To become a temporary receptionist, one needs a high school diploma or GED, computer and business skills, and experience. Temp agencies can help find work.
To become a temporary receptionist, an individual must acquire formal education through high school, ideally obtaining graduate training related to reception, followed by research, application and interview for temporary receptionist jobs. While the path from education to this career is quite straightforward and does not require a lot of time, companies that need temporary receptionists are looking for experienced candidates to keep operations as smooth as possible. If a person cannot find a temp receptionist position on their own, using a temp placement agency is sometimes a solution.
Most companies will accept a high school diploma or a graduate equivalence diploma (GED) for receptionist positions, including temp jobs. At the student level, a person can prepare for temporary receptionist work by taking courses in computer, speaking, English and writing and business. These classes are good because receptionists must use technology to access and maintain records, communicate and interact verbally and in writing with vendors and customers.
Even though many employers have a high school diploma or GED for a temp worker, depending on the size and clientele of the company, some companies may need some additional training to become a temp receptionist. For example, they may want applicants who have taken typing classes or who have completed a formal front desk certification program. Sometimes previous reception experience is a suitable substitute for additional courses, but this depends on the employer.
One reason companies sometimes want additional education or experience from a temp receptionist is that a temp receptionist doesn’t necessarily have the luxury of extended on-the-job training. Employers want someone who can join the receptionist job and learn company policies and procedures very quickly without sacrificing quality or speed of service. Those with less education or experience are generally less able to do this.
Once a person has the proper education and experience, they can continue on their path to becoming a temporary receptionist by scouting through the temporary receptionist job openings. She should be mindful of the hours offered – temp receptionists are sometimes needed full-time until the company can find a replacement for a previous receptionist. In other companies, a temporary receptionist may only need to work part-time, as if the company’s regular receptionist needs to take her child for medical treatment one day a week for a few months. In either case, the temp receptionist needs to know what her time commitment and income will be so she can organize her schedule and take on other temp work to cover expenses.
With a few available positions in hand, a person looking to become a temp receptionist next should adjust their resume to reflect their education and experience. If the receptionist has any certifications related to office administration support or reception, she should list them on her resume. She should also contact former employers and obtain permission to include them on a list of references. At that point, the only tasks left to become a temp receptionist are submitting formal requests and going to interviews if companies offer them.
If a person has trouble getting temp reception work, one route to explore is to go through a formal temp agency. These agencies match candidates with job openings. They receive a percentage of the receptionist’s salary in exchange for finding the job, but many people find the percentage to be reasonable since the agency can prevent periods of unemployment.
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