Searching for a job isn’t easy work. You’ve probably put a lot of time into creating your resume, composing cover letters, and searching job boards for openings.
Be ready to answer these 10 crucial interview questions when you finally receive a call to interview for a receptionist position.
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?
- What are some of your favorite spa treatments and why?
- How would you handle a situation where a guest is being rude or disruptive?
- What is your experience in the spa industry?
JOB INTERVIEW. Receptionist for a Spa.
8 Receptionist Interview Questions and Answers
How many years of experience have you had as a speed typer and what is your typing speed?
The goal is to make sure the receptionist is able to keep up with the flow of work by being a fast typer.
What to look for in an answer:
- Do they quote a typing speed above 60 wpm?
- Are they a confident typist?
- Do they have enough experience as a speed typer?
Can you describe your ideal relationship with your office?
The goal is to make sure they have a productive sense of their relationship with the office they work for.
What to look for in an answer:
- Do they voice positivity about working in an office environment?
- Are they enthusiastic about the idea of representing your office?
- Will they bring good qualities to your office environment?
A person calls and asks to speak to someone who isn’t available to talk. What do you tell them so they will feel you are doing your best job to enable them to connect with the person they want to speak to?
The goal is to make sure the receptionist has good skills at managing people on the phone.
What to look for in an answer:
- Is the candidate confident about their phone skills?
- Does it seem that they take pleasure in talking to people on the phone?
- Do they have skill at rescheduling calls?
What do you believe the receptionist brings to the office culture at any company?
The goal is to see how the candidate sees a receptionist role fitting in with the broader culture of the company.
What to look for in an answer:
- Do they see the receptionist as integral to company culture?
- Do they have good suggestions for enhancing the corporate culture?
- Do they understand they are representing the company?
Tell me about a situation where you needed to manage an upset individual at the reception desk. How did you handle it?
The goal is to find out how the candidate deals with unhappy or upset clients.
What to look for in an answer:
- Does the candidate feel uneasy at the thought of handling a agitated person?
- Does the candidate have a confident approach to the issue?
- Do they demonstrate experience handling such a situation?
How do you manage the office communications in a secure way?
The goal is to make sure the receptionist understands that one of their roles is discretion.
What to look for in an answer:
- Do they feel capable of handling difficult political situations in a professional setting?
- Do they keep focused on who needs to know what?
- Do they have discretion?
What types of software have you used in previous jobs?
The goal is to find out what software the candidate is familiar with.
What to look for in an answer:
- Do they exhibit skill with the popular software applications used by receptionists?
- Do they know what those types of software are?
- Do they show experience with software?
A receptionist may have periods of downtime where they do not have to attend to client or coworker needs. Receptionists should be able to be productive and find ways to improve their efficiency even when there are no pressing business needs. It’s their responsibility to find time to complete administrative tasks such as filing documents, preparing memos and sorting mail. Strong candidates are proactive with their free time at work when they are not actively interacting with guests.
Look for these main points in a candidate’s response:
- Desire to get ahead of schedule
- Understanding of a receptionist’s passive responsibilities
- Interest in self-improvement
Here is an example of a strong answer to this interview question:
2. Tell me about a time when you had an issue with a visitor and how you resolved it.
This can happen and can be a very delicate situation. Even if you have your own protocols for dealing with this situation – which you should have – it’s a good idea to find out how the therapist would handle it and what they would say, as it gives some insight into their personality.
When you reach the interview stage, you already have some knowledge about the applicant. For instance, if you’re hiring a massage therapist, you should be aware of their training, employment background, level of education, and other factors. You have enough knowledge to believe that this applicant might be a good match for your open position.
It’s time to determine whether they have the abilities and characteristics necessary to succeed in wellness, blend in with your team, and, most importantly, support your company in achieving its strategic goals.
7. Have you ever had to deal with a visitor or coworker who was having trouble communicating? If so, how did you handle it?
Receptionist Interview Questions (& Possible Answers)
Most of the time, receptionists are “under the gun” and must multitask effectively. Your employer wants to know how you handle situations by asking you this question. In your response, emphasize how you always maintain your composure because you are aware that becoming anxious only reduces performance and harms the company’s reputation with clients and customers.
You effectively rank the importance of your tasks and keep a running list of everything that needs to be done. As a result, you never forget important tasks and make sure the “lesser” ones are finished well.
Check out these receptionist jobs and submit an application if you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming one!
How do you manage your workload when it’s really busy?
It’s ideal to draw on prior work experience when responding to this question, but hectic academic periods can also help you provide a solid response. Your interviewer is interested in learning how you handled conflicting deadlines and priorities:
“I was managing five courses during my final semester, and three of them had final exams scheduled for the same two days.” I had to prioritize and be very organized because I had assignments due at that time. I planned my work schedule in advance to make sure I was making the most of my time. ”.
FAQ
How do I prepare for a spa interview?
Once the interview is scheduled, be sure to arrive early so you have time to get ready for the actual screening. If you have previous work experience, bring a portfolio or copies of your references, dress appropriately, and bring an extra copy of your resume and cover letter.
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers for receptionist?
- How would your previous employer describe you?
- Why are you interested in our company?
- Why are you interested in this role?
- What are the characteristics of a quality receptionist?
- What about clerical work interests you?
- What are your greatest strengths pertaining to office work?
What questions will they ask for a receptionist interview?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- What are your strengths?
- Why should we hire you for this position?
- What are important qualities for a receptionist to have?
- What are your weaknesses?
What do you say at a spa interview?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want to work here?
- Why did you leave your last job or why are you leaving your current one?
- What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
- What motivates you?
- Tell me about a time you solved a problem.
