How to hire a switchboard receptionist

How to hire a switchboard receptionist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step switchboard receptionist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a switchboard receptionist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new switchboard receptionist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the switchboard receptionist you need to hire. Certain switchboard receptionist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A switchboard receptionist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, switchboard receptionists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of switchboard receptionists.

   Type of Switchboard Receptionist	Description	Hourly rate
   Switchboard Receptionist	Receptionists perform administrative tasks, such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing general information about their organization to the public and customers.	$12-18
   Clerk	Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies... Show more	$11-18
   Office Worker	An office worker is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of the business. Office workers assist in receiving calls to respond to the clients' inquiries and concerns, as well as welcoming visitors, verifying their appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs... Show more	$11-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Greeting Visitors
   • Front Desk
   • Scheduling Appointments
   • Telephone Calls
   • Multi-Line Phone System
   • Customer Service
   • Switchboards
   • Emergency Calls
   • Transferring Calls
   • Interoffice Calls
   • Direct Calls
   • Public Address
   • Telephone Switchboard

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Provide efficient and professional telephone services in challenging mental health office while upholding confidentiality under HIPAA standards.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your switchboard receptionist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A switchboard receptionist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, switchboard receptionists' average salary in louisiana is 45% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level switchboard receptionists 34% less than senior-level switchboard receptionists.
   • Certifications. A switchboard receptionist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a switchboard receptionist's salary.

   Average switchboard receptionist salary

   $15.19hourly

   $31,601 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level switchboard receptionist salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a switchboard receptionist job description

   A job description for a switchboard receptionist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a switchboard receptionist job description:

   Switchboard receptionist job description example

   **Your next good thing is right here** . At Kelly Professional & Industrial, we're all about helping you discover what's next in your career. And we just so happen to be seeking a **Receptionist & Switchboard** to work for a client in Boston, MA 02110. If this sounds like the right fit for you, read on and apply!
   **Temp to Perm**
   
   **Schedule:** Monday- Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00PM
   
   **Pay Rate** : $19.00 per hour
   
   **Day to Day Responsibilities for a Sr Receptionist & Switchboard:**
   
   + Greets the public.
   
   + Distributes name badges to visitors, temporary employees, etc.
   
   + Schedules meeting rooms for all.
   
   + Answers and transfers calls from all over the United States.
   
   + Participates enthusiastically in company and community service events.
   
   + Performs light administrative duties.
   
   + Performs PC Support and Administrative duties as needed.
   
   + Acts as a model for Vision, Values, and Mission.
   
   + Builds professional relationships with customers and other teams.
   
   + Responsible for the timely updates of the following: Company phone and speed dial lists, Brag Board and Company Calendar.
   
   + Responsible for updating the automated messaging center daily.
   
   + Assists Administration or any other team when needed for various tasks (envelope labels, compiling manuals, etc.). Responsible for ordering, maintaining, and distributing promotional items for Promotional Store.
   
   + Performs other duties as assigned.
   
   **WORKING CONDITIONS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:**
   
   + Typically, an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation, and a normal range of
   
   + temperature and noise level
   
   + Work assignments are diversified. Interpret, comprehend and apply complex material, data and instruction - prepare, provide and convey diversified information
   
   + Minimal physical effort required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically with less than 10 lbs. (e.g., papers, books, files and small parts, etc.).
   
   + Moderate dexterity - regular application of basic skills (calculator, keyboard, hand tools, eye/hand coordination.
   
   + Provides exceptional service to the business by greeting/assisting all visitors and answering and transferring incoming calls from all over the United States.
   
   **REQUIREMENTS:**
   
   + High School Diploma or equivalent
   
   + 1+ years of prior switchboard experience.
   
   + Reception or security experience is a plus.
   
   + MS Office Suite experience, specifically Word and Excel.
   
   + Excellent organizational and communications skills
   
   + Excellent customer service skills.
   
   + Flexibility and ability to work in a team environment.
   
   + Ability to lift up to 50lbs (assistance is available)
   
   + Required to also wear a mask at the front desk per customer policy.
   
   **What happens next?**
   
   Once you apply, you'll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don't worry-even if this position doesn't work out, you're still in our network. That means all our recruiters will have access to your profile, expanding your opportunities even more.
   
   Helping you discover what's next in your career is what we're all about, so let's get to work. Apply to be a **Sr Receptionist & Switchboard** today!
   
   **Get a complete career fit with Kelly** ** ** **.**
   
   You're looking to keep your career moving onward and upward, and we're here to help you do just that. Our staffing experts connect you with top companies for opportunities where you can learn, grow, and thrive. Jobs that fit your skills and experience, and most importantly, fit right on your path of where you want to go in your career.
   
   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
   Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center.
   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find switchboard receptionists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any switchboard receptionists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level switchboard receptionists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your switchboard receptionist job on Zippia to find and recruit switchboard receptionist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with switchboard receptionist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new switchboard receptionist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the switchboard receptionist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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