, discretion, and a high level of motivation and service orientation.
benefits of working as a receptionist at randstad.
There are many good reasons to work as a receptionist at Randstad.
✓ exciting jobs at well-known companies
✓ a reliable point of contact whenever you need one; personalised advice matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ further education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s the opportunity to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many well-known companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad
Your training budget as a receptionist at Randstad.
If you work as a production worker for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTraining programme from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will get the course fees reimbursed later, provided you pass the course exam. Your Randstad advisor is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can also gain additional language skills or job-specific knowledge—all during your working hours as a receptionist.
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application tips for receptionists at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as a receptionist? It's not just qualifications and certificates that determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalised documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to optimise your chances:
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1. find a position as a receptionist
Search through https://www.randstad.ch/en/jobs/. If you can't find a position that’s exactly right for you, you’re still welcome to get in touch with us personally, without any obligation, or to create a Randstad profile.
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2. applying as a receptionist
The job advert continues: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete.
✓ CV with photo
✓ work references & diplomas
You don't have a CV yet, or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a free online template.
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3. preparing for a receptionist job interview
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as a receptionist.
Here you’ll find tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you'll find the answers to common questions about the role of the receptionist.
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what does a receptionist do?
A receptionist works, for example, in a company, a hotel, or a hospital. They are the first point of contact for guests and visitors. They welcome them, handle visitor management or check-ins, and answer any questions. Their duties also include scheduling appointments, making bookings, managing relevant data, and operating the switchboard.
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how much do I earn as a receptionist?
The average salary range for a receptionist is between CHF 50,490 and CHF 69,038 per year. However, there are also significantly higher-paid positions, with some receptionists earning over CHF 100,000 annually, particularly in upscale hotels. Salaries vary depending on the workplace, canton, and geographical location.
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is being a receptionist a good profession?
A receptionist is a good, interesting, and varied profession. You regularly come into contact with new customers, visitors, or guests and have a range of different tasks to complete. This makes for a diverse and engaging workday. If you enjoy working with people, are highly communicative, and appreciate a lively working environment, a job at the reception might be just the right fit for you.
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is the receptionist difficult?
Anyone who has the right qualities for a career as a receptionist will love this varied role. If certain basic requirements are missing, the demanding nature of the job might be seen as challenging. Therefore, it’s important to consider your personal suitability for working as a receptionist beforehand. A solid foundational training, enjoyment of working with people, and knowledge of foreign languages are key qualities for a receptionist.
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do you need experience to become a receptionist?
In many job listings for receptionist positions, prior work experience is required. Depending on the company, the requirements may be lower or higher. In upscale hotels and restaurants, experience is usually expected. However, in smaller businesses or at reception desks with a less extensive range of duties, beginners or career changers also have the opportunity to work at the reception.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become a receptionist?
In most cases, a solid basic education in hospitality, tourism, or a commercial qualification is expected. Additionally, applicants should present themselves well and have excellent manners. Knowledge of foreign languages and IT skills are also required. Organisation skills and strong communication abilities are important soft skills for receptionists.
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how do I apply for a receptionist vacancy?
Applying for a receptionist position can be done either in response to a job advert or through a spontaneous application. For both types of application, your documents should be carefully prepared and meet all the usual requirements for a CV and cover letter. Take a look and see if you can find an interesting receptionist role among the many opportunities available with Randstad.
