A receptionist is actually the first image of the company. They are the ones responsible for building good first impressions. Aside from that, they also provide support and services to executives, management, and other office personnel. A receptionist uses a range of skills to maintain the company’s professional image.

During the interview, your interviewer will be interested in what you think the most important skill is for a receptionist. Why? Because he or she wants to know what you value the most and what you think about your job. He or she wants to know how extensive your knowledge is regarding the position you’re applying for.

In light of this, what are the possible answers you can give to this challenging question? Here are some pointers to help you.

1. Write down your most valued skills. You can prepare beforehand for this question. List all of the skills you think are important. Reflect and think about it. It could be one of the following:

• Oral Communication Skills

A receptionist is required to have good communication skills. He or she spends most of the workday communicating with staff members, customers, and vendors, and in order to communicate effectively, he or she has to be a good listener as well.

• Written Communication Skills

Receptionists also type memos and letters on a regular basis. Whenever receptionists write letters on behalf of other company personnel, his or her skills will directly reflect the reputation of the person he or she is writing for.

• Interpersonal Skills

Of course, a receptionist should have good interpersonal skills because otherwise, he or she will have a hard time dealing with customers and other personnel. He or she is required to be comfortable when meeting and talking with other people from diverse backgrounds. A receptionist is also expected be cheerful and have a pleasant disposition.

• Customer Service Skills

Since the receptionist is the face of the company and is sometimes the only employee a customer will come in contact with (whether in person or on the phone), he or she should have exceptional customer service skills. Companies that deal with customers and clients on a regular basis need assurance that the clients will return to do more business. It is important for the receptionist to remain calm and polite and try his or her best to satisfy the customer’s needs.

• Organizational Skills

Receptionists also spend time filing documents, maintaining records, and organizing the workplace. He or she is expected to make others’ jobs easier and more efficient. A receptionist with good organizational skills is the key to having an organized office.

2. Explain your answer. Once you’ve chosen what the most important skill is for you, make your explanation brief yet clear. Keep your answer straight and simple to avoid unnecessary errors. There’s no need to ramble or go off topic.

3. Share experiences. If you already have experience in this job, back up your answer with specific examples. If you’ve been successful in the past, pointing this out won’t hurt as long as it will help you get the job.

If you’ve been a receptionist for a long time now, you may already know what the most important skill is and you should have an idea of how to answer this question. However, if you’re new to this line of work, these tips and guidelines might help you.