sample resume for receptionist with experience

Receptionist Resume Template and Examples for Job Applications (2024)

October 27, 2024

Receptionists serve as the first point of contact for clients, visitors, and colleagues, managing administrative tasks and ensuring smooth communication within a company. If you're aiming for a role that involves organization, communication, and customer service, crafting a clear and professional resume is crucial to stand out in your job search.

In this article, we’ll explore receptionist resume templates and examples, providing insights on how to present your skills and experience effectively. The advice shared here is also applicable for similar positions, such as administrative assistants, office coordinators, and front desk clerks.

Looking for general resume tips and tricks? Check out Bandana’s 101 guide to writing the perfect resume .

Receptionist Resume Examples

Receptionists play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of an office or organization by managing communication, greeting visitors, and handling administrative tasks. They often coordinate schedules, answer phone calls, and manage office supplies, requiring strong multitasking abilities and a friendly demeanor.

A successful receptionist must possess excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a knack for organization. If you're someone who enjoys interacting with people, thrives in fast-paced environments, and has a strong sense of professionalism, you might be a good fit for this role.

For job-seekers looking for receptionist positions, a well-crafted resume is essential to make a positive first impression. Whether you're an experienced receptionist or just starting out, we’ll be sharing resume examples and downloadable templates to help you stand out to potential employers.

Ideal Receptionist Resume Example:

This resume stands out for showcasing extensive relevant experience and skills that align well with the responsibilities of a receptionist.

• Strong professional summary : Highlights over 8 years of experience, emphasizing communication and problem-solving abilities, both key for receptionist roles.
• Detailed work experience : The resume breaks down job duties in a clear, actionable format, such as "Managed the reception area of a busy corporate office," which directly reflects typical receptionist responsibilities.
• Relevant skills and certifications : Lists hard and soft skills that are crucial to the role, including "MS Office proficiency," "communication," and "customer service orientation," making it easy for recruiters to identify a well-rounded candidate.

Overall, this resume effectively conveys a balance of professional experience, relevant skills, and certifications that make it suitable for a receptionist role.

DOWNLOAD THIS EXAMPLE: Click to download this specific example receptionist resume.

Less Experienced Receptionist Resume Example:

This resume is a strong choice for someone who has some relevant experience but may still be in the earlier stages of their receptionist career.

• Concise professional summary : The resume focuses on relevant skills like "communication" and "customer service," which are essential for entry-level receptionist roles.
• Transferable skills from past roles : Highlights administrative duties like "message taking" and "mail handling," demonstrating that prior roles have developed key abilities for a receptionist position.
• Education and certifications : Lists an associate's degree and HIPAA certification, showing that the candidate has a solid foundation in office administration and compliance.

This resume effectively presents a blend of skills and experience that would appeal to employers seeking a candidate with a developing background in receptionist work.

No Experience Receptionist Resume Example:

This resume works well for someone with limited or no prior receptionist experience, focusing on transferable skills and a willingness to learn.

• Highlighting transferable skills : Emphasizes skills like "organization" and "communication," which can be developed in various roles outside of direct receptionist work.
• Education as a foundation : Lists relevant coursework or certifications, showing that the candidate is preparing themselves with the knowledge needed for administrative roles.
• Enthusiasm for the role : Uses interests and volunteer work to showcase qualities like customer service and a proactive attitude, both valuable traits for a receptionist.

This resume effectively positions a candidate with no direct experience but shows potential to thrive in a receptionist position.

DOWNLOAD THIS EXAMPLE: Click to download this specific example receptionist resume. Download Link

How to Further Improve Your Receptionist Resume

Start your resume introduction strong.

A strong resume introduction is key to catching a hiring manager’s attention right away. It should clearly explain why you are applying for the receptionist position, emphasizing your passion for customer service or office administration. Your introduction should highlight any notable professional experience, such as managing front desks or handling office communications.

Additionally, make sure to connect relevant skills you possess, such as multitasking, communication, or scheduling, directly to the job description. This shows that you’re not just qualified but also a perfect match for the company’s needs.

Include only the most relevant work experience

It’s important to clearly present your work experience in a way that aligns with the receptionist role you're applying for. Start by including your most recent position, especially if it involves receptionist tasks or similar responsibilities like answering calls, managing client inquiries, or coordinating office functions.

Even if your past jobs aren't directly related to a receptionist position, it’s valuable to highlight roles where you've demonstrated strong communication, customer service, or organizational skills. These transferable skills are crucial for a receptionist and can make you a standout candidate.

List your education & certifications details clearly

When listing your education and certifications, be clear and concise. If you have an associate’s degree or any certification relevant to office administration, such as HIPAA compliance or proficiency in CRM software, make sure to include these in a prominent section of your resume.

Additionally, don’t forget to showcase soft and hard skills, such as language proficiency, data entry, or problem-solving abilities. These skills, along with interests that demonstrate a well-rounded personality, will help strengthen your candidacy for the receptionist role.

Preparing Your Receptionist Resume for Job Applications

By applying the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you’ll be able to create a standout resume that can help you get noticed by hiring managers. Make use of the provided downloadable templates and examples to ensure your resume is tailored for success.

Ready to continue your job search for receptionist jobs or other positions? Check out Bandana job search — the best way to find a better job.

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Receptionist Resume Sample for 2024 [Job Description, Skills & Tips]

A receptionist does much more than welcome, greet, and direct a company’s guests or clients. 

The job includes maintaining the security and telecommunications systems, providing information to customers by answering or redirecting their inquiries, and offering administrative support within the company, among others. 

As such, it’s not surprising at all if you’re stuck trying to put all that effectively on your receptionist resume. 

Fortunately, though, with the right guidance, writing an impactful receptionist resume can be easy, and we’re here to help!

Read our article to learn all you need to know about writing a receptionist resume! Here’s exactly what we’ll cover: 

• Receptionist Resume Example (Better Than 9 Out of 10 Examples)

8-Step Guide to Write Your Receptionist Resume

• 20+ In-Demand Skills to Put on Your Receptionist Resume

So let’s get to it! 

Receptionist Resume Example (to Inspire You)

Not sure where to start with your resume? Reviewing a receptionist resume example is a good start!

The resume example above does everything right, including: 

• Follows the chronological format. As the most popular format among recruiters worldwide, the chronological resume format is the way to go.
• Has a memorable resume profile. To show the recruiter they’re relevant as an applicant, the candidate has written a captivating resume summary. 
• Includes professional contact details. In addition to the must-have contact details, the receptionist resume example above also lists the applicant’s LinkedIn and Skype handles.
• Lists quantifiable achievements. The candidate has built a work experience section that focuses on achievements to stand out from other applicants. 
• Has a short education section. With plenty of work experience to show for, the receptionist resume example keeps their education section short. 
• Includes relevant skills. The candidate doesn’t list every skill under the sun, but only the ones that are relevant to the position. 
• Uses optional resume sections the right way. By adding their certificates and languages, the candidate has even better chances at standing out from the competition.
• Is based on a well-designed resume template . To avoid the hassle of building their resume from scratch, the receptionist resume example above was built using a plug-and-play template.   

Inspired by the receptionist resume example above?

Now it’s time to write yours! Below, we’ll walk you through the 8 essential steps for creating an effective receptionist resume, starting with:

#1. Choose the Right Format and Layout

When it comes to resumes, the structure is everything. 

You can be an amazing professional and you still won’t stand much chance if:

• Your resume sections are all out of order.
• Your resume is very hard to follow because of a messy structure.
• The resume looks unprofessional because you picked the wrong font . 

So, before you can start filling out the contents of your receptionist resume, you’ve got to first make sure its format and layout are just right.

When it comes to your resume format, the choice is quite easy. 

Out of the three resume formats ( chronological , functional (also known as skills-based), and combination ) you should go for the chronological resume format . It’s the most popular among recruiters everywhere in the world and successfully highlights your skills and achievements by putting your most recent work experience first. 

Here’s what it looks like: 

Now, when it comes to the layout, you’ll have to keep a few more things in mind:

• Keep your resume short. Unless you have 10+ years of experience, a 1-page resume is your best bet that recruiters will go through your entire resume. After all, they receive hundreds of applications daily—they don’t have time to read your resume if it’s the same length as a short novella. 
• Picking the right font size and style. Go for 11-12 pt font size for the body of your text and 13-14 pts for the section headers. As for the style, we recommend using a font that’s casual but professional, such as Ubuntu or Roboto. 
• Using section headers. Section headers are a good way to clearly separate your resume’s sections. 
• Saving your resume as a PDF file. Unless otherwise instructed in the job description, save your resume as a PDF . That way, you can be sure it will open as you intended it despite the device or OS that opens it. 

Or Skip Formatting and Layout Altogether By Using a Resume Template!

Imagine this:

You spend hours and hours tweaking your resume layout, only for it to look like a generic, black-and-white resume.

Not a good feeling, right?

Want to skip ahead of all the formatting hassle and jump right into filling in your contents? AND come out with a visually-appealing, short-n-snappy resume, all at the same time?

All you have to do is pick one of Novorésumé’s free, plug-and-play templates ! 

Our resume templates were made in collaboration with professional recruiters, which means they are easy to read and scan (and they’re ATS-friendly to boot!). 

And the best part? The templates look absolutely gorgeous (especially when compared to a standard black-and-white resume ): 

#2. Add More Than Your Traditional Contact Details 

The contact information section is the most straightforward part of writing a resume. 

Basically, all you have to do is list the following details:

• Professional title. 
• Phone number.
• Location (city and state/country).

Here’s how all that looks like on a receptionist resume: 

Receptionist

123-123-333

[email protected]

Scranton, PA

If you want to add some flavor to this section and you’re active on LinkedIn, you can include your profile’s URL link too. 

#3. Write a Compelling Resume Summary Summary/Objective

Put simply, your resume profile is a summary of you as a professional. 

The 2-3 sentence short paragraph goes at the top of your resume and aims to tell recruiters just enough to convince them to deep-dive into the rest of your resume.

Depending on your work experience level, you can write a resume profile as:

• A resume summary . If you are experienced in the field use a resume summary to sum up your title and years of experience, as well as your top skills and achievements.
• A resume objective . If you don’t have a lot to show for in terms of work experience, then you should go for a resume objective . To ace, it, mention any degree names or experience related to the field, the skills that you can offer the company, and your interest in working there. 

Here’s what a receptionist resume summary looks like:

Detail-oriented receptionist with 4 years of experience in customer service. Efficient in performing the administrative and front-desk tasks of large-scale offices. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in MS Office Suite. 

And here’s a receptionist resume objective:

Motivated communications graduate looking to apply their people and organizational skills as a receptionist at Company Z. Worked as Resident Assistant for 3 years and has hands-on experience on front desk duties, helping students solve problems, and dealing with administrational tasks.

#4. Make Your Work Experience Count 

Consider your work experience section as the backbone of your receptionist resume - it’s what recruiters will be checking to see whether you’ve got what it takes to excel at the job.  

To make this section count, first, make sure to format it the right way. Here’s what that involves: 

• Start with your current/most recent position and go backward in time. Keep your work entries relevant - the paper delivery job from your teens won’t help land you a receptionist job. 
• Begin each work entry with your professional title. Underneath, add the company's name and location, the period you worked there, and 3-5 of achievements and responsibilities in bullet points. 
• List fewer bullet points (1-2 for each work entry) as you go back in time. Your job from 10 years ago doesn’t need to be as comprehensively described as your last one.

After you’ve handled the formatting, you’ve got to make sure your professional experience shines through brighter than other candidates’. 

As hard as it may sound, we have some very effective tips to make that happen, including: 

• Focus on achievements over responsibilities whenever it’s possible. After all, recruiters know what the responsibilities of a receptionist are pretty well - it’s your achievements that can really help you stand out. 
• Quantify your achievements whenever you can. For example, instead of saying “handled incoming and outgoing calls effectively,” say “handled 100+ incoming and outgoing calls on a daily basis.”
• You can use the following formula to quantify your achievements : “accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z.” 

Here’s how a well-written work achievement would look like in a receptionist resume:

• Consulted regarding a redesign of the office scheduling system, increasing accuracy by 38%.
• Achieved 95% customer satisfaction score based on feedback forms.
• Handled successfully 100+ phone calls daily with no complaints during the last 2 years.

And here’s a less convincing achievement:

• Answered questions.
• Provided good customer service.
• Made phone calls.

The first example is achievement-oriented and the recruiter reading it knows how, exactly, you excelled at your last role.

The second example, though, is not as much. The recruiter knows that you worked as a receptionist… and that’s about it. They have no idea if you excelled at the role or not.

If you do have to list responsibilities and tasks on your Receptionist resume, make sure you’re using dynamic action words and strong verbs !

#5. Include Your Education 

The next step in creating your receptionist resume is to list your educational background.

Start by following this format:

• Add your latest and highest degree first. 
• Start off with the degree name, then the institution’s name, and the dates attended. 
• Don’t add your high-school education if you hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. 

Here’s how the education section should look like in a receptionist resume:

BA in Communication 

Penn State University, PA

Now, if you don’t have any work experience at all, you can use your educational history to help you stand out.

In such a case, you can make this section more elaborate by mentioning:

• Academic merits and achievements
• Relevant coursework taken
• Extracurricular activities  

BA in World Literature

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude
• Graduated first of the class in Communications
• Resident Advisor for 3 years

#6. Include Industry-Related Skills

You can definitely tell a good receptionist by the skills they possess. 

And that’s exactly why the skills section is another receptionist resume must-have. 

Of course, this includes a balance between soft skills (e.g. communication skills , time-management, multi-tasking), and hard skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, Supply Management). 

Keep in mind, however, that the key here is to list the right skills and not every single skill that you possess.

Sure, knowing Adobe Illustrator is great, but it won’t help much with your job as a receptionist. 

So, first, go through our list below and include the must-have receptionist skills in your resume (the ones that you do possess, that is).

Then, go through the job ad you’re applying for and see if you missed an important skill or two. Make sure that the skills you’ve listed match the ones required for the role (as long as you actually possess them, of course).

20+ Receptionist Soft and Hard Skills to Put on a Receptionist Resume

Receptionist soft skills.

• Verbal and written communication
• Professionalism
• Customer focus
• Organization and planning
• Handling pressure and tolerating stress
• Attention to detail
• Reliability
• Multitasking
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Prioritizing
• Time Management

Receptionist Hard Skills

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Administrative skills
• Supply management
• Typing skills (include WPM)
• Information management software
• Use of office equipment (fax machines, copiers, etc)
• Multi-line phone systems

#7. 5 Additional Sections to Take Advantage Of

At this stage, if your resume is already a full one-pager, you can just skip this section altogether.

If, on the other hand, you’ve got some space left (e.g. if you don’t have a lot of work experience), you can make use of these extra sections to give your receptionist resume an edge:

• Awards and certifications. Are you certified in office management? Do you have any awards for excellent performance in any of your previous roles? These are definitely things you should include in your receptionist resume. 
• Languages. Whatever your position might be, knowing an extra language or two can always come in handy.
• Volunteer experience. Volunteering can be a great way to show you also care about giving back to the community. If you’re a recent graduate, volunteering experience can also show employers that you’re familiar with hard work.
• Internships. Got any past internship experience? Make sure to include that in your resume, along with your main tasks and achievements there. 
• Hobbies and interests . Show the recruiter who you are outside of work. Who knows, maybe it’ll help you establish rapport with your interviewer!

The thing about extra sections is that they work on two levels: if you’re lacking work experience, they can definitely help you land an entry-level job, whereas if you’re experienced in the field, they can set you apart from other applicants with similar work experience and skills. 

Here’ an example of how extra sections should look in a receptionist resume:

Examples of Extra Sections

Certifications.

• Microsoft Office Specialist - Issued by Microsoft
• Certified Business Officer - Issued by the Management and Strategy Institute

Volunteer Experience

Front Desk Assistant  Scranton Community Center 06/2010 - 10/2012

• Helped staff with daily clerical tasks and activities
• Got hands-on experience doing administrational work
• French (Fluent)
• German (Intermediate)

#8. Don’t Forget to Include a Cover Letter

Including a cover letter with your resume is an inseparable part of sending a job application.

As such, it’s safe to assume that it should be just as good as your receptionist resume. 

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter shouldn’t just rephrase whatever you mentioned in your resume.

Rather, you should use it to:

• Summarize your most important skills, achievements, or experiences.
• Expand on any information you couldn’t talk about in detail in your receptionist resume.
• Mention what you know about the organization you’re applying for (and why you want to work there).

Here are our tips on creating a compelling receptionist cover letter:

• Tailor your cover letter to the specific job position you’re applying for. Instead of using a generic cover letter introduction, start your cover letter by introducing yourself and mentioning exactly why you want to work for that company.
• Use the body of your cover letter to talk about your skills, achievements, and qualifications in more detail. 
• Write a strong cover letter ending by including a strong call to action. 
• Make sure that your cover letter looks as compelling as your resume by using one of our cover letter templates . 
• Learn more about how to write a compelling cover letter by checking out our cover letter tips .

Not sure what a good receptionist cover letter looks like? Check out our top cover letter examples !

We hope you are feeling more confident about creating your receptionist resume and we are sure you will get hired in no time!

Related Resume Examples

• Customer Service Resume
• Event Planner Resume
• Bar and Restaurant Manager Resume
• Cashier Resume
• Waiter Resume
• Server Resume
• Barista Resume
• Bartender Resume

Key Takeaways 

Follow the steps we outlined above, and you’ll have yourself a job-winning receptionist resume in no time!

Before you leave to work on your resume, though, let’s recap the key learning points we covered above:

• Use a resume summary or objective to summarize your experiences and show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role.
• Mention achievements over responsibilities when possible. This helps show the recruiter how you excelled in your previous role.
• Quantify your work experiences by using the XYZ formula.
• Use some of the optional resume sections to help you stand out. This includes languages, hobbies, extracurricular activities, and more.

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9 Receptionist Resume Examples [& Templates]

Receptionist

Best for jobs requiring a traditional resume

A professional resume like this one communicates a more formal tone, but it’s unique enough to still leave a favorable first impression.

Resume Builder

Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

• Receptionist Resumes
• Receptionist Resume by Experience
• Receptionist Resumes by Role
• Write Your Receptionist Resume

Receptionists are found anywhere that requires a patient and professional approach to keeping an office on schedule.

Whether you’re interested in working in healthcare as a medical receptionist or as a front desk receptionist for an insurance firm, you must ensure your resume makes a great first impression.

Nothing is trickier than staring at a blank screen and waiting for inspiration to start creating a cover letter or an online resume , but that’s why we’re here. We’ll guide you through some of our top  resume tips  and ensure you have the tools and resources you need for success.

These receptionist resume samples have been used to land actual receptionist jobs in 2024, so they’re an excellent place for you to get started.

Receptionist Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• There are tons of different kinds of receptionists working in a whole range of industries. Make it clear what kind of offices you’ve worked at when discussing your work experience.
• A  resume objective  (the two sentences below the job title) is by no means required on your receptionist resume. In fact, you’re likely better off not including one. There are a few exceptions to this rule, like when you’re undergoing a career change or want to take the time to customize it to each job for which you apply.
• However, if you’ve attended some college or earned a degree, then be sure to include it; it’ll be valuable in the eyes of your employer. If not, no worries. Just list the highest level of education you’ve obtained.

Front Desk Receptionist Resume

• If you have a lot of experience as a receptionist, one way to expand your career (and possibly make more money) is to become a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). That requires studying for an exam, but for some people, it’s worth it.
• Try a reverse-chronological  resume format  to help you show steady career progression. 
• For example, perhaps you could tie the creation of reports in Excel to the number of manual hours saved.

Entry-Level Receptionist Resume

• Customer interaction, scheduling, and telephone communication are great examples—even if these examples come from internships, academic projects, or community volunteering.
• If you’ve ever received an award at work (even before your time as a receptionist), then make sure to mention it! Try to explain the context of the award (why you got it) without getting into too much detail. It’s a great way to show that you’re responsible and qualified.
• Focus on activities that demonstrate leadership or serious dedication.

Hotel Receptionist Resume

• Capitalize your ability to handle guest complaints and upsell room upgrades and services with quantifiable work experience for your hotel receptionist resume! Last but not least, mention your educational qualifications in hospitality management or a relevant field and you’re good to go.

Legal Receptionist Resume

• You may not have the best work experience as a legal receptionist, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from metrics of other similar roles. Revisit your career and see how many areas you’ve worked as a receptionist or clerk. Draw out exceptional metrics from these roles and highlight your specialty in lowering document misplacements or load times to score the job!

Veterinary Receptionist Resume

• That’s what you need to give yourself a deserved head start. In particular, show how your streamlined check-in and check-out processes and your input in improving post-outcomes.

Salon Receptionist Resume

• Additionally, show how you collaborated with the rest of the team to deliver exceptional services, leading to higher satisfaction ratings and turning first-time customers into loyalists.

Medical Receptionist Resume

• There are a number of organizations that grant these certifications. The largest one is the American Red Cross.
• Don’t hesitate to list any medical-specific  skills  you have, like electronic medical records (EMR) and insurance claims/coding.
• Fit your resume onto a single page (working with a  resume template  can help with this), or risk your medical receptionist resume ending up in the trash bin.
• Two quick levers to modify the number of pages are page margins and font size.

Dental Receptionist Resume

• Any domain-specific experience that you have provides a great opportunity to customize your resume for each job description . Simply mention those skills (such s “Paterson Eaglesoft”) in the  resume skills  section of your dental receptionist resume .
• One clear and direct way to show how you can get things done is to start each work experience bullet point with a strong action verb. In the resume above, words like “Confirmed,” “Assured,” and “Scanned”) do exactly that.
• We have a selection of classy accent colors you can choose from within our AI resume maker . 

Related resume guides

• Front Desk Receptionist
• Administrative Assistant
• Office Assistant
• Human Resources

Formatting Your Receptionist Resume

The key to creating an exceptional receptionist resume is choosing the perfect format. While the format might seem like an arbitrary decision, it’s what will ensure your resume is readable, logical, and complete. A resume with no format at all is likely to be disorganized, and a resume with the wrong format won’t highlight the right information. Your resume’s structural foundation should allow all the other aspects to fall neatly into place.

You can  format your resume  by taking a few simple steps:

• Choosing between reverse-chronological, functional, and hybrid formats
• Listing your contact information to create a header
• Taking ATS and readability into account

Reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid formats

Before you can start writing your resume, you need to decide which particular format you’ll use. The three most popular  resume formats  in 2024 are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid. Each of these styles has its benefits and disadvantages, and plenty of job candidates have found success using all of them.

Which resume format should you choose for your receptionist resume?

• The  reverse-chronological format  is the most common option across industries. With this format, relevant work history is listed and explained in reverse-chronological order. This means your most recent position will be listed first. The main advantage of the reverse-chronological format is that it highlights your most recent, and likely most relevant, achievements, which should represent the high point of an upward career trajectory.
• The  functional format  is meant to highlight and showcase the candidate’s skills. Work experience is pushed to the bottom of the document, while abilities and areas of expertise take center stage. While this can be a good option for younger candidates with little experience, many job recruiters are especially interested in work history, the very category that this format marginalizes.
• Combination/hybrid resumes  seek to make the most of both the reverse-chronological and functional formats. A hybrid resume will usually include work history listed in reverse-chronological order alongside a prominent skills component.

For your receptionist resume, it’s usually best to go with the reverse-chronological format. Recruiters and hiring managers are primarily interested in your work experience, so it makes sense to make it easy to find what they’re looking for.

Contact info and header

At the top of your resume, you need to lay out your name and contact information. This brief header will act as a business card, letting people know immediately who you are and how they can contact you. Stating this information clearly at the top of the page, as seen in our numerous  resume samples , will make it easier for recruiters to spot and file your resume.

in 2024, the header for a receptionist resume should include:

• The job title you’re seeking
• A phone number
• City and state 
• A professional social site, like LinkedIn, if you have one

To make it as easy as possible for recruiters to contact you, it’s important to make your header stand out. You can do this by increasing the font size for your name, using a splash of color, and/or bolding labels like “phone” and “email.”

Passing ATS and ensuring your receptionist resume is readable

We live in an increasingly technological world, something you’ll have to keep in mind when creating your receptionist resume. These days, many companies screen applicants using an applicant tracking system (ATS). This technology rapidly checks resumes for certain keywords before determining which candidates deserve a look from recruiters. For your resume to make the cut, you’ll need to consider how ATS works and what it looks for.

You can maximize your resume’s chances of finding favor with ATS by adopting a few key strategies. First of all, use an ATS-friendly file type like .pdf or .docx. Also, sprinkle some central keywords throughout the document, especially phrases that correspond to the soft and hard skills you’ve gained as a receptionist. Finally, make sure you avoid putting these keywords in the header where ATS might not find them.

It’s also important to make your resume as readable as possible. Maximize readability by taking a few basic steps:

• Include 1-inch margins (ideally) on every side of the document.
• Use a simple font like Times New Roman or Arial.
• Use 11-12-point font for general text and 14-16-point font for headers.
• Keep the titles of sections short and specific.
• Keep the entire resume on a single page.
• List your skills in a succinct, concise fashion.

Our convenient and  easy resume builder  takes all this into account, ensuring that your resume will be easy for recruiters to read.

Writing Your Receptionist Resume

If writing your receptionist resume seems a daunting task, you’re far from alone. Lots of people worry they’ll make costly mistakes and ruin their chances of landing the job. At this stage, it’s important to take a deep breath and acknowledge that you have what it takes to  write a fantastic resume . All you need to do is take it step by step and use our resume builder. This methodical approach will take the stress out of the process while helping you create a resume  that makes you stand out as a candidate.

Here’s what you’ll have to consider:

• Objective/Summary
• Work experience
• Receptionist skills 
• Education and certifications
• Projects, interests, and/or hobbies
• Tailoring your resume to the job
• Editing and proofreading

Do you need an objective or summary on your receptionist resume?

Some candidates place a brief description at the top of their resumes to draw immediate attention to their strongest qualities. These descriptions can take the form of an objective or a summary. A  resume objective  spells out the candidate’s career goals while a resume summary succinctly states a candidate’s qualifications. As you apply for receptionist positions, you’ll have to decide whether either of these options is right for your resume.

• A resume objective is ideal for candidates who are seeking to make a career change. Pronouncing your goals in a new field and explaining how your current skills will translate to your career as a receptionist will present you as a stronger applicant.
• A resume summary is great for someone with years of experience as a receptionist. The summary gives you a chance to highlight all you’ve accomplished.
• Including neither an objective nor a summary might be the right call for certain applicants. If you think your experience speaks for itself or if you simply don’t have room on the page, there’s nothing wrong with skipping this step altogether. Ultimately, you get to determine the best way to showcase your talent and experience.

If you decide to include a summary or objective, you must make them clear and succinct. Here are two examples that would do a prospective candidate more harm than good:

• Objective : I’m really excited to start work as a receptionist, something I’ve been thinking about for years. Getting a job as a receptionist would truly be a dream come true.
• Summary : I’m a great receptionist who has worked for several major companies. During my time in the profession, I’ve learned all the strategies and techniques necessary to excel.

These examples are boring and vague. They tell recruiters nothing about the candidate’s specific capabilities, and they take up valuable space while accomplishing nothing.

These examples, on the other hand, effectively convey talent, experience, and strength of purpose:

• Objective : Tech-savvy and organized professional seeking a receptionist position where typing and interpersonal skills will prove beneficial. Motivated to leverage retail experience and customer care to enhance office dynamics, efficiency, and environment. 
• Summary : Seasoned receptionist currently serving at the front desk of a large car dealership with years of experience inputting complicated data. My empathy coupled with quick thinking and resourcefulness has contributed to company reputation and lifelong customer satisfaction. 

These successful examples include traits, skills, and goals. They’re also specific and concise, providing recruiters with as much information as possible in a small amount of space.

Receptionist job experience

First and foremost, recruiters are going to be interested in your work history. Try to include 2-4 jobs relevant to the position you’re currently applying for; however, if you lack receptionist experience, you can include positions that  may seem  irrelevant. As you write your work experience, consider how you may have used receptionist skills in previous positions, and draft your bullet points with those duties and accomplishments in mind. If you’ve held many relevant positions throughout your career, then use your judgment to determine which jobs will most help your chances.

Receptionist job experience bullet points

Beneath each job title in the work experience section, you should include 3-6 bullet points that briefly explain your obligations and accomplishments. You can employ some stylistic tricks to get the most out of these descriptions.

Start the bullet points with forceful action verbs in the past tense. This type of language demonstrates your tangible role with the company or organization. You can also leave out the personal pronoun “I.” The reader already knows you’re the subject of every sentence, and full sentences with a subject and a predicate take up too much space. If your bullet points are phrases rather than full sentences, make sure you don’t put a period at the end.

Don’t succumb to these sorts of bullet points:

• I was in charge of all sorts of important tasks.
• Almost every single day, I had to deal with some unforeseen circumstance.
• The offices saw tons of traffic on a daily basis, and I had to document all the visitors and make sure they had legitimate reasons for being on the premises.

These examples are vague and sloppy. They use too much space to say very little, and they don’t focus entirely on the candidate’s actions and obligations.

Here are some better examples:

• Oversaw scheduling and communication of many facets of the company’s operations, including customer service, accounting, and partner relationships.
• Determined how best to deal with disruptive and unexpected visitors, successfully de-escalating 100% of situations through step-by-step company methods.
• Documented visitor activity and monitored visitor logs for security threats, reporting unusual activity to security within 20 seconds. 

The language in these bullet points is succinct and powerful, letting recruiters know your exact impact.

Quantify your value as a receptionist

You should supplement the effective use of language with meaningful statistics. Quantifiable data will show recruiters that you’re not all talk. Any number that demonstrates the impact you had in your previous positions will go a long way toward convincing recruiters that you have what it takes to be a difference-maker.

While you don’t want numbers to overtake your entire resume, about 60% of your bullet points should employ the use of metrics. 

Keep the following in mind to quantify your receptionist impact:

• Include any metrics showing your contribution to a company’s growth or efficiency.  
• Describe how you saved quantifiable assets like time or money for the organization.
• Quantify everything you can. Scan your resume for words like “many” and “several,” then try to replace them with numbers.
• If you can’t remember an exact number, feel free to use a range. 
• Always place statistics within the context of your specific contributions.

Best receptionist skills to Include

The skills section of a resume gives you the chance to sell yourself to recruiters. It’s important to mention both hard skills and soft skills in the document. Hard skills are technical and measurable, and, for a receptionist, they include things like:

• Foreign languages
• Database management experience
• Technological know-how or typing speed

Soft skills, on the other hand, are not quite as easy to measure and encapsulate habits, traits, and disciplines. Examples include:

• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Open-mindedness

When listing your skills, use some of the same keywords you see in the job description for the position. This will draw the attention of ATS systems and human readers. Try to list 5-10 skills, depending on the amount of space you have available.

Including education and certifications on your receptionist resume

While most receptionist jobs require only a high school diploma, it still makes sense to include all the education credentials you’ve acquired. This includes associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and any additional higher education. You should also include any certifications you’ve received as a receptionist, especially those pertaining to a specific subcategory of the profession. These details could set you apart from other applicants.

Does your receptionist resume need projects, interests, or hobbies?

There’s some debate about whether projects, hobbies, and interests belong on a resume. In general, it’s better to skip these types of personal details in favor of adding more skills and work experience. There are particular cases, however, where this background information could work in your favor. For anyone fresh out of school or new to the workforce, projects and interests can help get a foot in the door.

Some candidates simply lack the relevant work experience they’d like to put on their resume. If you find yourself in that position, projects and hobbies give you another way to show recruiters why you would make a great receptionist.

When listing projects and hobbies, make sure you choose details related to the job you’re seeking. Pick interests requiring skills that would translate well to a receptionist position. Projects worth listing include organizing a food drive and creating a new club in school. These types of endeavors require the same skills and habits that recruiters will be looking for in a receptionist.

Hobbies and interests  like researching your ancestry and planning parties are also smart to include. By showing recruiters that you’re employing the skills you’ll need on the job, you can make up for a lack of experience.

Customize your receptionist resume for the position

Every receptionist job you apply to will have its own set of responsibilities and expectations. To give yourself the best chance of success, you should create a separate version of your resume for each application. This doesn’t mean you have to start the document from scratch. Simply look for skills or certifications that are stressed in a particular job advertisement and make corresponding adjustments to your original document.

Edit and proofread your receptionist resume

This might be the most obvious step in the entire process, but it’s one that far too many people overlook. A few typos or spelling errors might not seem like a big deal, but recruiters will take it as a sure sign of carelessness. When competition for a position is fierce, you can’t afford to put yourself in a hole. Re-read the document several times before sending it, and take advantage of our  quick and easy resume checker  to spot pesky issues concerning consistency, active voice, resume length, and more.

Land Your Receptionist Job

There’s a basic roadmap all job seekers should follow in creating the perfect receptionist resume. It looks something like this:

• Choose the format that works for your career path
• Create a header with contact information
• Decide if you need a resume objective or a resume summary
• Write out your work experience with strong, active language
• Include your hard and soft skills
• Create customized versions of your resume for every job
• Revise and proofread

Once you’ve followed the steps above and completed your resume, give yourself a hearty pat on the back before knocking out your receptionist cover letter . All this hard work should pay off in the form of greater attention from recruiters. Before you know it, you will have landed your next job!