is a receptionist only a womans job?

j2u

Hi im looking for work in customer service or office administration.
There are some jobs out there for receptionist/office administration . I have over 4 years experience in office administration but no actual qualifications other than a leaving certificate so perhaps thats why i have got few interviews.I have recently changed the presentation of my cv and that seems to have helped a bit as i at least got called into a recruitment agency to talk to me further . But friends and family tell me that theres probaly little chance of getting a job as a receptionist as im a male. When i think about it mostly receptionists are women or gay men (not a homaphobic slur just an observation). So whats the opinion here as to whether gender would affect your decision in hiring a receptionist regardless of qualifications or experience?
Thanks

Victor

In the traditional small to medium enterprise, yes the vast majority of receptionists are female.

However, in very large firms and state organisations you will find some male receptionists.

Separately, you will find a lot of organisations that employ porters or similar in a not quite receptionist role.

tatli_lokma

just because the 'traditional' office role for women was reception, this does not mean that a qualified male would not get the role. We had a male receptionist in the last place I worked. Just like there are mainly male higher management, does not mean that qualified women do not get the roles - its just a bit trickier because you are fighting a stereotype.

However, if you have not had previous reception experience, then it will be difficult. There are many forms of 'reception' - some are practically office managers, others may literally just answer the phone and open the post! if the role is a more involved one then you will need quite strong and proveable experience - knowledge in switchboards, courier and customs experience for deliveries, diary setting and management, and then lots of little ad hoc duties that receptionists often do, like arranging meeting rooms, catering, ordering services etc etc......as well as the 'standard' receptionist duties. Many reception jobs can have a LOT involved in the role, so you need to brush up. In that case you can 'bluff' a bit on your CV and at least sound a bit knowledgeable when you get in.

Competition for receptionist jobs are fierce out there right now - many companies cut out a 'professional' receptionist when making cuts, so there are a lot of people out there with fantastic experience. And likewise pay for reception positions has dropped A LOT - a friend of mine with 15 yrs experience was previously getting €35000, and is now lucky to have a position paying €24000.

If you are now listed with recruitment agencies, my advice would be for you to register with them as a temp - they may then be able to get you some temp experience as a receptionist which would be very helpful for getting you familiar with what happens on different receptions and the kinds of things receptionists do. sometimes a temp job can lead to a permanent job.

Good luck with it, but just be aware, that a receptionist is not just answering the phones! (and if you have strong admin exp, then if you get a job like that you would probably be bored out of your head!). good luck!

j2u

Cincikchick wrote: »

just because the 'traditional' office role for women was reception, this does not mean that a qualified male would not get the role. We had a male receptionist in the last place I worked. Just like there are mainly male higher management, does not mean that qualified women do not get the roles - its just a bit trickier because you are fighting a stereotype.

However, if you have not had previous reception experience, then it will be difficult. There are many forms of 'reception' - some are practically office managers, others may literally just answer the phone and open the post! if the role is a more involved one then you will need quite strong and proveable experience - knowledge in switchboards, courier and customs experience for deliveries, diary setting and management, and then lots of little ad hoc duties that receptionists often do, like arranging meeting rooms, catering, ordering services etc etc......as well as the 'standard' receptionist duties. Many reception jobs can have a LOT involved in the role, so you need to brush up. In that case you can 'bluff' a bit on your CV and at least sound a bit knowledgeable when you get in.

Competition for receptionist jobs are fierce out there right now - many companies cut out a 'professional' receptionist when making cuts, so there are a lot of people out there with fantastic experience. And likewise pay for reception positions has dropped A LOT - a friend of mine with 15 yrs experience was previously getting €35000, and is now lucky to have a position paying €24000.

If you are now listed with recruitment agencies, my advice would be for you to register with them as a temp - they may then be able to get you some temp experience as a receptionist which would be very helpful for getting you familiar with what happens on different receptions and the kinds of things receptionists do. sometimes a temp job can lead to a permanent job.

Good luck with it, but just be aware, that a receptionist is not just answering the phones! (and if you have strong admin exp, then if you get a job like that you would probably be bored out of your head!). good luck!

Thanks but im surviving on less than 450 a month after bills so boredom wont be a challenge im not willing to overcome.

bladespin

I know several companies that have male receptionists.

tatli_lokma

j2u wrote: »

Thanks but im surviving on less than 450 a month after bills so boredom wont be a challenge im not willing to overcome.

after the different points I made that is the only one you picked up on!
you are not alone in living on €450 per month after bills - in fact plenty out there are having to manage on less, so I don't see the relevance of that comment to the question you asked or the points I raised. As i mentioned even very experienced receptionists are on quite low wages - my friend being an example - she would be on less than €450 a mth after outgoings I would imagine.

Fact remains, competition for reception jobs is fierce, and there are a lot of very experienced people out there not getting a look in - if you want to go up against them you need to either get some reception experience, or pretend that you already have it - especially bearing in mind that you are challenging a steroetype.
The other issue is that many companies no longer want to offer full contracts - reception is one of those roles which can be easily filled via a temp agency and then done away with if need be without any pay off or giving notice. A friend in recruitment tells me that getting permanent receptionist roles is tough and most places are taking temps, seeing how they go and either keeping them on 3 mth renewable contracts, or replacing them every couple of months.
good luck anyway

j2u

Basically work at anything right now so if i was bored as a receptionist compared to the alternative i would still be happy enough and for what its worth im applying to all jobs all areas full time/part time/ temporary.
i just wanted to clarify if there is such a stereotype which it would appear that there is.

mood

It shouldn't be. You skills and manner etc should be all that matter. Go for it I say.