20 Front Desk Receptionist Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various front desk receptionist interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Front Desk Receptionist Interview Questions
- What are your responsibilities as a front desk receptionist?
- How do you prioritize your work?
- What is your experience with customer service?
- What are your computer skills?
- How well do you handle multitasking?
- What is your experience with managing phone calls?
- What is your experience with managing schedules?
- How well do you handle stress?
- What are your people skills like?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client.
- Tell me about a time when you had to manage a heavy workload.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation.
- Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem.
- Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative.
- Tell me about a time when you had to be creative.
- Tell me about a time when you had to use your communication skills.
- Tell me about a time when you had to be organized.
- Tell me about a time when you had to pay attention to detail.
- Tell me about a time when you had to be flexible.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging situation.
What are your responsibilities as a front desk receptionist?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's understanding of the role and responsibilities of a front desk receptionist. It is important to know what the responsibilities are so that the candidate can be sure they are able to perform the job duties.
Example: “The responsibilities of a front desk receptionist vary depending on the type of organization they are working for. However, some common duties include greeting visitors and clients, answering phone calls, handling correspondence, and scheduling appointments. They may also be responsible for maintaining records and filing documents.”
How do you prioritize your work?
The interviewer is trying to gauge how the front desk receptionist would handle being given multiple tasks at the same time. It is important for the front desk receptionist to be able to prioritize their work so that they can complete the most important tasks first.
Example: “There are a few different ways that I prioritize my work. The first way is by looking at what is due first and what has the closest deadline. I also look at what tasks are going to take the longest to complete and start with those. I also take into account what tasks are the most important and need to be completed as soon as possible.”
What is your experience with customer service?
An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with customer service?" to a Front Desk Receptionist because it is an important skill for the position. A Front Desk Receptionist is often the first point of contact for customers, so it is important that they have good customer service skills. Good customer service skills include being able to greet customers, answer their questions, and help them resolve any problems they may have.
Example: “I have worked in customer service for over 10 years. I have experience dealing with all types of customers, from those who are angry and upset, to those who are happy and friendly. I have learned how to handle difficult situations, and how to defuse conflict. I am patient and efficient, and I always work to resolve any issue the customer is having. I pride myself on providing excellent customer service, and I always go the extra mile to ensure that the customer is satisfied.”
What are your computer skills?
Some front desk receptionists are responsible for handling basic office tasks on a computer, such as typing up documents or entering data. As a result, the interviewer wants to know what level of computer skills the candidate has. It is important for the interviewer to know this because they need to gauge whether or not the candidate is capable of performing the duties of the job.
Example: “I am proficient in a variety of computer programs, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat. I have experience creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as converting files between different formats. I am also comfortable using computers for research purposes and have basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.”
How well do you handle multitasking?
An interviewer would ask "How well do you handle multitasking?" to a/an Front Desk Receptionist because it is important for the role of a Front Desk Receptionist to be able to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
Example: “I am very good at multitasking and can handle multiple tasks simultaneously without any issues. I have a lot of experience with managing multiple tasks at once, so I am confident in my ability to handle anything that comes my way.”
What is your experience with managing phone calls?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's customer service skills. It is important for a front desk receptionist to be able to handle phone calls in a professional and courteous manner. The candidate's answer will give the interviewer insight into whether or not the candidate has the necessary skills for the job.
Example: “I have experience with managing phone calls in a professional setting. I am able to handle multiple phone calls at once and take messages accurately. I have a pleasant phone manner and can transfer calls as needed. I am also familiar with using phone systems and can troubleshoot any issues that may arise.”
What is your experience with managing schedules?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the front desk receptionist's experience with managing schedules in order to determine if they are qualified for the position. This is important because the front desk receptionist will be responsible for managing the schedules of the employees at the company.
Example: “I have experience with managing schedules in a fast-paced environment. I am able to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively. I have a strong attention to detail, which is essential for managing schedules. I am also able to handle last-minute changes and unexpected challenges.”
How well do you handle stress?
An interviewer would ask "How well do you handle stress?" to a/an Front Desk Receptionist because it is important for the role. The Front Desk Receptionist is often the first point of contact for customers, and as such, it is important that they are able to handle stress well. This question allows the interviewer to gauge the applicant's ability to handle stressful situations.
Example: “I am very good at handling stress. I have a lot of experience dealing with difficult customers and challenging situations, and I always remain calm and professional. I am able to prioritize my work and stay organized even when things are hectic.”
What are your people skills like?
An interviewer would ask "What are your people skills like?" to a/an Front Desk Receptionist because it is important for the role of a front desk receptionist to have excellent people skills in order to be able to interact with customers and clients in a professional and friendly manner.
Example: “My people skills are excellent. I am able to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life and I have a natural ability to build rapport with others. I am also a patient person, which is an important quality for a front desk receptionist, as sometimes you have to deal with difficult or irate customers.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client.
The interviewer is asking this question to get a sense of the candidate's customer service skills. It is important for a front desk receptionist to be able to handle difficult customers or clients in a professional and courteous manner. This question will help the interviewer to gauge the candidate's ability to do so.
Example: “I had a customer who was very unhappy with the product they had purchased. They were demanding a refund and became quite agitated when I told them that we could not give them a full refund. I remained calm and professional and explained the refund policy to the customer. After a few minutes, the customer calmed down and accepted the partial refund.”
Tell me about a time when you had to manage a heavy workload.
The interviewer is trying to gauge the applicant's ability to handle a high volume of work. This is important for the front desk receptionist position because the job requires handling a lot of customer inquiries and requests. The applicant should be able to demonstrate their ability to stay organized and efficient when managing a large workload.
Example: “I had to manage a heavy workload recently when our office was short-staffed. I was the only person working at the front desk, so I had to juggle answering phones, greeting visitors, and handling other administrative tasks. It was a lot of work, but I was able to manage it by staying organized and prioritizing my tasks.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation.
There are many reasons why an interviewer would ask this question to a front desk receptionist. It is important to know how the candidate deals with difficult situations because the front desk receptionist is often the first point of contact for customers and clients. The receptionist needs to be able to handle difficult situations in a professional and calm manner. This question allows the interviewer to see how the candidate deals with difficult people and situations.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel when a guest came to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager. The guest was very upset and said that his room was not clean and that he had found a bug in his bed. I tried to calm the guest down and explained that the manager was not available but I would be happy to help him with his problem. I asked the guest to tell me what happened and he gave me a detailed account of what he had found in his room. I apologized for the inconvenience and assured him that we would do our best to rectify the situation. I then called housekeeping and asked them to send someone up to the guest's room to clean it and check for any bugs. I also offered the guest a complimentary breakfast voucher as an apology for the inconvenience.”
Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem.
The interviewer is trying to gauge the applicant's problem-solving skills. As a front desk receptionist, the applicant will likely encounter many problems that need to be solved quickly and efficiently. Therefore, it is important for the interviewer to know how the applicant would handle such a situation.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel when one of our guests came to the desk and said that they were not able to get any hot water in their room. I asked them what room they were staying in and then went to check it out myself. I found that the water heater in their room was turned off. I turned it on and then went back to the guest and told them that the problem had been solved.”
Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative.
The interviewer is trying to assess the candidate's ability to take initiative and work independently. This is important for the front desk receptionist role because the candidate will be responsible for greeting visitors, answering phones, and handling other administrative tasks with little supervision.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel and one day we were short-staffed. I had to take initiative and cover the phones, check people in and out, and do whatever else needed to be done to keep the place running smoothly. It was a lot of work, but I got it done and everyone was happy in the end.”
Tell me about a time when you had to be creative.
The interviewer is asking this question to get a sense of the candidate's ability to be creative in their work. As a front desk receptionist, they may be required to come up with creative solutions to problems that arise in the course of their work. This question will help the interviewer to understand the candidate's ability to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel and we were completely booked for a weekend. A family came in and said they had reservations but they had been double-booked. I didn't want to turn them away so I got creative and found them a room at a nearby hotel.”
Tell me about a time when you had to use your communication skills.
In customer-facing roles, communication skills are key in maintaining positive relationships with customers and ensuring their needs are met. As a front desk receptionist, you are often the first point of contact for customers, so it is important to be able to effectively communicate with them in order to provide them with the best possible experience. This question allows the interviewer to gauge your communication skills and see how you handle difficult customer service situations.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel and one of our guests had a complaint about the noise level in their room. I spoke with the guest and explained that we would do our best to resolve the issue. I then went to the manager on duty and relayed the guest's complaint. The manager took care of the situation and the guest was satisfied.”
Tell me about a time when you had to be organized.
The interviewer is asking this question to determine if the front desk receptionist is organized and can handle a variety of tasks at one time. This is important because the front desk receptionist is often the first point of contact for customers and needs to be able to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.
Example: “I had to be organized when I was working as a front desk receptionist. I had to keep track of all the appointments and make sure that everything was running smoothly. I also had to be able to answer any questions that the clients had.”
Tell me about a time when you had to pay attention to detail.
An interviewer would ask "Tell me about a time when you had to pay attention to detail" to a Front Desk Receptionist in order to gauge whether or not the receptionist is capable of paying attention to detail. This is important because the receptionist is responsible for greeting guests, answering phones, and performing other administrative tasks. If the receptionist cannot pay attention to detail, it could result in guests not being greeted properly, phone calls not being answered, and other tasks not being performed correctly.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel and one day, we had a VIP guest checking in. I was instructed to pay extra attention to detail and make sure that everything was perfect for this guest. I made sure that the room was clean and tidy, the bed was made with fresh linens, and there were no items out of place. I also made sure to double check that all of the amenities in the room were stocked and working properly. The guest was very happy with their stay and complimented me on my attention to detail.”
Tell me about a time when you had to be flexible.
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a front desk receptionist. One reason is to gauge the receptionist's ability to deal with unexpected changes or challenges. Another reason might be to see if the receptionist is able to adapt their work style to fit the needs of the company or department. Flexibility is important for front desk receptionists because they often have to juggle multiple tasks at once and deal with a variety of people with different needs.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel and we were short-staffed one day. I had to be flexible and cover the concierge desk in addition to my own duties. I was able to juggle both tasks and still provide excellent customer service.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging situation.
An interviewer would ask this question to a front desk receptionist to gauge their ability to handle difficult customer service inquiries and complaints. It is important for a front desk receptionist to be able to remain calm and professional when dealing with challenging situations in order to provide the best possible customer service.
Example: “I was working as a front desk receptionist at a hotel when we were hit by a severe storm. The power went out and we had no backup generator. We had to evacuate the hotel and move all of our guests to another hotel. It was a very chaotic and stressful situation, but I kept calm and helped to organize everything as best as I could. We were able to get everyone safely evacuated and settled into the other hotel.”