How to hire receptionists and information clerks
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • File and maintain records. • Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations. • Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public. • Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments. • Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided. • Receive payment and record receipts for services. • Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars. • Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension and writing skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, administrative and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $18.27 an hour ($38,010 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for receptionists and information clerks
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to file and maintain records. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What receptionists and information clerks do
- File and maintain records.
- Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
- Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
- Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
- Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
- Receive payment and record receipts for services.
- Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
- Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for receptionists and information clerks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -1.7% over ten years, little or no change · about 105,100 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay receptionists and information clerks
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,060 |
| Alaska | $44,720 |
| Washington | $44,710 |
| California | $44,100 |
| Massachusetts | $43,870 |
| Alabama | $32,590 |
| West Virginia | $31,920 |
| Mississippi | $31,160 |
See receptionists and information clerks pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.