Thanks to the wonders of technology, it’s easier than ever to find a job where you can work from home without needing any specific certifications. One example of this is a virtual receptionist, a person who can answer the phone and perform the same tasks as an in-office receptionist but with the benefit of being able to work from home. The virtual receptionist career path has become popular for remote workers and businesses. Companies like to hire virtual receptionists because it is a more affordable option than hiring a full-time, on-site person, but customers still get the benefit of connecting with a real person rather than a machine that can feel impersonal and does not always work the way it’s intended to. Automated chat services can lead smaller businesses to lose sales and customers, as they aren’t always great at answering questions and prompts the way the customer needs. Live answering, on the other hand, means that the customer gets all of the answers and information they need right away from a real person.
Does this sound like a great career path for you? If you’re wondering how to become a virtual receptionist, you’ll be glad to know that it’s relatively simple to get started. If you’ve ever worked in an office before, you likely have all of the skills to work in this career. But if you haven’t, that’s OK: Most first-time receptionists learn on the job. In fact, at VoiceNation, we provide extensive training, including ongoing staff development to keep our virtual receptionists at the top of their game. If you’re looking for a great remote position, becoming a virtual receptionist might be right for you!
Requirements for Becoming a Virtual Receptionist
You don’t have to go to any special school or get a specific degree to learn how to become a virtual receptionist. In fact, most of the required skills can be obtained by learning on your own or having a good general education. A good virtual receptionist must have:
- Strong customer service skills
- Good organization skills
- Good communication skills
- The ability to multi-task
- The ability to work without supervision
- Knowledge of common office software like Microsoft Word and Excel
Working from home in any capacity requires a specific skill set as well. While it can be a popular choice for parents and retired individuals, it takes a different kind of work ethic than working in an office does. As a virtual receptionist, you’ll have to be willing to work odd hours, such as evenings or early mornings, and you should have a quiet space free from animals or children so you can give clients your undivided attention. Your office space should include a landline phone or multiple phone lines and a work-specific computer with a high-speed Internet connection. Depending on the company you work with, you may also need to have specific company software installed on your computer.
Interested in Becoming a Virtual Receptionist? Work With VoiceNation!
VoiceNation is a U.S.-based company that provides the best 24/7 live answering services to businesses all over the country. Whether you’re new to being a virtual receptionist or you’ve worked in the industry before, we will provide training to help you best represent the businesses we work with. You’ll also be taught how to work with our client dashboard system so our clients are always updated with up-to-the-minute information about the phone calls they’ve received. If you’re ready to become a virtual receptionist with VoiceNation, start the process today!