I used to draw the short straw and frequently ended up on reception for a law firm when I first started work as a legal secretary (junior at the time) and for the most part it was just dull. Now and then you'd have the odd massive kick off and scrap in the middle of reception and police would be called but otherwise it was just endless calls, putting through to people, taking messages, keeping coffee topped up and doing stacks and stacks of photocopying.
Ended up years later moving over to work with emergency duty and safeguarding service which I loved. Lot of aggro from a lot of people already wound up, angry, anxious and in most cases sick of being passed round like a joint and nobody helping them. From the second I picked up the phone they would jump down my throat with a mentally prepped opener they were determined to make sure I heard first and foremost.
I got their frustration and anger and enjoyed helping to sort whatever their problems were and being the one person that finally heard them out, helped them out and got them whatever they needed sorting out more or less on the spot.
It never ceases to amaze how awful a lot of GP receptionists, medical secretaries, admin and reception staff based with social services are in that a large number lack any / all of the basic qualities needed.
One thing I have often imagined to be a really rewarding job is working for a funeral director and being the first person grieving relatives speak with. Again the importance and relief of having someone on the other end of the phone to take a huge load off immediately and be able to carry on unloading as much as they can to make it easier must be such a rewarding job.