Is an office assistant the same as a receptionist?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

No, an office assistant is not the same role as a receptionist. While these roles can be similar in some companies and even be held by the same person, the roles are not the same.

The office receptionist is the representative of the company that visitors encounter first. Their duties are primarily in customer service, ensuring that everyone who walks through the door or who makes a phone call has a positive first impression of the company.

Meanwhile, office assistant is more focused on their administrative duties. A person in this role spends most of their day making sure that the office is running smoothly. The office assistant will type documents, send emails and faxes, schedule appointments, and perform any other office related task that they are assigned.

Essentially, an office receptionist is focused on ensuring excellent customer service, while an Office Assistant is focused on ensuring excellent office support.