Receptionist Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Receptionist Resume Templates and Examples (Downloadable)

• Entry level
• Midlevel
• Senior level

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Organizations in nearly every industry rely on receptionists to welcome visitors and ensure their front offices are running smoothly. Your resume must show potential employers you can handle the demands of phone calls and appointment scheduling, all while providing quality customer service. In this guide, we’ll help you write a receptionist resume that stands out from the competition and gets you one step closer to an interview.

Key takeaways:

• Emphasize front-desk capabilities: In the resume profile, highlight any special clerical skills or qualifications you have that would pique the hiring manager’s interest. From customer service to medical billing, make it specific to the employer’s needs.
• Quantify your success: Use numbers throughout the professional experience section to describe your achievements with concrete data, such as improvements in office efficiency or an increase in customer satisfaction.
• Use relevant keywords: Incorporating key phrases and words from the job ad into your resume will help your application make it through applicant tracking systems (ATS) used to filter through candidates.

How To Write a Receptionist Resume Example

As a receptionist, your resume must demonstrate to potential employers that you can provide exceptional attention to detail. Highlight this quality with a well-organized, modern template. Ensure your receptionist resume includes the following sections:

• Contact information
• Profile
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

List your full name, phone number, email address, and location at the top of your receptionist resume. If you have an online professional profile like LinkedIn, you can also include a link to it. Ensure your contact information is current so potential employers can contact you for an interview.

2. Summarize your receptionist qualifications in a dynamic profile

In about two to three sentences, summarize your professional background, relevant skills, and experience as a receptionist. This should include the most compelling aspects of your career to engage the hiring manager. Here you can emphasize key strengths in administrative work and customer service to show you’re a good match for the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a receptionist position in a law firm, you would mention any experience you have with legal documentation. If you’ve worked with lawyers before, mention the extent of your skills in handling confidential information or scheduling client consultations and court dates.

3. Add your receptionist experience with compelling examples

In the professional experience section, provide information on your most relevant work history. Weave your accomplishments into accomplishments-based bullet points instead of listing a bunch of responsibilities and then also showing some achievements. Remember to show how you went beyond the basics to make a difference in the office. For example, maybe you implemented a new filing system or sped up the check-in process — mention that here.

Also, demonstrate your ability to communicate with clarity and compassion to visitors and fellow staff alike. How did you make every visitor feel welcomed? In what ways did you support the entire team? Describe how you collaborated to accomplish goals, set appointments, and optimize schedules.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

When describing your previous jobs, use numbers to provide measurable, tangible evidence of your work. Telling hiring managers how many calls you answer per day is much more impactful than simply stating you’re skilled in handling large volumes of calls. You can incorporate percentages, dollar amounts, and other metrics to help illustrate your past success.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

The more you can show that you match the requirements of the job, the better. Tailoring your resume is the best way to do this. For each application you submit, start by identifying what the company is looking for in a receptionist and how your experiences and skills fit. Then, include keywords and phrases you find in the job announcement within your resume.

For instance, suppose an employer mentions “proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite” in the job description, and you have relevant experience. In that case, you would treat this as a keyword and figure out a way to incorporate it in your resume within the profile, skills list, or professional experience section.

What if you don’t have experience?

If you’re pursuing a career as a receptionist but don’t have any job experience, there’s no need to worry. It’s still possible to make a strong impression on hiring managers with your resume. Here are some tips:

• Emphasize interpersonal abilities: Reliability, efficiency, and attention to detail are highly valued soft skills in a receptionist.
• Highlight transferable skills: If you’ve worked in customer service, that experience has prepared you to do things like greet and interact with customers or process transactions.
• Leverage past experience: Consider how past positions or time at school could relate to a clerical role, such as software proficiency, typing skills, or team leadership.

4. Add receptionist education and certifications

Educational requirements for receptionists may vary depending on the industry, many positions only require a high school diploma. No matter your level of education, list your highest degree first, followed by the degree name, school name, and location. Then, provide the graduation date or your expected graduation date so hiring managers know when you’ll be finished with school.

If you’ve earned any related certifications, include those as well. Anything to help set you apart from other candidates will make all the difference. Software proficiency, data entry, and customer service certifications will show your commitment to professional development.

5. Outline your most useful receptionist skills and proficiencies

Employers look for both hard and soft skills when hiring receptionists to ensure the candidate can handle daily demands. To demonstrate that you have a well-rounded skill set and would excel in the position, include technical and interpersonal abilities on your resume. When comparing your skills to those needed for the receptionist job, you’re likely to come across keywords like these:

Resume writer’s tip: Use descriptive action verbs

When writing your resume, it’s important to use concise language to avoid the passive voice and better engage hiring managers. Action verbs can help by adding impact to your experience section. These words get straight to the point, allowing you to optimize space and communicate clearly. Here’s a list of dynamic action verbs you can use on your receptionist resume:

How To Pick the Best Receptionist Resume Template

Just like a clean and clutter-free reception area is inviting for visitors, an organized template will effectively invite hiring managers in to read your resume. As a receptionist, it’s important to communicate your professionalism and attention to detail. Choose a template that reflects these qualities by looking for a design with bullet points, classic fonts, and a well-structured layout.

Receptionist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Frequently Asked Questions: Receptionist Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a receptionist job description?

Employment for receptionists is projected to see little to no change over the next decade. Opportunities most likely to arise will be openings created by people retiring or changing occupations. To stand out from other administrative professionals vying for these jobs, your resume must show that you can meet the employer’s reception needs.

Start by aligning your resume with the job description. Identify key skills, qualifications, and requirements mentioned by the employer that match up with your work history. For example, if a dentist’s office is looking for a receptionist with experience in medical billing, you would emphasize your ability to process payments, verify insurance, and handle billing disputes.

What is the best receptionist resume format?

A format that emphasizes your administrative skills and progressive work history is the best choice for a receptionist resume. The combination format offers this balance by providing space for a key skills list. Whether you’re new to the field or have been managing office tasks for years, you can easily adapt this resume style to fit your needs.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.