How to Write a Receptionist Resume (Skills, Job Description, and Samples)

If you’ve ever worked as a receptionist, you know how demanding the job can be. As you answer phones, greet guests, provide information, manage appointments, and so on, you’re expected to be cheerful, friendly, and capable of handling whatever comes your way.

You may also be expected to perform various tasks around the office. It’s a role that necessitates a great deal of dexterity, people skills, and excellent organization.

As a potential receptionist, you want your resume to highlight these qualities. Receptionists can be found in almost every industry and company, so in this article, we’ll be looking at how to write an excellent receptionist resume that can wow any hirer.

Who is a Receptionist?
What Does a Receptionist Do?
Common Receptionist Responsibilities
What are the Required Receptionist Resume Skills in 2024?
How to List Receptionist Responsibilities on a Resume
What is the Best Resume Format for a Receptionist in 2024?
How to Write a Receptionist Resume in 2024
Include Contact Information on Your Resume
Receptionist Resume Samples
Recommendations

Who is a Receptionist?

A receptionist is a person who works in an office or provides administrative support. The work is typically done in a waiting area, such as a company or organisation’s lobby or front office desk.

A receptionist is someone who works for a company and is responsible for greeting visitors, patients, or clients, as well as answering phone calls.

In many hotels, the term “front desk” refers to an administrative department where a receptionist’s responsibilities may include room reservations and assignments, guest registration, cashier work, credit checks, key control, and mail and message service. Front desk clerks are another term for these types of receptionists.

What Does a Receptionist Do?

Receptionists work as a business’s front-desk associates and are in charge of a variety of administrative support duties that keep the office running smoothly.

Receptionists may greet visitors, handle incoming and outgoing correspondence, keep files and records, perform data entry, keep office calendars and schedules clean, safe, and organized, and keep the office supply inventory fully stocked.

Common Receptionist Responsibilities

Some of the most common responsibilities of a receptionist include the following:

Reception by phone and at the front desk
Management of databases and records
Customer care
Executive and administrative help
Calendar Administration
Office and supply upkeep

Management of databases and records

Receptionists can manage general office records and data by maintaining the filing system, recording information received in communications with vendors and clients, and collecting and distributing incoming and outgoing mail.

A receptionist may be in charge of a company’s physical mail and email communications. Receptionists may also collect personal information from new clients and, if necessary, verify and record this information.

Customer care

A receptionist’s role is critical to a business’s customer service because the receptionist is often the person with whom a client or vendor communicates the most and is the first person they interact with when contacting or visiting the business.

Receptionists must have excellent customer service skills, including the ability to remain calm and friendly when dealing with problems.

Executive and administrative assistance

Executive and administrative support may be provided by receptionists, such as preparing and presenting reports and spreadsheets to executives, preparing meeting and training rooms, and taking meeting minutes.

Calendar Administration

Receptionists are typically in charge of keeping office calendars and schedules up to date. They may schedule telephone or in-person meetings with clients and vendors, confirm client and vendor appointments, schedule office personnel for off-site responsibilities, and plan company events. Receptionists may also plan and coordinate travel for office personnel.

Office and supply upkeep

Receptionists are responsible for general office maintenance, such as keeping the office clean, safe, and organized. They also check the inventory of office supplies, order new supplies, and distribute supplies as needed.

What are the Required Receptionist Resume Skills in 2024?

A receptionist’s success is dependent on the following abilities:

1. Communication abilities

Receptionists require excellent verbal and written communication skills as they greet clients and visitors, answer phone calls, and respond to emails.

Receptionists must also communicate effectively with executives and other employees throughout the organization.

2. Time management abilities

The ability of an individual to perform multiple tasks and complete projects and tasks on time is referred to as time management skills.

Receptionists frequently perform multiple tasks throughout the day and must prioritize these tasks in order to complete their duties on time.

3. Knowledge of technology

The ability to type and use office equipment such as computers, telephones, copiers, fax machines, and printers is referred to as technology skills.

Receptionists frequently manage a multi-line phone while also performing office management tasks such as filing, copying, printing, faxing, and mailing. Receptionists should also be able to use the Microsoft Office suite of products at an intermediate level.

Also, check this: Best Tips on How to Write a High School Student Resume in 2024

4. Customer service abilities

Receptionists are frequently the first people customers and vendors contact when they have a problem or a concern. They must remain calm, acknowledge and investigate concerns, and resolve or refer them to the party for resolution.

5. Confidentiality

Receptionists may have access to personal and confidential information about clients and vendors, such as medical histories, employment information, contact information, and more. It is critical for a receptionist to maintain client and vendor confidentiality with professionalism.

6. Organizational abilities

The ability to plan, prioritize, and manage office responsibilities is referred to as organizational skills. Receptionists must be extremely organized because they schedule and confirm appointments.

Also, they direct client and visitor communications to the appropriate party, direct clients and visitors to the correct location, take notes in meetings, and keep the office organized.

How to List Receptionist Responsibilities on a Resume

To list your experience as a receptionist on your resume, follow these steps:

1. Go over the job description

Begin by reading the job description for keywords that target the specific skills, qualities, and experience that the employer seeks. The job description will also most likely include a list of a successful candidate’s primary responsibilities.

2. Make a list of your previous experiences

Make a list of all the skills and experiences you’ve gained through work or volunteering. You may also include awards and accomplishments that show your experience and skill.

3. Discover your strengths.

Examine your list of experience and accomplishments to identify the experiences that show your greatest strengths and are most relevant to the receptionist job description.

4. Include your work experience on your resume

Describe your experience on your resume. When possible, quantity experience with numbers, percentages, and values. In your experience section, try to show your professional growth and development.

5. Prepare to provide answers to questions about your experience

The interviewer or hiring manager may ask specific questions about your resume’s experience. Prepare detailed explanations and examples of your performance in previous roles to answer these questions.

What is the Best Resume Format for a Receptionist in 2024?

As the receptionist resume example in this guide will demonstrate, the chronological resume format is likely the best option for structuring your CV. It is the most popular format for job seekers in general.

However, consider alternative resume formats if you are new to the workforce, making a significant career change, or your most relevant experience has not been in employee positions.

A functional resume format is sometimes appropriate for emphasizing transferable skills or training or for those who have previously worked for themselves.

How to Write a Receptionist Resume in 2024

The steps outlined below will assist you in creating excellent resumes that will help you land jobs.

First and foremost, use the receptionist job description to help you write your resume. A job description will always provide you with all the information you need to create an impressive resume, so don’t be afraid to use it to your advantage.
Begin with a strong resume summary or objective to grab the reader’s attention right away.
Create a section for your experience. Don’t forget to tell potential employers about your accomplishments so they can see how you can benefit their company.
Mention your educational background.
Make a list of your strongest abilities. Make certain that all skills listed on a resume are relevant to the job.
Also, combine hard and soft skills to demonstrate to potential employers that you have everything they are looking for.
Extra sections can be used to tell a bit more about yourself.

It should be tailored to the duties of a receptionist. It should also use a reverse-chronological format to make it easier to navigate. It should also contain the following sections: ‍

Summary or objective for a receptionist resume
Work experience
Education
Key Skills
Volunteering, awards, certifications, interests, and so on are all optional sections.

Finally, it should be in a file format that is supported. In most cases, PDF should work. However, always specify the preferred file type before applying for a job.

1. Create a Receptionist Resume Summary or Objective

Start your receptionist resume with a summary or objective to grab the recruiter’s attention and establish yourself as a worthy candidate.

A summary should include a summary of your career and highlight your most notable accomplishments, qualities, and skills. If you have relevant work experience, use a summary.

An objective best suits candidates with little (or little) work experience. It highlights your strengths and explains why you are a good fit.

Summary SAMPLE

Receptionist with 5+ years of experience at a law firm who is courteous. Proficient in document organization, conflict resolution, and office event planning. Professional demeanour and strong communication abilities. Outstanding research and proofreading abilities.
or
Friendly and motivated receptionist with two years of medical office experience. Manages patient files, processes payments and insurance, and schedules appointments. Experienced with electronic health record software.

2. Add Education Qualification

Is it necessary to have a college degree to work as a receptionist? No, not always. Is it necessary, however, for your resume receptionist to include an education section? It certainly does!
Recruiting firms may prioritize your professional experience.

However, this does not diminish the significance of your education. So, if you have a degree, potential employers and hiring managers will want to know!

Include the following information on your education on a receptionist sample resume:

The name of the college
Attendance history
Type of Degree
Your field of study (and minors, if you have them)

If you have enough experience, this should suffice. If you are an entry-level worker with a gap in your experience or skills, you can expand your education section to compensate. You can also provide the following additional information: ‍

GPA

Academic distinctions, honours, and awards
Coursework that is relevant
Favourite academic disciplines

SAMPLE

Greeted and checked in 50+ patients daily at an office with 3 doctors.
Scheduled appointments and managed calendars using online software.
Answered 60+ phone calls daily and resolved customer complaints.
Scheduled deliveries, ordered lunches and planned office events.

3. Skills to Include on a Receptionist Resume

Before hiring you, every employer wants to know what makes you qualified for a specific job. They will pay close attention to the section on receptionist skills on your resume. That is why you must make it perfect!

If you’re wondering how to put your receptionist skills on a resume correctly, here’s a step-by-step guide:

Make a list of all your abilities.
Examine the job description to see if there are any skill-related keywords.
To find matched skills, compare your list of skills to the list in the job description.
Create a skills section. Insert your most important skills first, followed by the level of proficiency.

Here is a list of the most sought-after receptionist resume skills:

Hard

MS Office
VOIP
Administrative skills
Data entry
Typing 90 WPM
Filing
Planning
Scheduling

Soft

Organizational skills
Multitasking
Time management
Attention to detail
Prioritizing
Collaboration
Listening
Adaptability
Conflict resolution

Include Contact Information on Your Resume

If you haven’t already, include a contact information section in your resume. And, if you did, double-check it!

The most important part of your job application is the contact section. You must ensure that it is current and error-free.

Otherwise, how can anyone recruit you if they don’t have your current contact information?

The following contact information must be included in every receptionist resume sample:

Name
Phone
Number Address (optional)
Email addresses for professionals

Receptionist Resume Samples

Receptionist-Resume-SampleDownload

Conclusion

Now it’s time to get started! You can write an exceptional and irresistible receptionist resume with the above steps.

References

Skillhub – Receptionist resume sample
Indeed – Listing receptionist duties on resume
Resume – Receptionist resume examples