What is expected of a high school receptionist?

I've been thinking about administrative roles in education and am curious about what a high school receptionist does. What are their key responsibilities and what skills are most important for success in that position?

A high school receptionist plays an incredibly valuable role in the smooth functioning of a school. Here is a brief overview of their key responsibilities and required skills:

Responsibilities:

- The main duty is to provide customer service to a range of stakeholders: students, parents, faculty, and visitors. This might include answering general inquiries, referring them to appropriate staff members, or providing forms and enrollment packets.

- Phone and email communication are integral parts of the job. They answer calls, respond to emails, and often manage the school's voicemail system.

- They manage the school's main office area, ensuring it's clean, organized, and stocked with necessary supplies.

- Handling student records and data management can be another key task, requiring careful maintenance of confidentiality.

- In many cases, a receptionist will be required to perform some clerical tasks, such as photocopying, filing, or typing letters and memos.

Skills:

- Excellent communication skills: As the first point of contact for many, they need to be able to communicate effectively and professionally in person, over the phone, and by email.

- Multitasking: Schools are often busy and can be unpredictable. They should be able to manage different tasks at once and be adaptable to changing circumstances.

- Strong organizational skills: Since they deal with a lot of information and a variety of tasks, being able to stay organized is key.

- Computer literacy: Many of their tasks will involve using a computer to send emails, create documents, manage databases, and more.

- Interpersonal skills: Being able to connect and interact positively with a diverse range of people (parents, students, teachers, etc.) is vital.

In essence, a high school receptionist needs to be a jack of all trades, with strong multitasking, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Plus, the ability to handle a hectic and bustling environment is essential.