A day in the life of Lingeka Dili, aka Nelly, receptionist in the Department of Chemical Engineering

23 April 2012

Lingeka DiliWhat does her day look like?

As the receptionist for the very large building, Dili is the first point of contact for students and staff and visitors to the department. She assists students and parents with general information, helps with administration in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment and supplies students with handouts. Dili also sets up meetings between lecturers, tutors and students.

What are the challenges of the job?

The department is among the busiest on campus, with a large number of visitors. Dili often finds it difficult to juggle tracking down people and attending to the non-stop telephone calls. Dealing with the same questions over and over again is sometimes taxing. Demands from students when they can't see academics or tutors immediately are also challenging. Venues for meetings and lectures are in high demand, and it's stressful to deal with the double bookings that often occur.

What are highs of the job?

Seeing happy, satisfied customers is always a great moment, says Dili. "Some visitors will come up to me before leaving the building and express their gratitude for the service I've provided to them." Also, seeing students she's helped over the years graduate or in high-powered jobs is very pleasing.


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