Do you struggle to find a job as a receptionist?
Are you a communicative and outgoing person?
Do you have expertise that proves your interpersonal skills?
Clients remember the person first and then the service itself.
After all, receptionists are the heart and the soul of some businesses.
Then, you should highlight your personality and expertise in a resume to get the position!
No worries!
We’ve found out how to write a top-notch receptionist resume and will show it to you.
Follow this 2022 resume guide and learn how to get the attention of recruiters!
“Communication works for those who work at it.”
Receptionist resume examples
Entry level receptionist resume example
Why this resume works
This entry-level receptionist resume combines all characteristics needed:
- A compelling summary that lists the most important and valuable data of the candidate
- Experience bullet points backed up with actions verbs, quantitative data and achievements
- Strengths that underline communication and hard skills
- Additional courses that prove self motivation
- Languages and References give a positive impression of the candidate
Medical receptionist resume example
Why this resume works
- A cohesive and informative summary that underlines expertise and multitasking
- Deep experience in the medical field, supported with high-performance metrics
- Language skills and References that help the candidate stand out
- Additional courses leave a positive impression on recruiters
- Balanced Skills section and admirable Strengths that show the candidate is a go-getter
Salon receptionist resume example
Why this resume works
- The Summary sections indicate that the salon receptionist is a diligent and consecutive professional
- Experience is backed up with quantitative data and actions verbs
- Industry Expertise is well-built and logically linked to other sections of the resume
- References show that previous recruiters are glad about the employee’ performance
- Strengths focus on communication and self motivation-crucial soft skills
The receptionist job market
The median annual salary for receptionists was $31,110 in 2020.
The employment of receptionists is projected to grow 4% in the next decade. This movement is slower than the average for all occupations, thanks to the hit of the pandemic.
About 134,000 openings for receptionists are projected each year over the decade. Most of them are a result of the transition to other occupations or retirement.
How to write a receptionist resume
When writing your receptionist resume, you could use the following approach:
As you already know, this position requires admirable verbal and written communication (emails).
Therefore, most of your information should be directly or indirectly linked to this soft skill.
How could you achieve this?
The goal is to include communication in the main sections of your resume: Experience, Summary and Strengths.
It is also vital to provide evidence for problem-solving skills.
Did you resolve inquiries and conflicts?
You should be consistent and demonstrate a good personality and positive attitude.
Are you a reliable professional: do you work extra hours when needed?
Did you schedule appointments or make phone calls?
Maybe it’s a good idea to convince the recruiters that you have extensive product knowledge.
Do not forget to mention hard skills like computer literacy, data entry and multi-line phone systems.
Prove that you are a go-getter and achieve your goals.
Did you take any additional courses or learn foreign languages?
They could be your golden ticket to winning the job!
To conquer the desired position, tailor your receptionist resume to the job description. It is a must!
Receptionist resume formats
You can choose between these three resume formats:
Depending on the years of experience and industry, the resume formats are:
- Reverse-chronological resumes are perfect for professionals with some years of experience in a specific niche.
- Functional resumes are designed for job seekers and career changers. However, they are less popular among recruiters.
- Hybrid resumes could be used by both entry-level employees and seniors. They combine all the characteristics of the previous two formats.
Do not forget the style and layout! Here are some resume tips:
- Use 12p resume font size
- Try 10’ resume margins
- Professionals with under 10 years of experience should use the one-page resume, those with over 10 years - two-page resume
- Check your grammar and spelling
- PDF format is the golden standard for resumes
To make your resume stand out, you should definitely add References and Language skills!
Top resume sections
- Detailed and logical experience bullet points
- Consistent Summary section with valuable information
- Convincing soft skills and specific hard skills
- Languages & References will help you differentiate
- Strengths that underline your communication skills
What recruiters want to see
- What is your overall experience?
- Do you have evidence for high-performance metrics?
- Do your previous employers acknowledge your contributions?
- How did extensive product knowledge help you excel?
- Did you work in a peaceful or dynamic environment and how did you perform?
Follow the instructions in the panel and build a cohesive job-winning receptionist resume!
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The summary section that stands out
Your summary serves as the introduction of your resume.
As many people forget names right after they hear them, recruiters pay no attention to the vague summaries.
Therefore, it’s crucial to put valuable and accurate information tailored to the job description.
You should describe your personality, skills and experience in just 2-3 sentences!
Here is some advice on writing the perfect receptionist summary:
- Short, easy to read and cohesive
- Add communication and problem-solving skills
- Emphasize quantitative data and achievements
- Mention foreign languages that you can speak freely
- Describe 2-3 duties/tasks that you performed in your previous position
What to avoid in your receptionist resume:
- Repetitions and sentences that start with “I”
- Vague and useless information that tells nothing about you as a professional
- False statements and figurative language
Focus on building a compelling receptionist resume that will win every job!
Pro tip
If you have no idea what to add to your summary, try brainstorming! Think of all the tasks and duties you performed and write them down. Even the details could present you as a motivated and energetic professional.
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Receptionist resume experience recruiters search for
If you are a successful CEO with 10 years in the industry, building an Experience section is a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, not everyone could offer such expertise.
And this is fine!
Remember: it’s not about what experience you have, but it’s more about how you can sell it.
When it comes to building a receptionist resume experience, follow these rules:
- Emphasize communication and problem-solving by providing metrics
- Use action verbs and quantitative data
- Mention extraordinary achievement/task/duty that you did perfectly
Obviously, you should tailor your experience to the job description.
Focus on providing data for verbal and written communication and problem-solving.
How did these skills help you achieve a high customer satisfaction score?
What software did you utilize to excel as a receptionist?
How did you help clients and what techniques/methods did you use?
Write down on a list of paper all your duties and then pick up those that speak volumes!
“Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.”
Receptionist Resume Experience Examples
02/2000 - 11/2004
- Greeted hotel guests
- Answered telephone calls
- Wrote emails and assisted clients
- Resolved inquiries
These experience bullet points have nothing to do with a good resume.
They show that candidates are diligent but inconsistent and irrational professionals.
To avoid rejection, try not to use such mediocre and useless sentences.
02/2000 - 11/2004
- Ensured 100% customer satisfaction, resolving customer needs leading to positive feedback
- Answered 100+ telephone calls and scheduled 70+ appointments weekly
- Held 10+ email correspondences per day with clients
- Accommodated and assisted 100+ clients daily
Of course, there are also exceptional examples-this is one of them.
The following bullet points provide value, show motivation and prove diligence.
And you should stick to this type of writing.
How to describe the duties of a receptionist on a resume
- Pay attention to the following medical receptionist responsibilities:
- Greet and check-in patients
- Schedule appointments accurately and efficiently
- Verify insurances using medical database systems
- Verify patient insurance and demographic information in CHCS
- Manage a front desk in areas of manual and computerized scheduling
- Manage patients’ medical records
- Assist in regulating patient flow, patient’s needs and family information
- Book surgeries, assess patient needs and refer to appropriate medical staff
To fill up the gaps in the resume, you could:
- Include Languages to show evidence for communication skills
- Consider providing References from previous employers
- Add courses/training related to communication and problem-solving
- Add Passions to support your positive impression of a self-motivated individual on recruiters
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Important skills on receptionist resume
As mentioned, it’s vital to focus on your communication skills.
However, consider adding hard skills like MS Office and Information Management Software.
Thus, you will find the right balance and demonstrate extensive knowledge.
And last but not least, tailor your skills to the job description!
8 soft skills to include on a receptionist resume
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Multitasking
- Prioritizing
- Multitasking
- Organization
- Writing Emails
- Time Management
- Attention to detail
Here you see other crucial skills like time management and organization.
Keep it real and write down those skills that you are confident about.
8 hard skills to include on a receptionist resume
- MS Office
- Google Drive
- Data Entry
- Typing
- Administrative skills
- Information Management Software
- Office Equipment
- Product Knowledge
Key takeaways
- Focus on giving valuable data, avoid vague and useless distractions
- Emphasize the excellence of your communication and problem-solving
- Tailor the whole resume to the job description
- Add sections like References and Languages that will help you stand out
- Support your soft skills with the technical knowledge required in the industry
