What Does an Evening Receptionist Do?

Working as an evening receptionist typically involves working part time hours at the front desk of an office or other business. Due to the interactive nature of this job, it's helpful for a person to have excellent communication skills and the ability stay calm during stressful situations. Generally speaking, it's sufficient to have a high school diploma or equivalent for this position, though additional education can be helpful as well. While the type of facility an evening receptionist may work for can vary, her essential job duties are the same. These include taking phone calls, responding to emails, welcoming guests, keeping track of records and a variety of clerical duties.

Perhaps one of the most consistent duties of an evening receptionist is taking phone calls from customers, clients, vendors or other individuals. Throughout the course of every evening, she will usually answer several phone calls. Depending on the situation, she may answer questions or transfer the call to the appropriate party. In some cases, she might also be responsible for scheduling appointments. Consequently, this position requires a person with proper etiquette and clear speech.

As part of her duties, she will usually respond to emails as well; this aspect of the job calls for an evening receptionist to have at least moderate computer skills. Another important part of this position revolves around welcoming guests. Regardless of the type of business an evening receptionist works for, it's common for her to have frequent face-to-face interaction with numerous individuals. If she is working for a doctor's office, she might need to greet patients and check patients in. When working for a sales company, she may need to welcome clients or vendors and send them to the appropriate department, responsibilities that generally require a friendly and approachable demeanor.

For many facilities, an evening receptionist will also be responsible for keeping track of records. In the case of a doctor's office, she might need to record the date and time each patient visits the doctor and the patient's medical history. This data is often stored in an electronic database and requires an individual to be familiar with computer software programs.

In addition, this position can require a person to perform a variety of clerical duties. This could involve typing up letters for a supervisor, sending faxes and distributing mail throughout an office. Consequently, it's helpful for an evening receptionist to be able to multitask at times.