Shifting the Administrative Paradigm: How to Change Front Desk Perceptions

Learn how to keep your cool at a busy front desk, without sacrificing professionalism or security.

Being a front desk/receptionist is not an easy job. You have to think on your feet, be proactive and multitask. You need to know everything and everybody, and keep smiling even at the person who is shouting at you because he can't remember who he is there to see. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for administrative assistants will grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, an addition of almost 480,000 jobs. In Randstad's 2015 Workplace Trends Report, 68 percent of office and administration hiring managers report that making a hire takes longer than it did previously. The increase in open positions, coupled with a growing pressure to fill roles without losing productivity, makes highly skilled administrative professionals a sought-after group. But it is also a really rewarding job - no day is the same, you learn lots of different skills and there is opportunity to progress. The receptionist is arguably one of the most important roles in an office and ultimately can help ensure the smooth running of an organization.