receptionist, front desk agent

[shabani]

Dear all,
Could anyone please tell me the difference between "front desk agent" and "receptionist"?

Thank you in advance

[SoothingDave]

"Receptionist" is the common term in AmE for this (meaning someone who works in a business and greets visitors as they enter, answers phones, etc.)

[5jj]

"Receptionist" is the common word in BrE, too.

[emsr2d2]

"Front desk agent" sounds very unnatural to me.

I would say that "receptionist" would be the correct word for someone whose permanent job is to greet clients or guests as they enter a business or a hotel.

If someone had various tasks on their job description and greeting people was just one of them which they did perhaps only once a week, they might say something like:

On Mondays, I work in the back office doing the accounts. On Tuesdays, I work on the front desk. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I'm in charge of the catering staff and on Fridays, I cover housekeeping.