Customer services

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

College

Getting a college qualification may be helpful for reception work. Relevant courses include:

• Level 1 Award in Salon Reception Duties (beauty and hairdressing)
• Level 1 Certificate in Business and Administration (office administration)
• Level 2 Certificate in Front of House Reception (hospitality and catering)
• Level 2 Diploma in Reception Operation and Services (hospitality and catering)
• Level 2 Diploma in Hospitality (hotel)

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a hospitality team member intermediate apprenticeship, or a hospitality supervisor advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Work

You could begin as an admin assistant in an organisation, for example by doing temporary work, then apply for a permanent job as a receptionist when a vacancy becomes available.

In a hotel, you could start in housekeeping or admin and do further training on the job.

Volunteering and work experience

Volunteering is highly valued if you want to apply for receptionist jobs.

Direct application

You may not need any formal qualifications to apply directly for work as a receptionist. It will help to have good admin and customer service skills.

Some employers will prefer you to have a good general education, with GCSEs and IT skills to work with computerised booking or payment systems.

More information

Career tips

For hotel reception work it may be useful if you can speak a second language to serve visitors from outside of the UK.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a receptionist in hospitality from the Hospitality Guild.

You can find out more about being a medical receptionist from NHS Careers and AMSPAR - the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Manager, Administrators and Receptionists.

With training and experience, you could move into a senior receptionist or personal assistant (PA) role.

In a GP surgery or health centre, you could train to become a medical secretary or a practice manager.

You can find out more about becoming a receptionist in hospitality from the Hospitality Guild.