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What is a receptionist/customer service and how to become one
A receptionist/customer service provides assistance and support to customers or visitors of a company or organization. They are responsible for greeting and directing customers, answering inquiries, managing phone calls and emails, scheduling appointments, and providing administrative support. A receptionist/customer service representative must have excellent communication skills, be organized, and possess strong customer service skills. They should be able to handle difficult customers with tact and professionalism while maintaining a friendly demeanor.
Avg. Salary $30,604
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%
Asian 6.08%
Black or African American 10.67%
Hispanic or Latino 25.45%
Unknown 5.22%
White 51.91%
Genderfemale 91.98%
male 8.02%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a receptionist/customer service?
Pros
Learn about different industries and businesses
Chance to network
Gain valuable experience in customer service
Get to know regular customers and build relationships
Access to company perks (e.g. discounts, benefits)
Cons
Dealing with difficult customers
Repetitive tasks can be boring
Long periods of standing or sitting
Working on weekends and holidays
Risk of burnout from dealing with customer complaints
Receptionist/customer service career paths
Key steps to become a receptionist/customer service
Explore receptionist/customer service education requirements
Start to develop specific receptionist/customer service skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 16.12% Phone Calls 14.87% Data Entry 14.07% Telephone Calls 8.20% Front Desk 7.94% Complete relevant receptionist/customer service training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New receptionist/customer services learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a receptionist/customer service based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real receptionist/customer service resumes.Research receptionist/customer service duties and responsibilities
- Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
- Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
- Bill and collect from private pay, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies.
- Doctor authorization for treatments, understanding of Medicare and Medicaid, prior authorizations (if need).
Prepare your receptionist/customer service resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your receptionist/customer service resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a receptionist/customer service resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable receptionist/customer service resume templates
Build a professional receptionist/customer service resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your receptionist/customer service resume.
Apply for receptionist/customer service jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a receptionist/customer service job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first receptionist/customer service job
Are you a receptionist/customer service?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average receptionist/customer service salary
The average receptionist/customer service salary in the United States is $30,604 per year or $15 per hour. Receptionist/customer service salaries range between $25,000 and $37,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do receptionist/customer services rate their job?
Receptionist/customer service reviews
Good work life balance, low stress and responsibility
Low pay, lack of progression
I got to do a variety of tasks daily. Got treated with respect from management and other coworkers.
Sometimes I had to finish up job tasks that were assigned to others that were not completed.
Caring to the customer issues is what I do like first and the other thing it is a job that show determination level on the duty.
Updated January 8, 2025
