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If you’ve Googled “job description template for receptionist,” you’ve probably seen dozens of results.
But here’s the problem: most of them don’t actually help you attract a great receptionist—they just give you generic filler content.
Bullet points. Buzzwords. Boredom.
The kind of post that sounds like it was copied from a 2004 HR handbook.
And here’s what happens: top candidates scroll right past.
Because the best receptionists?
They’re not looking for a job that “greets visitors and handles front desk duties.”
They’re looking for a workplace that values communication, calm under pressure, and being the first impression of the brand.
That’s why writing a receptionist job description the right way can make all the difference.
Before we dive in, we highly recommend reading full guide on how to write a job post that attracts top talent , Link https://workscreen.io/how-to-write-a-job-post/.. It breaks down the biggest mistakes hiring managers make—and shows you a smarter, more human way to write job posts that convert.
But if you’re ready to dive into what a receptionist job description should actually look like, keep reading.
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What Does a Receptionist Actually Do? - Their Duties
Let’s cut through the corporate jargon.
A receptionist is often the first person someone sees when they walk into your business—or the first voice they hear when they call. That first impression? It matters.
Receptionists manage the front desk, greet clients or visitors, answer and route phone calls, and support the admin team with day-to-day tasks. But that’s only the surface.
A great receptionist is also a calm problem-solver, a clear communicator, and someone with emotional intelligence who knows how to read people and situations. They make guests feel welcome. They help the team stay organized. And they hold the front of the business together when everything else feels chaotic.
In short: this isn’t just a support role—it’s a critical one. Your receptionist represents your brand every single day.
Two Receptionist Job Description Templates That Actually Work
We’ll provide two tailored job description options:
1.✅ Option 1: For employers looking to hire an experienced candidates with prior experience.
2.Option 2: For employers open to hiring entry-level candidates or those willing to train someone with potential
✅ Option 1: Experienced Receptionist – Culture-First Style
📌 Job Title: Front Desk Receptionist for Boutique Law Firm in Downtown Chicago
💼 Type: Full-Time | In-Office | $20–$24/hr (Based on Experience)
🕒 Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
🎥 A quick welcome from our Office Manager: (Insert Loom/YouTube video)
Who We Are
We’re a small, client-focused law firm that handles family, estate, and real estate cases with care and discretion. Our front desk isn’t just about answering phones—it’s about setting the tone for every client’s experience with us. That’s where you come in.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Greet clients with warmth and professionalism
- Answer phone calls, schedule appointments, and route messages
- Coordinate with attorneys and paralegals to ensure meetings run smoothly
- Keep our reception area organized and welcoming
- Manage basic admin tasks like filing, scanning, and supply inventory
What We’re Looking For
- 2+ years of experience as a receptionist or front desk coordinator
- Confident phone presence and friendly demeanor
- Organized, punctual, and calm under pressure
- Proficient in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office
- Familiarity with legal, healthcare, or professional services is a plus
Why You’ll Love Working Here
You won’t be micromanaged—we trust our team. You’ll have clear expectations, steady hours, and real opportunities to grow into office management. We take care of our people with PTO, holiday pay, and a respectful, drama-free workplace.
How to Apply
We respect your time. That’s why we use Workscreen.io to help evaluate candidates fairly based on skills, not just resumes.
Follow the link below to apply—you’ll go through a short evaluation so we can get a better sense of how you work. We respond to all applicants within 5 business days.
👉 (Insert link)
✅ Option 2: Entry-Level Receptionist – Trainable, People-First Role
📌 Job Title: Front Desk Assistant – No Experience Needed, Just Great People Skills
💼 Type: Full-Time | Entry-Level | $16–$18/hr
🕒 Schedule: Monday–Friday | 9 AM – 5 PM
🌟 Culture: Friendly, fast-paced, and open to learners
🎥 A quick welcome from our Office Manager: (Insert Loom/YouTube video)
About the Role
Are you great with people and love keeping things organized? We’re hiring a front desk assistant who’s willing to learn, grow, and become the heartbeat of our office. If you’re patient, reliable, and friendly—we’ll train you on the rest.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Greet walk-ins and help them feel welcome
- Answer phone calls and pass along messages
- Help schedule appointments and send confirmations
- Keep our reception area tidy and fully stocked
- Assist the admin team with small projects
What You Need to Succeed
- High school diploma or GED
- Friendly attitude and strong communication skills
- Eager to learn new systems and show up on time
- Basic computer knowledge (we’ll train you on the rest)
- Bonus: Retail, customer service, or volunteer experience
Perks & Benefits
- Paid training
- Weekly check-ins and mentorship
- 10 paid flex days per year
- Team lunches, quarterly bonuses, and a chance to grow into full-time office administration
How to Apply
We care about more than your resume—we care about your attitude and effort.
Click below to apply via Workscreen and take a short evaluation designed to highlight your strengths.
👉 (Insert link)
Smart Hiring Starts Here
WorkScreen simplifies the hiring process, helping you quickly identify top talent while eliminating low-quality applications. By saving you countless hours and reducing the risk of bad hires, it empowers you to build a team that delivers results
Why These Receptionist Job Posts Actually Work
Both job posts above do something most generic listings don’t:
They connect with the right kind of candidate—whether that’s a seasoned professional or someone just starting out.
Here’s why they’re effective:
✅ 1. Clear, Specific Job Titles
Instead of “Receptionist Needed,” you see:
- “Front Desk Receptionist for Boutique Law Firm in Downtown Chicago”
- “Front Desk Assistant – No Experience Needed, Just Great People Skills”
These titles do more than name the job—they give context, signal tone, and pre-qualify the reader. They also attract applicants who are more aligned with your brand and expectations.
✅ 2. Warm Introductions With Context
Rather than jumping into a wall of bullet points, each post starts with a brief “about us” that gives the candidate a glimpse into:
- What the company does
- Who they serve
- Why this role matters
That’s how you turn a listing into an invitation—and that’s what makes the right candidates stop scrolling.
✅ 3. Transparent Salary and Schedule
Both templates include:
- Pay range
- Work hours
- Type of employment
No guessing. No bait-and-switch. This builds trust and filters out misaligned candidates upfront—saving you time later.
✅ 4. Responsibilities That Show Impact
Instead of writing “Answer phones,” you’ll see:
“Greet clients with warmth and professionalism”
“Help the team stay organized and projects run smoothly”
This shifts the job from a task list to a mission. It signals importance and helps the candidate see how they’ll contribute.
✅ 5. Realistic and Encouraging Requirements
Each post makes it clear what’s needed—without being rigid. For entry-level roles, there’s even a note like:
“We’ll train you on the rest”
“Retail, customer service, or volunteer experience is a bonus”
This opens the door to high-potential candidates who might otherwise disqualify themselves.
✅ 6. Human, Respectful Hiring Process
Both examples explain how to apply and what to expect:
- Responses within 5 business days
- Use of Workscreen for skill-based evaluation
- Shortlisted candidates treated with respect
It shows you value the candidate’s time and effort—which instantly sets your company apart.
✅ 7. Strong, Culture-Driven “Why Work With Us” Sections
Rather than stuffing generic perks like “competitive salary,” both posts explain:
- How you treat people
- How the role supports the bigger mission
- Opportunities for growth and recognition
And in Option 2, even entry-level candidates are told:
“You won’t just be another employee—you’ll be a key part of the team.”
That’s what people want to hear—and that’s how you get them to apply.
What a Bad Receptionist Job Description Looks Like (And Why It Fails)
Job Title: Receptionist
Company: ABC Group
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type: Full-Time
Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
Job Summary
ABC Group is looking to hire a receptionist to manage front desk operations, answer phone calls, and perform administrative support tasks.
Key Responsibilities
- Answer and direct incoming calls
- Greet visitors
- Perform data entry and filing
- Handle mail and office supplies
- Other tasks as assigned
Requirements
- Diploma in Business Administration or related field
- 2–3 years of receptionist experience
- Strong communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
How to Apply
Send your CV and cover letter to hr@abcgroup.co.ke. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
🚫 Why This Job Post Falls Flat
🔹 1. The Title Is Generic
“Receptionist” doesn’t say anything about the company, industry, work environment, or role impact. It could be any job, anywhere.
🔹 2. The Introduction Feels Cold
The summary doesn’t explain who ABC Group is, what they do, or why this role even exists. It reads like a formality, not an opportunity.
🔹 3. The Responsibilities Are Vague and Uninspired
There’s no clarity on how the role contributes to the company. Tasks like “handle mail” and “other tasks as assigned” feel dated and dismissive.
🔹 4. No Insight Into Culture or Team
There’s nothing about what the company values, what kind of team the new hire will join, or what the day-to-day actually feels like.
🔹 5. No Mention of Pay, Schedule, or Benefits
This leaves candidates guessing—and sends the signal that transparency isn’t a priority. Many will skip over it altogether.
🔹 6. Cold, One-Way Application Process
“Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted” is one of the fastest ways to make an applicant feel disrespected or unimportant. It’s outdated and discouraging.
🔹 7. No Personality, No Motivation to Apply
There’s no emotional connection. No reason to care. The post sounds like it was written for compliance, not recruitment.
Bonus Tips to Make Your Receptionist Job Post Stand Out
If you want to attract thoughtful, serious candidates—not just mass applicants—these small touches can make a big difference:
✅ 1. Add a Security & Privacy Notice
Let applicants know you respect their data and that your process is safe.
Example:
🔒 We take your privacy seriously. We’ll never ask for payment, personal banking information, or any private data during the hiring process. If you see a suspicious job listing pretending to be from our company, please contact us directly.
This builds trust—especially with candidates who have been burned by scam listings.
✅ 2. Mention Leave Days, Flex Time, or Work-Life Balance
This signals that you care about people’s time, not just productivity.
Example:
Enjoy up to 20 paid leave days per year, plus optional flex time when life gets busy. We believe rest makes for better performance.
Even a small mention of time-off policies makes your company more appealing.
✅ 3. Highlight Training & Growth Opportunities
Especially in entry-level roles, this can be the deciding factor for a candidate.
Example:
We don’t expect perfection. We provide paid training, weekly check-ins, and the support you need to grow in your role—even if you’ve never worked in an office before.
Candidates value companies that invest in them.
✅ 4. Include a Loom or YouTube Video from the Hiring Manager
This is a game-changer. A short video adds warmth, transparency, and personality.
What to say in the video:
- Who you are
- What your company does
- Why this role matters
- What kind of person would thrive here
It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just real. A simple 60-second Loom video can make your post feel 10x more human.
Here is an example that we used in our master guide on how to write a great job post description , you can check it out here https://www.loom.com/share/ba401b65b7f943b68a91fc6b04a62ad4
Should You Use AI to Write Your Job Post?
These days, almost every hiring platform—including big ATS systems like Manatal or Workable—offers one-click AI-generated job descriptions.
It sounds convenient, right?
But here’s the catch: those posts often sound like they were written by someone who’s never worked in your company—or even your industry. Because… well, they weren’t.
❌ Why AI Alone Leads to Generic, Forgettable Job Posts
If you just type something like:
“Write a job post for a receptionist.”
You’ll likely get a bland, buzzword-heavy post with zero context, no culture, and no soul.
Here’s what happens:
- It attracts low-effort applicants who are mass-applying to every job they see.
- It misses what makes your company unique—and turns away people who might have been a great fit.
- It hurts your brand by making your post sound like every other employer out there.
✅ The Smarter Way to Use AI (That Actually Works)
AI can still help—you just need to feed it real, thoughtful input.
Here’s how to prompt it properly:
🧠 Example Prompt to Use:
“Help me write a receptionist job description for [Your Company Name], a [brief description of your company].
We’re hiring a receptionist who will help with [key tasks or priorities].
Our culture is [describe your values or work environment] and we want to attract someone who is [ideal personality traits].
We offer [benefits] and the salary range is [insert].
Our hiring process is [brief explanation of steps and what to expect].
Here are some quick notes I’ve written:
[Paste your rough notes or bullets]
Can you help shape this into a conversational job post in a warm, friendly tone?”
This way, you’re not asking AI to think for you. You’re asking it to help refine your own thinking—to polish, structure, and enhance your ideas.
That’s the real power of AI: not replacing your voice, but amplifying it.
Hiring doesn’t have to be hard.
If your hiring process is stressful, slow, or filled with second-guessing—WorkScreen fixes that. Workscreen helps you quickly identify top talent fast, eliminate low-quality applicants, and make better hires without the headaches.
Need a Quick Copy-Paste Receptionist Job Description?
We get it—sometimes you’re short on time.
Maybe you’ve already read through this guide and understand what a strong job post looks like… but you still want a solid starting point you can copy, paste, and tailor in just a few minutes.
That’s what this section is for.
✏️ Important Reminder:
Don’t copy this word-for-word and expect magic.
This is a foundation, not a final draft.
Add a Loom video, inject your team culture, and edit the details to reflect your actual company.
In this section, you’ll find two ready-to-use job description templates for quick copy-paste use — but please remember, like we mentioned above, don’t just copy them word-for-word and expect results.
Think of these as starting points, not final drafts.
- Option 1: A more conversational, culture-first job description that highlights personality and team fit.
- Option 2: A more structured format, including a Job Brief, Responsibilities, and Requirements for a traditional approach.
✅ Option 1: Conversational, Culture-First Template
📌 Job Title: Receptionist for a Busy, People-Focused Office in [City]
💼 Type: Full-Time | In-Office | $[Insert range]/hr
🕒 Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Who We Are
We’re a fast-moving team that believes first impressions matter. Whether someone walks through the door or calls in with a question, our receptionist sets the tone. That’s why we’re looking for someone who’s friendly, sharp, and comfortable being the face of our office.
What You’ll Do
- Greet visitors and make them feel welcome
- Answer phone calls, transfer lines, and take clear messages
- Manage calendars, appointments, and daily office routines
- Keep the front desk organized and stocked
- Support the admin team with data entry, supply orders, and scheduling
Who We’re Looking For
- Someone who’s warm, punctual, and reliable
- Great phone and in-person communication skills
- Confident using Google Workspace or Microsoft Office
- Bonus: experience in a front desk or customer-facing role
Why You’ll Love This Job
We’re a tight-knit team that treats people with respect. You’ll get consistent hours, mentorship, and the chance to grow with us. We offer [insert benefits], time off, and a workplace where your contributions are noticed.
How to Apply
Click below to apply through Workscreen. We use it to make sure we evaluate fairly—based on how you work, not just what’s on your resume. We review every application and respond within 5 business days.
👉 [Insert application link]
📋 Option 2: Structured Format (for Job Boards or Traditional Layouts)
Job Title: Receptionist
Location: [City, Office Address]
Salary Range: $[xx]–$[xx]/hr
Employment Type: Full-Time, In-Office
Application Deadline: [Date]
Job Brief
We are seeking a receptionist to manage our front desk and serve as the first point of contact for clients and visitors. This role is critical to maintaining smooth daily operations and a welcoming atmosphere.
Responsibilities
- Greet and assist walk-in visitors
- Answer, screen, and forward phone calls
- Manage daily scheduling and front desk coordination
- Assist in ordering office supplies and handling deliveries
- Perform clerical duties such as filing, scanning, and data entry
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Prior receptionist or administrative experience preferred
Benefits
- Paid leave and flex time
- Team lunches and holiday celebrations
- Growth and training opportunities
- Health and dental (after 90 days)
How to Apply
Apply online via [Workscreen link]. We use a skill-based evaluation to make sure every applicant gets a fair shot—no ghosting, no guessing.
You’ve Written a Great Job Post. Now Let WorkScreen Handle the Rest.
Once your job post is live and candidates start applying, here’s the next challenge:
How do you quickly spot the top performers—and filter out the low-effort applicants?
That’s where WorkScreen.io comes in.
💡 WorkScreen helps you:
🎯 Quickly identify your most promising candidates
No more sifting through piles of resumes or guessing based on credentials.
WorkScreen automatically evaluates, scores and ranks candidates on a performance-based leaderboard—so you can see who’s qualified at a glance.
🧪 Easily run one-click skill tests
Test for real-world receptionist skills like typing speed, communication, organization, and customer service—all with zero manual setup.
With Workscreen one-click tests, you get reliable, predictive insights that help you hire based on ability, not assumptions.
🚫 Eliminate low-effort or AI-generated applicants
Tired of resumes written by ChatGPT? Or candidates copy-pasting from job to job?
WorkScreen helps you filter out low-effort applicants—so you focus only on people who are serious, thoughtful, and committed.
🕒 Save hours of screening time
Automated evaluation means you spend less time sorting and more time talking to high-quality applicants.
Whether you’re hiring one receptionist or scaling a team, WorkScreen gives you the edge to hire right, fast, and confidently.
👉 Sign up for WorkScreen.io and take the next step toward smarter hiring.
Receptionist Job Description - Frequently Asked Questions
A great receptionist has more than just administrative abilities. Here are the most valuable skills to look for:
- Communication skills – They should speak clearly, write professionally, and know how to adjust their tone depending on the situation.
- Emotional intelligence – Receptionists often deal with stressed or impatient visitors; the ability to remain calm and courteous is critical.
- Multitasking – Managing calls, greeting guests, and supporting office tasks all at once requires grace under pressure.
- Professional appearance and demeanor – As the first face people see, they should reflect your brand’s tone and values.
- Tech literacy – Comfort using scheduling tools, email platforms, CRMs, or office suites is a must in most environments.
- Discretion – They may be exposed to sensitive information, so trustworthiness and confidentiality matter.
- Reliability – Reception is not a role where you can afford no-shows or chronic tardiness.
Look for people who not only can do the job—but who want to represent your company well.
Receptionist salaries vary depending on location, experience, and industry.
- In the U.S., the average hourly rate for a receptionist is around $17–$20/hour, or $35,000–$42,000/year.
- In Kenya, a receptionist typically earns between KES 30,000–60,000/month depending on the organization and whether the role is front-office or admin-heavy.
- In larger cities or specialized fields (legal, medical, etc.), salaries can be significantly higher due to added responsibilities.
If you want to attract and retain a reliable receptionist, be transparent about pay and make sure it reflects the demands and visibility of the role.
It depends on your business needs.
- Full-time works best for companies with consistent client traffic or administrative complexity.
- Part-time or job-sharing can be ideal for startups, off-peak hours, or lower-volume offices.
If you’re unsure, you can also start with a part-time hire and scale up based on demand.
Not necessarily. Some of the best receptionists were hired for attitude, presence, and trainability, not years of experience. If you’re open to training, you can attract energetic and loyal candidates who are eager to learn.
Just make sure your post clearly says so—like:
“No experience? No problem. If you’re reliable, warm, and a fast learner, we’ll train you.”
Absolutely. In most modern workplaces, a receptionist may also:
- Manage the office calendar
- Handle inventory or orders
- Support HR with interview scheduling
- Maintain visitor logs and security procedures
- Communicate updates to the broader team
The role has evolved. Treat it like a high-impact operational support function—not just a phone-and-smile job.
Yes—and you should. Testing is one of the best ways to avoid hiring mistakes.
Platforms like WorkScreen.io let you run quick assessments for things like typing speed, professionalism, grammar, and scenario-based judgment.
This gives you a clearer picture of how someone will actually perform—not just how they look on paper.
