Receptionist Resume Examples & Template [2024]

Find out how to write a receptionist resume as polished as your people skills. Soon, hiring managers will sing your praises and fight to make you the face of their company. Check out our receptionist resume examples & tips to turn your resume into a front-desk masterpiece!

This guide will show you:

• A receptionist resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a receptionist resume in our builder and land more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to present work achievements and receptionist skills on a resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for receptionist positions to get any job you want.

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Looking for a more specific receptionist resume example or other jobs in administration? Check the guides below:

• Front Desk Receptionist Resume
• Front Desk Resume
• Hotel Front Desk Resume
• Medical Receptionist Resume
• Hospitality Resume
• Secretary Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Personal Assistant Resume
• Sample Resumes for 500+ Jobs

Receptionist Resume Sample

Want to learn how to write a professional receptionist resume just like that? Then follow the instructions below.

How to Write a Receptionist Resume

1. Use the Right Receptionist Resume Template

The hiring manager, we’ll call him James, has a pile of 500 receptionist resumes on his desk, staring him in the face. He won’t read them. If he doesn’t like what he sees at first glance—the resume goes to the bin.

Make James grasp the value proposition in your resume for a receptionist fast with a proper resume format:

• Go for a chronological resume format. It puts your recent jobs first.
• Use big section headings, go heavy on white space, and pick presentable resume fonts.
• Divide your receptionist resume into the following sections in this very order: 
  1. Contact information
  2. Resume objective or summary
  3. Work experience in reverse-chronological order
  4. Education
  5. Skills
  6. Additional Sections (Certifications, Awards, Volunteer Experience, or Hobbies and Interests)
• Save your receptionist resume in PDF. Word resumes can go south in transit.

Pro Tip: It’s best to make a resume the style which matches the culture of the company you’re applying to. Eying a corporate receptionist position in a conservative organization? Go for an elegant, formal resume style. For jobs with relaxed companies, make a modern, creative resume.

2. Make the Most of Your Receptionist Job Descriptions on a Resume

Most receptionists’ job descriptions read pretty much the same: “Answering phones,” “organizing mail,” and “assisting administrative staff.” In a word—underwhelming.

But it’s such a hard job! One that requires master-level multitasking and time management skills. Can you convey that on a resume?

There’s a special way to describe your work history to make your receptionist resume stand out.

How to Describe Receptionist Duties on a Resume

• Start with your current or most recent position. Follow it with the one before it, and so on.
• List your job title, the company name and the dates worked.
• Under each position, add up to 5 bullet points.
• Don’t just enter your duties in the receptionist job description for a resume. Focus on achievements.
• Quantify whenever possible. Numbers add meaning to the work you’ve done.
• Tailor every resume you send to the specific position you’re targeting. Focus on what you’ve done that’s relevant to this job.

A lot of information to process? Don’t worry. Look no further if you just want to see sample receptionist duties for a resume.

Receptionist Job Descriptions for a Resume: Examples

Achievements backed up by metrics—that will make every hiring manager want to call in this candidate for an interview!

Umm… Could this sample receptionist's resume be any more generic?

For more information on how to describe your past receptionist jobs, see: Work Experience on a Resume: Job Description Samples and Tips.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Highlight Your Education on a Receptionist Resume

Is listing your education on a receptionist resume the easiest part? Perhaps. Does it mean it’s the least important? Hell no! Though the typical entry-level qualification for this job is a high-school diploma, you can still impress recruiters with your education. Employers might not care about your academic details, but they will want to know you have a degree.

In the education section of your resume, list:

• Your degree type
• Your major (and minors, if you have them)
• School name
• Graduation date

Like this:

Receptionist Resume Example: Education

No professional experience at all? In such case, do two things:

• Move your education section above your work experience.
• Elaborate on what you’ve learned and achieved at school a bit more.
• Consider adding information about:
  • Relevant coursework
  • Favorite fields of study
  • Academic achievements
  • Extracurricular activities

Have a look:

Entry-Level Receptionist Resume Example: Education

For more information, see: How to Put Education on a Resume: Examples for Different Candidate.

4. Create a List of Your Receptionist Skills for a Resume

What makes you so great at your job? It’s your stellar skill set! Research shows that receptionists need to complete numerous high-cognitive tasks each day. Without administrative, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, you couldn’t handle it all.

Employers know that too. That’s what they’re looking for—your receptionist skills. Here’s how to present them: 

How to Put Skills on a Receptionist Resume 

• Start with a spreadsheet that lists all your professional skills.
• Read the job description carefully. Look for skills-related keywords.
• Check how many of these are there in your spreadsheet. Quite a few, right? That’s your skills list.
• Don’t just put the names of your skills. Provide evidence that shows your level of proficiency.

Need a list of sample receptionist skills for a resume to get you inspired? Have a look:

Receptionist Resume Skills 

Soft Skills for a Receptionist Resume 

• Multi-tasking
• Organizational skills
• Time management
• Prioritizing
• Detail-oriented
• Listening
• Collaboration
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Adaptability skills

Hard Skills for a Receptionist Resume 

• Administrative skills
• MS Office Suite
• Typing 90 WPM
• VOIP phone systems
• Data entry
• Scheduling
• Planning
• Filing

To save space and impress recruiters with your key skills right away, move the key skills sections to the sidebar of your resume. Use descriptions and bar charts to indicate your proficiency level—this way, you boost your chances of passing the ATS resume scan!

To see in-depth instructions on how to list specific skills on a resume, make sure to read one of our guides:

• Computer Skills Examples
• Technical Skills Examples
• Hard vs. Soft Skills Examples
• Communication Skills Examples

5. Add Extra Sections to Your Receptionist Resume 

Best receptionist resumes don’t just show your skills and experience. They prove them. How? By using additional resume sections. They showcase your verifiable achievements.

Take a look at some ideas of what to include in that extra section of your receptionist resume: 

Receptionist Resume: Sample Extra Sections 

• Awards and honors
• Certifications and licenses
• Additional training
• Participation in conferences
• Blogging and influencing

Can’t boast any of the above yet? Don’t worry. A receptionist resume with no experience can still benefit from an additional section. Check out these ideas:

Entry-Level Receptionist Resume Extra Sections 

• Volunteer experience
• Hobbies and interests
• Academic achievements

Yes, if you have little experience, including a list of hobbies and interests in your office receptionist resume is a great idea. After all, as a receptionist, you're the face of a company. You need to be friendly and personable. You also need to match the company culture. Showing that you're a fun and interesting person will not only make your resume more memorable. It'll also tell the recruiter you're a good fit for the company.

Not sure what to include in that extra section of your front desk receptionist resume? See this handy guide: What to Include on a Job-Winning Resume. 

6. Write a Good Receptionist Resume Objective or Summary 

Here’s the first step to making the dream of landing a job as a receptionist at a Fortune 500 company come true:

At the top of your receptionist resume, put a carefully curated resume objective or a summary—a short and sweet paragraph that explains why you’re the perfect candidate.

Which one to use on your resume?

• Receptionist resume summary outlines your career and highlights your best achievements. It works like a trailer for the rest of your resume. Use it if you’ve got relevant receptionist job experience.
• Resume objective for receptionist jobs, in turn, discusses what you’ve learned so far and shows how you’d fit in. If you’re writing an entry-level receptionist resume with little experience, choose the resume objective.

See how that works in this example of a receptionist resume summary:

Receptionist Resume: Examples of Summary Statements

See the difference? The right example is specific and makes an offer. The wrong one? It reads, "I want a job because I studied for a job.”

Now, see these two very different examples of entry-level resume objective statements for a receptionist position.

Receptionist Resume—Examples of Objectives

The first receptionist resume objective is impressive because it shows that the applicant knows what the job entails. The second one sounds very unprofessional.

If you haven’t got tons of experience yet, check out this guide: Writing a Resume with No Experience.

7. Write a Cover Letter That Matches Your Receptionist Resume 

Contrary to what you might have heard, cover letters are still a thing.

In short—Half of recruiters won’t even bother to open your resume if there’s no cover letter attached. You can also use a well-written receptionist cover letter to your advantage.

Unlike a resume, a cover letter can explain your passion for the industry. A sense of purpose in pursuing your career.

Finally, it can tell a story. And humans love stories much more than data sheets. Attaching a cover letter doubles your chances of getting hired.

Hate writing? Can’t be bothered to create a good cover letter? This guide will make the process smooth and fun: Cover Letter Writing in 8 Simple Steps [Proven Template].

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Here’s how to write a receptionist resume step by step:

• Open your receptionist's resume with a resume objective or a resume summary. Highlight your proudest wins and make an offer.
• In the job descriptions, focus on your achievements, not just clerical duties. Add numbers to validate your results.
• Match your office skills list with the skills required by the employer.
• Add extra sections that prove your value.
• Personalize every resume you send. Use the name of the company you’re applying to and tailor the contents of your resume to the requirements in the job description.

Got more questions? Need further assistance? Drop me a line in the comments; I’ll get back to you straight away!

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Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/receptionists.htm
• https://bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-020-01204-y