Receptionist

As a receptionist you are the first thing a guest meets — at a hotel in a company or at a conference centre. You greet help direct and ensure people feel welcome and well treated. When you are done you are skilled in a service industry where good overview good humour and good customer service are the most important tools.

§What do you do in everyday life?

You receive guests, check them in and out, answer phones and emails, and help with everything from reservations to practical questions. At a hotel you handle bookings, payment, and guests' wishes while keeping track of what's happening in the house. You work with many departments and solve problems while keeping your head clear and your smile on. Language is a big part of the profession because you meet guests from all over the world and must be able to talk to them all.

• 01You learn to receive guests and provide good service from the first meeting.
• 02You become good at handling bookings, check-in and check-out and payment.
• 03You work with telephone, email and booking systems and maintain the overview.
• 04You learn to solve problems and help guests, even when busy.
• 05You use language actively and meet people from around the world.
• 06You get a trade where your friendliness and your overview make a difference to others' experience.

§How do you get started?

You typically start with a basic course at a vocational school and then need an apprenticeship — for example at a hotel, in a reception, or at a company. The education alternates between school stays and practice so you learn the theory and try customer contact in reality. You get paid during training and learn the trade alongside experienced colleagues.

§The way forward

As a finished receptionist you can work at hotels in companies at conference centres and in the tourism industry at home and abroad. You can specialise become a reception manager or move further into the hotel and experience industry. If you want to continue the trade can be a stepping stone to further education in service tourism and management.

“The first smile and the first hello set the tone for the whole stay — that is the receptionist's role.”