The Front Line

Thursday I am going to answer all of the questions you have been asking me so keep them coming! I have some great ones that are really going to make me have to use my brain. If any of you have any inventions for cat workout equipment please e-mail me. Go to THIS POST to find out what I'm talking about!

On to the blog!

I'm a receptionist.

(Hi Pam!)

It's not a glamorous job, unless your Amanda from Ugly Betty.

(I wonder how much she gets paid at Mode)

Since receptionists are almost completely extinct thanks to computers I thought it be a good idea to give some tips for dealing with receptionist. Not that you guys are like the caller I had about 10 minutes ago who inspired me to scribble out this blog, you have better phone etiquette than that.

1. Be patient! We have 2 hands, 2 ears, 20+ phone lines, 50+ employees...you do the math.

2. Smile on the phone. This will help determine your mood for the phone call and it also helps with your tone of voice, believe it or not. This really does work - ask any receptionist.


3. We are receptionists not magicians. If you call for Ted and he's not here no matter how much you beg, badger or plead we cannot get Ted to answer the phone. Please understand that if you are persistent in trying to get Ted to reappear through harassing the receptionist you may be putting your life at risk.


Oh, and your joke about the receptionist being the only person who works there is old and, frankly, mean. Please Stop. (whew, glad I got that off my chest!)

And one more thing, we do not know when they will be able to return your call, we're not psychics either.


4. You may briefly joke with us. Sure we have other calls to answer, but we are like the step-children of the company. No department really wants to claim the receptionist and we typically work by ourselves so that we're "not disturbed" by general office chatter. We're generally pretty starved for communication.

5. Mind your Momma and use your manners. Please and thank you are very nice to hear on the phone. Use them often - even if they aren't necessary.

6. It is a fact that all receptionists like chocolate and flowers, these will help get you on his or her good side - which is a good thing.


7. Don't think that we don't do any work! Not only do we have to juggle phone lines, who's in/out lists, but we also spend a lot of time blogging, googling, "researching", facebooking, and doing the tidbits other people in the office don't want to do. There's not much to do while you're waiting for the phone to ring...which brings me to my next point:


8. Do you all plan when to call? Ask any receptionist, we will have 15 minutes of pure silence and suddenly 12 calls in a row. I'm not even close to kidding. Ask one!



9. Keep it simple please! This is a huge help for everybody! Typically the first person you talk to isn't who will be helping you so to make it go faster by just tell us the name of the person you need or what you're call is regarding (ie: insurance claim, complaint, etc). There is one exception...


10. Please tell us crazy things. Need an exorcist and you were turned down by the Catholic church? Looking for a place to buy some chickens? (taken from calls I've actually received)


11. While you're walking through the lobby and notice this face (sans finger trap) on yourreceptionist while somebody is at her desk PLEASE BAIL HER OUT! This means she is trapped in unending small talk and needs your help.



And Remember...