- See more at: http://www.jetseotools.com/free-meta-tag-generator/output#sthash.UfVEJ6sq.dpuf A Day in the Life: Receptionist - Knitting is the new Nintendo

A Day in the Life: Receptionist

The duties of a receptionist are commonly known, the main one being: answering incoming calls to the office. But unless you've been in a phone oriented role yourself you probably have no idea what types of phone conversations are even possible, I sure didn't and I am still experiencing new and interesting callers that I keep adding to the bottom of this list as I write it! I felt it would be fun to share 30+ samples of interesting phone calls that I get (thankfully not all in one day though).

Perhaps you have once answered a call like this, or perhaps you were once that caller. Either way, enjoy!

The Holder
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Can you hold?
Me: uh...
Caller: *beep...beep...beep*
Me: *click*
The Unprepared
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Oh, uh, hi. um... one second, I have it here somewhere...I think it's, um, I just need to find it...is it Joe? Sure, can I talk to Joe please?

The Possible Prankster?
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Tree Grass
Me: sorry who?
Caller: Tree Grass
Me: Tree Grass?
Caller: Yes.
Me: I'm sorry I don't have anyone here by that name...
(note: I did not make up the name Tree Grass for this scenario)

The Incomprehensible
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi can I spsdkeak wislkth aslfjlskj aldskjlaj?
Me: I'm sorry, I didn't quite get that, who is it you're looking for?
Caller: aasdlfj ladksjflj.
Me: You're a bit choppy, what is the name?
Caller: SDLFKJS LSDLJKJD!
Me: I'm sorry, but I really cannot understand you.
Caller: BOB JOHNSON!
The Blonde
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Reception please
Me: *facepalm

The Generic
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: John Doe
Me: John Doe?
Caller: Yes.
Me: I'm sorry I don't have anyone here by that name.
(note: I did not make up the name John Doe for this scenario)

The Difficult & Persistent
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: IT please.
Me: One moment...
1 minute later
Me:  Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, I just called, no body answered. Who else can I talk to?
Me: Let me try someone else, perhaps Carl was away from his desk...
1 minute later
Me:  Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: *agitated* Hi, nobody is answering their phones, I need to speak with someone right now.
Me: I'm sorry, unfortunately I cannot see who is at their desk at this moment. Would you like to leave a voicemail so that they can call you back when they are free?
Caller: No I do not leave voicemail's, try someone else.
Me: One moment.
1 minute later
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: *Raging Bull* Does anybody there answer their phones or are they all off partying somewhere?! Can you go make sure someone is at their desk to answer the phone?
Me: I'm sorry I can't do that right now, perhaps your best option is to leave a voicemail because otherwise you could be calling here all day.
Caller: Fine. *mumbles under breath*
Me: One moment...
The Callback
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, someone called me from there.
Me: You have reached the reception desk.
Caller: Did you call me?
Me: No. Do you know someone that works for Company Name?
Caller: No, I don't think so...
Me: Perhaps they will call you back if it's important.
Caller: Ok

The Vague
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, I'm looking for someone, but I don't remember his name...he's the guy with the accent.
Me: Uh...
Caller: He's like 5ft something and has dark hair.
Me: You don't know his name?
Caller: No
Me: Do you know what he does here, his job title maybe?
Caller: No
Me: Well then, that could be anyone...

The Out of Date
Me: Good morning,Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Jane Smith please.
Me: Hmmm...I do not have anyone here by that name. Can I ask what you are calling regarding?
Caller: How about Joe Richards?
Me: No, sorry, no one by that name either.
Caller: Barbra Williams?
Me: She's no longer with the company...
Caller: I'll just check my records and call back.
The Detail Oriented
Me: Good afternoon, company name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, I'm Mike Smith from Company Name, and we bought product from you last month and I have a question about 'these specs and those specs' and 'uses big technical terminology about product'.
Me: Okay...How can I direct your call to help you with that?
Caller: I'm hoping to talk to someone about it.
Me: Yes, let's see then, do you know if you have an account manager?
Caller: I think the name on my page is Lyle Loblaw.
Me: Okay... I'll transfer to you him, one moment...

The Corrector
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Bob please.
Me: Bob Johnson?
Caller: I think it's Bob JoHansen.
Me: Sure...

The Unresponsive
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: *silence*
Me: Hello?
Caller: *some background noise*
Me: Hmm I can hear you, why don't I hang up and call you back.
Caller: *click*
Is any bunny there?
The Language Barrier
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: 一些奇怪的字符串,我不知道它說的話
Me: Um do you speak English?
Caller: 更多的外來詞
Me: I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you...

The Personification
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Company Name please.
Me: This is Company Name.
Caller: Great!
Me: ...

The Lost
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: How do I get to your building?
Me: Um, where are you?
Caller: Driving north on Highway 1 and just passed a gas station.
Me:Why don't I just Google that for you...
The Confused
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Who?
Me: Company Name
Caller: Who's that?
Me: I think you must have the wrong number.
Caller: Ok

The Hard of Hearing
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Who?
Me: Company Name
Caller: Pardon?
Me: *louder* Company Name
Caller: I'm not sure...
Me: *Louder and slower* Com-pa-ny Nammmeee
Caller: I must have a wrong number.

The Procrastinator
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, can you transfer me to Jane Walters?
Me: Sure one moment.
1 minute later
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, I just called, she didn't answer
Me: It's possible she's left for the day.
Caller: Can you go check?
Me: Sorry, no...
Caller: It's urgent personal matter.
Me: It's Friday at 4:45pm, do you have another way of contacting her?
Caller: Ya I guess I can try her cell.
Me: Perfect.
The TMI (too much info)
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi can I speak with John Smith?
Me: I'm sorry he doesn't have an extension so I have no way of connecting you to him. Can I ask what you are calling regarding? If it's related to Company Name I might be able to find someone else to help you.
Caller: It's about Martha and she has an infection and has to go to the doctor and her daughter got suspended and the dog had diarrhea all over the house and the collection agency is calling...
Me: Uh... I don't think anyone here can help with that, do you have another way of contacting her?
Caller: Ya I think so.

The Voicemail
I once came into work on a Monday morning to a lengthy voicemail from a middle aged sounding and very British lady that went vaguely like this:
Caller: Hi, I'm looking for my sister. Her last know whereabouts was *English location* and I haven't seen her since. The police are helping me try to find her. She used to live with and take care of her boyfriend, but he had some mental issues. He had her to shave *unmentionable areas* and I didn't like that and I hope that I can find her again because she's my sister....Please call me back at this number and help me find her.

The Bossy
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi can you page Jane Smith for me?
Me: I can transfer you.
Caller: No I need you to page her.
Me: I'm sorry we don't do that here.
Caller: Well she didn't answer last time, can you go tell her I called?
Me: I'm sorry I can't do that.
Caller: Fine then.

The Echo
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Is this Company Name?
Me: Yes this is Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Direct my call?
Me: Yes. How can I help you...

The Way Off 
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Is this Jake's phone?
Me: No, this is Company Name.
Caller: Is this 555-123-1234?
Me: No this is 555-321-4321.
Caller: oh ok
1 minute later
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi Jake?
Me: No this is Company name.
Caller: But I dialed 555-123-1234.
Me: This is a completely different number.
Caller: I'll have to talk to Jake.
Me: You should do that.

The Assumer
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Can I speak with Carl Matthews please?
Me: He's out of the office currently.
Caller: I'll call his cellphone instead. Is his number 555-222-3333?
Me: I'm not sure actually. I don't know his personal number off the top of my head...
The Sicky
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, this is Mark Thompson.
Me: Hi.
Caller: I'm not going to make it in to work tonight.
Me: Do you have your supervisor's number to let them know?
Caller: Well I just need to let you know.
Me: This is reception, you need to let your supervisor know.
Caller: I hate all this rigmarole stuff. When I can't make it in for 4am and ain't feeling well what am I supposed to do then?
Me: I'm sure your supervisor would have let you know the procedure to call in sick...Do you work for Company Name?
Caller: No I work for Other Company Name.
Me: I think you have the wrong number.

The Huh?
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Joe Smith please
Me: One moment...
1 minute later
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hi, Joe didn't answer, can you try again and put me on ignore?
Me: I'm not sure what you mean.
Caller: Like I need to speak with him so if you can put me through but *pause* *mumbled noises* to orbit *pause* to ignore *pause* Joe *pause*
Me: Would you like me to transfer you?
Caller: Can you page him?
Me: No, I'm sorry I can't do that.
Caller: What about Company Something?
Me: Do you mean Company Name?
Caller: He contacted me from Form Pro.
Me: I don't know what that is.
Caller: I need to speak with him, he called me and I was returning his call.
Me: Did you leave a voicemail for him the last time I put you through?
Caller: Yes, it's of great urgency.
Me: I'm sure that if he called you first and you left a voicemail, he will call you back when he gets a chance.
Caller: When you see him can you tell Tom called?
Me: I work out of a different office so I'm sorry, no.
Caller: Oh. Okay.
Me: Have a nice day!

The Collector
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Accounts Payable please.
Me: One moment...
1 minute later
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: I've tried the A/P department several times now and nobody is answering and there is no voicemail.
Me: Yes, that is odd...Let's try someone else in the same department then...
The Interupter
Me: Good morning, Compa/
Caller: *abruptly* Bob Johnson.
Me: ...no problem...

The Repeater
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hello, I am Tina calling from random agency, may I speak with Tom Jones please?
Me: I don't have anyone on my extension list by that name, can I ask what you are calling regarding and maybe someone else can assist.
Caller: Is this company name?
Me: Yes that is correct.
Caller: Does Tom Jones work for Company Name?
Me: I do not have anyone by that name on my phone list, it is possible he works here, but I have no way to connecting you to him if he doesn't have a phone. May I try someone else for you?
Caller: No I need to speak with Tom.
Me: Do you have another way of contacting him?
Caller: I have his email.
Me: Perhaps that would be good to try.
Caller: Ok
1 hour later
Me: Good morning, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hello, this is Tina from random agency, may I speak with Tom Jones please?
Me: Hi, I believe you called already today, I am unable to connect you with a Tom Jones.
Caller: Oh, Tom Jones doesn't work for Company Name?
Me: I'm going to spare you the speal. Did you try his email address?
Caller: No
Me: Maybe you should.
Caller: Ok
In the afternoon
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: Hello, this is Tina from random agency, may I speak with Tom Jones please?
Me: I would like to ask you to remove this number from your call list please.
Caller: Does Tom Jones not work for Company Name?
Me: Tina. We've been through this.
Caller: Oh ok

The Automated
Me: Good afternoon, Company Name, how may I direct your call?
Caller: YOU HAVE BEEN SELEC/
Me: *click*


The end.
But likely not nearly...haha


Note: All names are fictional, but a version of these calls has happened to me at least once if not a few times. Only in a few instances such as the The TMI scenario did I make up some details as my memory failed me to the exact content of the conversation.

CONVERSATION

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