Radio Receptionist - Job Profile

About the role

Receptionists are the public face of the station greeting a wide range of visitors including local contributors and listeners. Receptionists are required to perform a full range of reception duties including answering the switchboard; record keeping; administrative and clerical work.

What is the Job?

Keep reception area presentable and attractive, ensuring leaflets and posters on display are up to date.

To assist the Station Manager with general clerical work including preparing letters and hospitality supplies ordering, as required. Dealing with ‘what’s on’ information and information for on-air promotion. To open the mail and distribute to staff. To handle the external despatch of mail, keeping a record of postage costs.

Typical career routes

As with many jobs in the secretarial and admin field, you don't need any formal qualifications to get started. Increasingly however, employers do prefer that you have GSCEs in maths and English and basic IT skills.

If you really want to stand out, a foundation GNVQ/GSVQ in Business or Hospitality and Catering might set you apart from the crowd. If you speak a foreign language you should play this up too as many companies have visitors and clients from overseas and will be pleased to have someone who can welcome them in their mother tongue.

Age is no barrier and mature candidates with good general office experience may have an advantage. Temping is a good way to get experience and it's not uncommon for temp positions to lead to a permanent role.

Essential knowledge and skills

Knowledge and experience of office routines and systems.
Experience of telephone switchboards.
Developed inter-personal skills, i.e. the ability to deal diplomatically with a wide range of people.
Ability to work effectively as part of a small team.
Ability to work effectively under pressure.
Methodical approach to compiling reports.
Keyboard skills. Knowledge of Word and Excel an advantage.
An interest in the output of the radio station.

Training & qualifications

Shorthand and typing qualifications
Excellent customer service skills
Resourceful, well organized, highly dependable, efficient and detail oriented
Excellent telephone skills and computer knowledge including Microsoft Office
Previous reception experience
GSCEs in maths and English and basic IT skills

What can I expect to get paid?

What you earn is closely linked to your level of experience. Starting out as a trainee salaries are usually around the £12,000 mark and increase to £17,000. Senior positions can command over £24,000.