receptionist

thumb|Receptionist of EA DICE in [[Stockholm, Sweden]] A receptionist or front desk assistant is an employee in the administrative professional field, taking an office or administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business. The title receptionist is attributed to the person who is employed by an organization to receive or greet any visitors, patients, or clients and answer telephone calls. thumb|Security Receptionist, Watchman, and/or Security Guard on duty at a security post at the entrance to a residential complex in Whampoa Garden, Kowloon, Hong Kong. A security receptionist, is a person who performs duties that combine some or most of the work of a traditional receptionist, plus duties that pertain to identity verification, the issuance of visitors' passes, and observing/reporting any unusual or suspicious persons or activities; and in other cases serving as an observant watchman or a trained and full-fledged security guard conducting private policing duties alongside their receptionist duties as part of their security work.

The term front desk is used in many hotels for an administrative department where a receptionist's duties also may include room reservations and assignment, guest registration, cashier work, credit checks, key control, and mail and message service. Such receptionists are often called front desk clerks. Receptionists cover many areas of work to assist the businesses they work for, including setting appointments, filing, record keeping, and other office tasks.