The company receptionist is often one of the most powerful people in the office. Get to know her or him, and you may have your foot in the door, making you one step closer to your dream job.
In this difficult time of employment and job opportunities, it takes a little creativity and a lot of drive to land your dream job. Networking and volunteering are both methods many use to find a job in the field they want, but there is yet another vital tool that may help in finding that perfect job—getting to know the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper in many offices is the receptionist. They usually know all of the goings on in the office including what positions are open, who runs each department, who may be leaving the company, and so on and so forth. The receptionist may be considered a “lowly skilled” job in terms of pay and respect in the office, but they have a lot more clout than most people realize.
The receptionist is in charge of making sure that calls, information, and guests are fielded to the right person. They are the gatekeepers in the office and could be the difference between you seeing someone and you being shown the door.
By getting to know the receptionist, you may be given entree into the world that you want to be in—and if there is a job opening, he or she may be able to help you land it.
When I first began working in the corporate sector, I was a receptionist for three years. And it was my job to make sure that my boss’ time was not wasted—I fielded resumes, phone calls, and visits, and if the person inquiring wasn’t worthy in my opinion, they didn’t get through.
One of my coworkers joked that I held “the key to the city”—I thought it was preposterous at the time but now that I look back on it, I did. I had more power than I knew.
If there is a company that you want to work for, then do so by getting to know the receptionist. Most job openings are not advertised, but the receptionist probably knows what jobs are avalable since visitors have to check in with them first. Visit the company you want to work for, ask questions, and schmooze the receptionist if necessary. Remember, in this tough market, you have to think outside of the box in order to land a gig. Also, be prepared to work in earning the receptionist’s trust. This can be done over time, and may or may not work depending on the receptionist’s disposition.
Getting to know the receptionist is a great way to get in the door and hopefully land the job you’ve always wanted. Be creative, be crafty, and go through the office gatekeeper.
Good luck on your job search!
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You know, I think this worked for me way back when, when I was an addictions therapist trying to get a job at an outpatient center. I knew one of the people who worked there, and she introduced me to the receptonist.
I could tell that the receptionist thought I was sweet (I am, it’s true!) and I bet she put in a good word for me.
Great advice!
Jeanine
Gatekeepers play very important roles in many different situations. Great post. In this day in age things are different, and the job market is beyond competitive. Do you feel that one should only approach (get to know) the receptionist in one visit?
Ashley, I think it depends on the office. You may have to come in and schmooze the receptionist a few times before he or she will give you the goods on what’s going on in the company in terms of job opps. I think you would have to gauge it on a case by case basis.