Receptionist jobs mostly comprise of answering the phone. Any successful receptionist is expected to adhere to some basic rules of ettiquete.

Here are some tips for practising professional phone manners:

• Smiling will affect your tone of voice and give off a positive vibe. Doing this will generally result in a friendly response from clients and is a good way to start a call.
• Your phone greeting should include a smile, the name of your company, followed by asking what you can do to help. It can be very frustrating for people if they have to ring for a long time before they get an answer; try to get to the phone asap.
• Always identify who is on the phone before you transfer a call. This is a good way to of screening calls and letting your manager know who is contacting them. All good receptionists will do this.
• It’s good practice to ask permission when you put someone on hold and then when reconnecting with them, remember to say thank you for waiting.
• When thanked, always respond with a friendly, “You’re welcome,” or, “It’s my pleasure.” This is the professional way of doing things.
• Always keep a notepad near by in order to take messages from people. In order to take accurate messages, make sure you ask for clarification if you need to. When times are busy you can also make a note of phone numbers so that you can call people back at a more appropriate time.
• Make an effort to find out how your managers would prefer to get their messages. Some managers will want this in email form, others will prefer a brief phone call. Giving each manager the service that they expect will prove that you are a valuable staff member.

As the first point of call you will have face to face contact with clients. It is because of this that you should always try to keep yourself well groomed and dress in a professional manner. Make sure your teeth are clean and greet visitors with a smile. You are the first representative of your company that clients meet, so it is vital that you give a good impression.