YAY RECEPTIONIST!? 2/22/11

So today started off as a normal day, actually a pretty boring day. I came in early so I could get off earlier and enjoy my day off school. Unfortunately, the attorneys really didn't have very much work for me to do so I got stuck with filing ;(. I kept myself entertained by talking with one of the secretaries while I filed for her and the time went by decently fast. I had about 45 minutes left before I had to leave when Tammy, one of the secretaries, told me that all the secretaries had to have a quick staff meeting with Mr. Dodds. I didn't think anything of this until she said, "You haven't been taught how to use the phones have you?" I already knew what was up. So Tammy and Connie gave me a 2 minute lesson on how to use the phone system (which is way more complicated then the one at my after school job). I was to sit at the front desk and take phones calls while they were gone. Easy enough right? Nope. The first phone call I did everything right and I transferred it to my sponsor but when Shayla asked who the client's name was I realized my mistake. I didn't even pay attention to what the client was saying! All the secretaries were laughing which made me feel better. Then I was stuck alone, but I was doing well. I answered about 8 calls in the matter of 15 minutes and had to email all of the messages to the different attornies. Then Roaa rang my desk and asked for coffee (she had a client in her office so I assumed the client wanted some). This is where everything went downhill. First it took me about 5 minutes to realize our coffee machine has a reusable filter. Then it took myself and Shayla to find the right coffee to use. I promise their machine is much more difficult then mine at home. Finally after about 20 minutes of attempting to make coffee while answer the phone I made a huge pot of coffee. When I rang Roaa and asked her how many cups she wanted she said, "Coffee? I said I needed a COPY." All the clients and Roaa and Shayla got a real good laugh out of that one. After that incident only a few minor issues occured. Like the secretaries forgot to tell me some of the clients may pay for their legal fees and I had to figure out how to fill out the receipt. No big deal though, I just hope my signature was legit on those receipts or else those clients have a useless piece of paper in their hands. Overall, I think I did a pretty good job as a receptionist because everyone was very pleased. They even complimented how good the coffee smelled (I warned them not to try it because more than likely it probably tasted disgusting with grains and stuff in it but whatever). Although I was super nervous to try this new position, I'm glad I got the opportunity to because I was finally given a lesson on how to use the phones as well as an inside look at a different job in the office. I came to the conclusion that being the lawyer in a law office is definitely the right position for me, because an assistant's job is just too much! I must give them their props.