The Receptionist or Front Desk Officer is the first person a customer or visitor meets, so hotels, clinics and companies choose carefully. It is also a role that accepts beginners who can show strong communication and organisation skills.
Where do receptionists work?
- Hotels and serviced apartments.
- Clinics, hospitals and beauty centres.
- Corporate and administrative offices.
- Real-estate showrooms and customer service centres.
Daily duties
- Welcoming visitors and directing them.
- Answering, transferring and logging calls.
- Managing appointments and bookings in the system.
- Receiving mail and parcels and keeping the front desk tidy.
- Handling enquiries and simple complaints.
The skills employers look for
- Clear, polite communication in Arabic and English.
- A professional appearance and a smile.
- Multitasking: a ringing phone and a waiting visitor at the same moment.
- Microsoft Office and email basics.
- Using booking or CRM systems.
- Staying calm with an upset customer. See how to handle an angry customer.
Keywords to put on your CV
Use only the ones that genuinely apply to you, worded the way the ad words them. See the ATS CV guide.
Interview questions to expect
- What do you do if the phone rings while a visitor is standing in front of you?
- How do you handle a visitor who is angry after a long wait?
- Why do you want to work in reception?
- Tell me about yourself.
Get your CV ready before you apply
The zTraining Club team builds you an ATS-friendly CV aimed at reception roles, in Arabic, English or both, in under 10 minutes, and you review your details before delivery. To sharpen your call handling and people skills, the Customer Service Course applies directly to reception work.
FAQ
Do receptionist jobs require experience?
Many receptionist jobs accept beginners, especially with good Arabic and English, communication skills and office software basics.
What skills does a receptionist need?
Bilingual communication, a professional appearance, multitasking, Microsoft Office basics, booking systems and staying calm with customers.
What keywords should a receptionist CV include?
Terms such as Front Desk, Guest Relations, Call Handling, Appointment Scheduling and Customer Service, depending on what applies to you and what the ad asks for.