Receptionist jobs represent a huge portion of the job market. Nearly any business that has over-the-phone or person-to-person interaction with clients requires an individual to manage the front desk and maintain the office schedule. Nowhere is this truer than within the healthcare field. Medical receptionist jobs are at an all-time high and demand for dedicated employees continues to rise as the medical field expands. There are several things to consider before applying or accepting a job as a medical receptionist.
Am I Well-Suited for the Job?
Several personal attributes and academic skills need to work in harmony for one to be a successful and effective medical receptionist. The person holding this title is usually considered the face of the company because he greets and interacts with every patient, insurance liaison, vendor, pharmaceutical representative, and several other types of visitors that enter the establishment. For this reason, medical receptionists need to have a fun, energetic personality that can easily adapt and manage any situation that arises. The educational background of this particular career varies tremendously from the complete lack of formal education to a medical receptionist licensure/certification from an accredited vocational or technical college. Regardless of educational background, one must have proficient administrative skills in order to land a medical receptionist job. Core competences include typing, scheduling, switchboard mastery, and basic computer skills.
What is the Expected Salary?
Average salaries are mainly based on two points: geographic location coupled with level of experience. As in most fields, newcomers without any type of medical or administrative training earn the least while veterans with a well-rounded collective of educational, administrative, and medical experiences earn the most. The following statistics are the national average of all medical receptionist jobs based solely upon years of experience:
Years of Experience = Hourly Rate
Less than 1 year = $7.36 – $13.37
1 – 4 years = $8.13 – $14.59
5 – 9 years = $9.01 – $15.75
10 – 19 years = $9.19 – $17.30
20 years or more = $9.83 – $18.45
What is the Availability of Medical Receptionist Jobs?
There are literally tens, if not hundreds, of thousands medical receptionist jobs available nationwide and these can be found in a variety of cities ranging from small towns to mega-metropolises. There isn’t really a lack of positions, the trick is finding, applying, and receiving an invitation to interview. Most job seekers search newspaper classifieds, community job postings, and online boards in hopes of finding an opening. Few people consider using a temporary staffing agency as a way to gain experience or create networking relationships. More often than not, these temporary jobs turn into permanent positions; even if this doesn’t happen, the employee has added another layer of occupational experience to his resume. Since the computer age dawned, fewer and fewer job seekers actually visit local healthcare providers to make job inquiries; don’t discount this approach. Yes, it is time consuming but usually results in leads that otherwise may have been overlooked because of inadequate advertising. Get creative with your job search and you will be amazed at the opportunities that will be uncovered.
Overall, a medical receptionist job is perfect for those that are a jack-of-all -trades. General medical knowledge, a pleasing disposition, and acute administrative skills are all that is required to start a job that will launch your career within the healthcare industry.
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