Receptionist Career in India: 

One of the key roles that help an organization run on a daily basis is that of a receptionist. From receiving phone calls, attending visitors and being the face of the organization, there is a lot that a receptionist is responsible for. As the adage goes, “First impression is the last impression”; it is important for any company that each client and customer should have a good first impression of the company. And the first impression is that of a receptionist. Therefore, when you ask what is the scope of receptionist career in India, the answer will always be that the career has a bright scope and an important role to play.

Since the front desk job is important to the firms, an individual needs to be exceptionally skilled to be selected for the designation. To be able to prosper in the career, you need to be the best in performing your current responsibilities.

If you are ready to bear responsibilities and be the face of an organization, there are plenty of opportunities in Gurgaon. Click here for the list of receptionist jobs in Gurgaon for Freshers.

The Duties of a Receptionist:

  • Greeting and welcoming any customers or clients that visit the organization.
  • Receive telephone calls and take down important messages.
  • Entertaining all types of queries from visitors, clients or customers.
  • Informing concerned employees about the arrival of visitors.
  • Maintain customer data.
  • Maintain all kinds of electronics as well as physical records and documents.
  • In-charge of sending and reverting to e-mails.
  • Some organizations also give the responsibility of entering and maintaining data to the receptionists only.
  • Scheduling various appointments.

A receptionist is needed in almost all organizations. And the impression they create on the visitors can decide a lot. For instance, if the receptionist leaves an unprofessional and unpleasant impression on a visitor, the visitor may not trust the company for any further business. The responsibility of each receptionist also depends on the kind of organization that they are working in. 

Although there are a lot of sectors that require a receptionist, a few of them are stated below:

  • A receptionist working at a hospital or clinic is required to record all the personal information of a patient. They are also responsible for directing the patients towards the waiting room and handling payments.
  • Receptionists are present in big companies, corporate offices, as well as government offices. There they are responsible for welcoming the visitors, escorting them to the office rooms, maintaining data, receiving calls and much more.
  • Salons also have receptionists who schedule appointments on call and in-person for the customers. In most of cases they also take care of the payments and brief the customers of the various services they have to offer. 
  • Hotel Receptionists have a lot of responsibilities to take care of. They are required to welcome the guests, make them comfortable and help them check-in and check out respectively. The foremost task is to convince the guests with the rates and allot them a suitable room. They also need to handle the payments and gather all the details of the guests. Hotel receptionists also need to coordinate all the ongoing activities with the housekeeping.

Skills Required:

  • Exceptional verbal communication skills are a must for this job profile. The ability to talk clearly and confidently is required so that the right information is transferred.
  • The individual should have good listening skills as well. Only then will they be able to resolve customer queries.
  • Customer service skills are also a must for the role of a receptionist. Since the receptionists represent the whole organization, they should be courteous and polite at all times.
  • Should know how to work on a computer.
  • Have integrity since a lot of minute details of the organization are in their hands.
  • Thorough knowledge of customer service practices and principles.
  • A minimum of a high school diploma.
  • Be able to work under pressure.
  • Knowledge about the working of the telephone system.
  • Be aware of the working of MS Office tools.
  • Should have an eye to notice all the details that affect the working of the organization.
  • Have good skills to organize and plan.
  • Good written communication skills in order to exchange emails and texts conveniently.

What is the Scope of Receptionist Career in India?

Research has said that the expected growth in the employment of the receptionist’s career is to be more than 9 percent between the years 2016 to 2026. The main growth is expected to be in the healthcare sector. The reason being the constant increase in population in the country. The more the population, the more will be the requirement of medical services. From offices of the physicians, clinics of dentists, health insurance offices, all are expected to see a growth in the numbers. 

With experience, a receptionist can rise above to the designations of either a Secretary, a Personal Assistant or even an Office Manager. With outstanding skills, receptionists can also move towards the positions of HR. As a receptionist, there are a lot of skills that you can gain experience in since the responsibilities of a receptionist are widespread. Therefore you should sharpen your skills from the perspective of which position you look forward to working in, in the near future.

Some of the Government Sector Organizations that Offer Roles for Receptionists:

  • Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
  • Press Information Bureau
  • Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India
  • Directorate of Oil Palm Research
  • BrahMos Aerospace, etc.

Salary Scope:

As a fresher in the initial years, a receptionist can earn INR 148,658 on an average. Within one year of gaining experience, the total compensation can increase to INR 182,035. With years of experience and gaining skills, the compensation can increase to INR 3 LPA on an average. Receptionists in the NCR area earn 43.6% more on average compared to other regions. Government sectors, on the other hand, pay a little less if compared to the private sector. But the more experienced and skilled you are in fulfilling your responsibilities and tasks, the more you can earn. The amount of compensation is directly proportional to your capabilities and talent.