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Job Title: Receptionist/Administrative
Type of Company: I work for a small venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco, Boston, and Colorado.
Education: BA, Theatre Arts, Gordon College (Barnesville, GA)
Previous Experience: I worked in theatre before realizing I needed to make a more steady income post-college. Since I worked as a teacher's assistant throughout college where my primary duties were administrative, it was a logical transition.
Job Tasks: As a receptionist for a company that deals with VIPs in the business and financial world, my primary responsibility is making the company look good. I am the first person who potential investors and clients see when they come in for meetings, and it is my job to greet them with a smile, make them feel comfortable, and see to their needs (fetching beverages, ordering lunches, and settling them in various meeting rooms). My other responsibilities include answering the phones, and directing calls to those who might best help, photocopying, and taking care of keeping the office fridges stocked. I also will take on projects that are slightly too tedious for the deal team to spend their time on, such as sorting tax returns, or scanning PDF files for presentations.
Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of my job is that I get to interact with people who I would never normally encounter in my daily activities, and have the freedom to read or take care of personal online chores when things are not particularly busy. The worst part is the frequent monotony and overall dullness.
Job Tips:
1. Expect to be bored, and plan ahead for monotony by keeping yourself busy with outside activities.
2. Always smile, even when you are dealing with less than appreciative people.
3. Do not segregate yourself from those who are not administrative staff. You will find your job much more satisfying if you do not make yourself feel inferior (and if you know others don't view you as such, either).
Additional Thoughts: I honestly believe that the most important quality for success in this field is keeping a positive attitude. I have received generous bonuses and very glowing annual reviews, and all of them have been largely centered around the fact that I am always willing to lend a hand (and force a smile, even for the least important task) when asked, and do so without complaining.
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