Receptionist Interview Questions in United States
Receptionists will be asked to take on a number of clerical roles in the office, including answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and working face-to-face with customers. Employers are looking for candidates with excellent organizational skills and who know how to maintain a positive, helpful attitude in the workplace. In an interview, you may be asked about any bookkeeping or scheduling experience you have. Be prepared with personal anecdotes about instances when you satisfied a frustrated customer or worked around a scheduling conflict.
Top Receptionist Interview Questions & How To Answer
Here are three top receptionist interview questions and how to answer them:
Question #1: How do you keep up with a fast-paced work environment?
How to answer: An interviewer wants to know you can handle a busy work environment. When asked this question, be sure to share the receptionist skills that make you well suited for fast-paced work, including your abilities to multitask, stay organized, and communicate clearly.
Question #2: How do you deal with a difficult customer?
How to answer: When an interviewer asks how you deal with a difficult customer, they want to know if you can stay professional in stressful situations. When you answer this question, make sure to explain how you would maintain a personable and respectful demeanor while helping a difficult customer.
Question #3: What are the most important qualities for a receptionist to have?
How to answer: Refer to the job description when answering this question. The description likely mentions organization, so be sure to mention things like strategic planning, attention to detail, and time management in your answer.
How would you handle a situation where you have a client who interrupt your existing interaction with a client?
13 Answers↳
I apologize and ask him or her to please step in line and I’ll be right with them. If they interrupt I say understand completely and look for a manager. If there isn’t one available, I’d ask for the source of their urgency. If it’s just them being difficult without an interest in telling me their issue I’d tell them I’ll be with them shortly, I just have to help another customer. Really it helps to keep things short and simple, moving along as quickly as possible with other tasks at hand. Less
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I politely tell the client who interrupted to please standby and that I will be able to answer their questions/handle their issues shortly. If they need immediate attention I will call a member of the team to assist. Less
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I would kindly tell the client to please give me one second. I will answer their question in a timely manner. I would explained I am speaking to a client; if needed assistance immediately I can get a team member to help them. Less
How will you deal with an angry guest?
3 Answers↳
I would also repeat back to the customer the service requested. This lets the customers knows that you understand the issue and what steps that they may need next. Less
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Calm the guest down and try to find out exactly what the guest is upset about then, come up with a solution to make the guest happy. Less
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Match their emotion and energy. Sympathize and tell them “I understand how you feel, a lot of our guests sometimes feel that way, but it actually works like...” Less
How would you handle an angry patient?
3 Answers↳
The customer service is imperative to the flow of an office. The front end must be able to maintain that flow. Less
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I would listen to the complaint and find a solution or refer the patient to the correct person. follow up to see if the complaint was taken care of. Less
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"I understand that you're feeling X because of Y. Let me see what I can do to rectify this situation and/or get some answers for you." Less
Resident no pants on in lobby, group comes to tour the site, phone rings, accident in the bathroom...what order would you do things and why?
2 Answers↳
If the accident in the bathroom had involved physical injury the person reporting it could of been directed to the head nurse or a manager. You are not trained as a first responder to accidents and you can remind people that you legally can not do anything besides notifying management. The tour group would appreciate the immediate and quick response to caring for a resident plus as you help him/her, you can notify a team member along the way about the bathroom. Then you can come back and check the tour group in before checking messages to return call. As the receptionist, you do not give tours in most cases, so they are not your responsibility. If their tour guide showed up while you were helping the resident, they may of checked them in for you. Prioritize and teamwork. Most of all of that pantless person was some one you cared about, would you waste any time saving them from embarrassment? Definitely a bad time for some one to come to from dementia, pantless in public. Less
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Tend to emergency medic staff to find out about accident in bathroom, apologize to people about delay with the tour, tend to the resident and his/her needs, phone the missed call and apologize for the delay. This answer she didn't like...answer was to tend to resident's needs first...but I thought this was less logical if the accident could have been a fall in the bathroom and very life threatening. Less
What is one thing you would change about your prior work office?
1 Answers↳
The flow for the nurse visits in the office
Tell me about your redundancy (if appropriate) or why do you want to leave your present employer?
11 Answers↳
Just told them the truth that I was looking for a job change and why.
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I am working as an independent contractor. I have a lot of Front Desk experience, from Hotels and Country Clubs. I think that my experience and drive, will make me an asset to your company. I would be delighted to introduce myself in person and discuss this wonderful position. Less
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I have been working in The Hospitality Industry for many years , in Hotels as well Country Clubs. Now I am an independent contractor and work on several projects at this time. I am looking to go back to my roots, which is being a Front Desk Receptionist. Less
Tell us about yourself? Are you currently working? Do you have transportation?
8 Answers↳
answered honestly.
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Yes part-time
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Yes, I have transportation and am available to work part time hours/schedule. I got certified as a certified caregiver. I’m not going, friendly, compassionate, dependable, etc. Less