National Receptionist Day
I’m Chantelle, an FSC Construction & Maintenance receptionist and admin team member. Because today is National Receptionist Day, my task is to tell everyone a little about me and what I do.
What does your role involve?
My role is to make sure office procedures are happening as they should. I support the office team by carrying out everyday office duties. Because I am usually the first line of contact for all online and offline enquiries, I make sure people’s first impression of our company is always positive.
What do you like about your job?
The office is such a great place to be. Everyone is friendly, and it’s just like one big family. Nobody is too important to make a round of hot drinks for the team or too busy to help out if somebody needs some assistance. There is a lot of respect for each other regardless of their role in the company.
What’s your working day like?
Probably the obvious answer, but busy. The job is more than answering calls and replying to emails. It’s hard to say because there isn’t a routine. I could match invoices to orders, type or send quotes, timesheets, or sort out the post. That are just a few things; I could be getting on with almost anything because the role is so varied.
What skills do you need in your job?
On top of knowing my way around the standard word processing and spreadsheet programmes, there is a lot of attention to detail needed. So I tend to check and double-check everything. There is nothing worse than sending something with a mistake to a client. Confidentiality is a must too. We deal with a lot of sensitive information on things like quotes and contracts.
What was your background before starting this role?
I came here straight from secondary school education. I started an apprenticeship at college and haven’t left.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Being a mum of two under six is difficult. But I’m proud of managing a chaotic household whilst also managing a career at a place I love working at. I know some other people in my situation struggle, but I think you have to make the most of the situation. I have a young family to provide for, so I do what I need to give them the best life.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Still at FSC but going down a slightly different path. You won’t be seeing me on a construction site at any time soon, though. The long term plan for me has always been to move into the HR side of the business. I started training back in 2018, but this was cut short when I went on maternity leave.
A bit of advice for anyone thinking about a career in admin?
If you like to be busy, admin could be the job for you. If you want to know what’s going on all the time, admin is definitely for you. This department is generally the hub of everything; you see the bigger picture of what we’re doing and where. You see all the planning and hard work that goes into servicing the businesses we work with.
