Medical Receptionist Jobs – Here are our top tips to ensure you are at the top of the recruitment list.

Have you ever thought how hard it would be to be a recruiter for a Medical Practice? Think about it, you’ve got to find someone who not only has the ability to relate to the patients, doctors, other allied health clinics, but also is capable of working under pressure, utilising various software packages, has excellent time management skills as well as keeping all of those balls juggling in the air at the same time.

Phew, thank goodness we don’t have that job! One of the best ways to look at your resume is to look at it through the lens of a recruiter. Do you have all the relevant information included that will tick all of those boxes listed above? How is the recruiter going to know that you are capable of achieving all of the tasks in the selection criteria? You have to tell them!

Being a great receptionist is all about the personal qualities that each individual brings to the table so it helps to know what some of the most important traits of an excellent Medical Receptionist are. Here is a breakdown of the different skills that you, as a ‘must employ’ Medical Receptionist, will need to have.

The Chief Happiness Officer

You may have heard this term used in various roles lately, even a major Law Firm in Queensland have hired a ‘Chief Happiness Officer’.  Although the term may seem a bit quirky, it is a perfect representation of the role of a receptionist!  When a patient comes into your practice, you want them to see you as the Chief Happiness Officer; someone who is happy to see them, is approachable and is happy to provide any assistance they need.

Selling that skill in a resume though can be tricky! Providing exceptional customer service and going the extra mile is one way of phrasing it but to go one step further you can elaborate on an experience where you have demonstrated those skills.

Have Empathy!

Empathy is simply recognising emotions in others, and being able to ‘put yourself in another person’s shoes’ – understanding the other person’s perspective and reality. This is so important in the role of Medical Receptionist.  Quite often a patient is either stressed about the up-coming appointment or has been given some devastating news.  In these times, a caring, empathetic approach is needed from all personnel in the practice not just the doctor who is delivering that news. That’s why it is one of the key skills an employer will look at when recruiting the perfect Medical Receptionist.

Empathy is one of the hardest skills to articulate to a recruiter. The best way to do this is by retelling an experience where empathy was required and where your skills were utilised.

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Medical Receptionist Jobs – Attention to detail

While some people think ‘oh it’s just a little mistake, it won’t make any difference’, the exceptional medical receptionist will find that mistake, fix it and learn from it. After all, one of the most important tasks of a medical receptionist is to be precise and record information correctly, a life might just depend on it.  This is one of the most important skills that an employer will be looking for. So, when preparing your cover letter and resume ensure there are no mistakes, typos or incorrect details that may prevent you from even making it to the ‘maybe’ pile, let alone the ‘interview’ pile.

Pressure Cooker, What Pressure Cooker?

Working under extreme pressure can take its toll on anyone, but setting up systems that prevent you from cracking under that pressure is key.  With tasks given at the last minute, a waiting room full of patients, three staff down and a patient who keeps asking ‘when will I be seen by the doctor’ every five minutes, you are bound to be a little frazzled. The key to being a great receptionist is the ability to handle those situations gracefully, without wincing.  Remaining calm and focused to achieve a positive outcome whilst seemingly unaffected by it, turns a good receptionist into a great one.  If you’ve got examples just like that one above, make sure you include it in your letter of application, an employer wants to know that you’ll be able to handle that pressure.

A possum in the spotlight?

Rudeness or bad behaviour is no excuse but we know that it’s going to happen at some point when you are dealing with the general public – and more so when you’re dealing with people who might perhaps have medical conditions that could heighten their concerns. While it can be difficult to sometimes navigate those situations, preparing for how you will handle them will not only put you in a good position when the time arises, but it will also show a prospective employer that you have considered the position and you’re ready to meet the challenge head on.  Check out Medical Administration Training’s blog on ‘5 tips for dealing with difficult patients’.

Think Quick!

As a medical receptionist, most of your day is spent dealing with things that you hadn’t anticipated, that aren’t on your to-do list and have to be done now.  It goes without saying that when the time comes, you need to be able to think quickly and find a solution. Having a smooth running clinic or practice, is paramount in the success of the practice so needless to say your role as the medical receptionist is crucial in fulfilling that brief. Think about a time that you have had to be a quick thinker and the outcome achieved.

As you can see, a medical receptionist not only has to have regular note-taking and communication skills, but must also have certain personality traits such as being open minded, friendly and sociable, careful and diligent, empathetic and patient, and always in control of one’s emotions and actions. It might seem like a tall order for most people out there dreaming of becoming receptionists, but these are the very qualities that will help every budding medical receptionist become a ‘must have’ medical receptionist.

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