Hire a Receptionist Before Your Busy Period: The Front-Desk Advantage Businesses Can’t Afford to Miss

The front desk is where first impressions become operational outcomes

When business gets busy, most teams focus on scaling the obvious roles first. But the front desk is often the first place pressure shows up — and when it’s under-resourced, everything else slows down.

Reception is one of Australia’s most widely needed roles. Jobs and Skills Australia estimates about 187,000 receptionists are employed nationally, making it a core occupation across the workforce.

So if you’re planning to hire a receptionist, you’re hiring into a competitive market — especially right before busy periods, when lots of businesses are hiring at once.

Why hiring a receptionist early matters

1. Busy periods hit the front desk first

Peak periods can arrive in any business: seasonal trade, campaign launches, major projects, end-of-year rushes, or growth spurts. When that happens, the front desk becomes the first pressure point.

Calls increase. Walk-ins double. Deliveries stack up. Team members start leaning on reception for help with admin that usually sits elsewhere. Early hiring prevents that cascade.

Australia’s hiring market also tends to move in waves. SEEK’s Employment Dashboard shows job-ad demand fluctuates month-to-month, and when hiring clusters appear, competition rises quickly. 

If you wait until the rush is here, you’re often hiring during the most crowded window.

2. Receptionists shape customer experience more than most roles

Receptionists are usually the first point of contact people have with your business. That first interaction becomes a signal of how organised, responsive, and professional your business is.

Australian employer research highlights that strong front-desk performance impacts the whole organisation, especially through communication, organisation, and interpersonal skills.

In busy periods, a confident receptionist prevents friction before it turns into complaints or lost opportunities.

3. Hiring a receptionist isn’t “basic admin”, it’s flow control

Jobs and Skills Australia lists receptionist tasks like greeting and directing visitors, coordinating appointments, managing heavy call volume, resolving complaints, handling deliveries, and supporting clerical work — often all at once.

That’s why reception is a high-leverage role: when the front desk runs smoothly, the whole operation runs smoother.

What to look for when you hire a receptionist

If you want to hire a receptionist who performs well during busy periods, focus on these four traits. They’ll tell you more than a polished CV ever will.

1. Calm under pressure
   Reception is a high-switch role. Calls, walk-ins, deliveries, and internal questions collide — often at the same time. The best receptionists stay grounded and helpful even when the desk is busy.
   
   Example: On a Monday morning rush, they can greet a visitor, finish a call professionally, and keep the next caller warm without looking flustered or dropping details.
   ‍
2. Strong triage instinct
   A receptionist is basically a traffic controller for your business. Great ones sort what’s urgent, what’s routine, and what’s misdirected and move each item where it needs to go fast.
   
   ‍Example: A client arrives early, a supplier is calling back, and a teammate needs help. They acknowledge all three, handle the client first, park the supplier politely, then loop back to the teammate, keeping flow smooth.
   ‍
3. System confidence
   Modern reception runs on tools: calendars, booking platforms, visitor check-in, phones, internal chat. Someone who’s comfortable with systems ramps faster and makes fewer mistakes under pressure.
   
   ‍Example: If schedules suddenly change, they update the calendar, notify the right people, and re-sequence the queue without needing a manager to step in.
   ‍
4. Communication
   
   ‍Receptionists are the voice and face of your business. They need to communicate clearly to customers and internally, while matching your pace and style.
   
   Example: A frustrated caller rings in. They listen calmly, summarise the issue in one sentence, route it correctly, and reassure the caller about next steps, without escalating tension.

Practical tips to hire a receptionist efficiently

• Start earlier than you think.
  Hiring early gives you access to stronger candidates, time for onboarding, and fewer last-minute compromises.
  
  
• Hire for flexibility.
  Busy periods are uneven. A receptionist who can adjust shift times, cover spikes, or step in for event days delivers far more value.
  
  
• Define the job scope clearly.
  Be explicit about call volume, walk-ins, appointment coordination, admin support, and system use. Clarity prevents mismatch and churn.
  
  
• Use vetted talent sources if speed matters.
  When timing is tight, pre-screened, rated candidates reduce risk and let you move faster.
  
  

Key takeaway

To hire a receptionist at the right time is to protect your entire operation. Reception isn’t a “nice to have” during busy periods, it’s flow control. When the front desk is covered by someone capable, everything else works better: customers feel looked after, specialists stay focused, and service stays consistent under pressure.

Why Sidekicker?

Hiring quickly only helps if the person you hire is reliable and ready to perform. Sidekicker helps Australian businesses access vetted reception and admin support when demand rises — without the delays of traditional recruitment.

If you’re heading into a busy period, securing front-desk support early can prevent a lot of downstream stress. A flexible receptionist hire now gives your team space to focus on the work that matters most.