discuss any awkward experience you may have had when you did not know how you should greet a person?
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Answer:
We’ve all been there: You’re visiting an office for the first time — maybe to meet with a potential client or for a job interview. You double check that you’re early (but not too early!), walk into the reception area clutching your portfolio, and …. hmmm. That’s a little off.
Maybe the front desk area is eerily empty. Maybe you walked into the middle of something you weren’t expecting. Or maybe it’s just not clear how to check in.
It’s safe to say that visitor experience is not always top-of-mind for non-retail businesses, which is why awkward situations abound in office reception areas.
However, the reception area is where first impressions are made, and first impressions matter. As just one example, career expert Liz Ryan encourages job seekers to view their experience with the receptionist as a direct indicator of company culture. It makes sense: Just think about the damper that your weird reception experience would have had on your theoretical new job or partnership.
At The Receptionist, we’ve heard all kinds of front desk area mishaps. Here are the most common sources of awkwardness and confusion in the reception area — and how to make sure your own visitors avoid them.