Receptionist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Receptionist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
A receptionist is the first person a visitor meets when they step into an office. They’re the face of the organization, so it’s vital that they’re friendly, helpful, and able to handle a wide range of responsibilities with ease.
If you’re looking for a new job in the office space, or just looking for a way to break into the field, here are some tips to help you write a great receptionist resume that will get you noticed.
How to Write a Receptionist Resume
Here’s how to write a receptionist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best bullet points are the ones that are the most specific. Rather than saying you “provided customer service,” you could say you “provided customer service by answering phones, taking messages, and scheduling appointments for 10+ doctors and therapists in a busy medical office.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work. It also provides a number to help quantify the level of responsibility and scale of the project.
Related: What Is a Receptionist? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by most companies to help manage the influx of resumes they receive. When you submit your resume, the ATS will scan it for certain keywords related to the job opening. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
The best way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include relevant keywords throughout all parts of your document. You can start by reading through each job posting and highlighting the skills, experience, and qualities that are essential to getting hired. Then, use those same words throughout your resume. Here are some common keywords used in receptionist job postings:
- Receptionist Duties
- Data Entry
- Administrative Assistance
- Administration
- Clerical Skills
- Office Administration
- Microsoft Access
- Phone Etiquette
- Office Equipment
- Customer Service
- Time Management
- Telephone Reception
- Teamwork
- Filing
- Organization Skills
- Healthcare
- Telephone Handling
- Hospitality
- Communication
- Customer Satisfaction
- Research
- Social Media
- Team Spirit
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Public Speaking
- Interpersonal Skills
- Problem Solving
- Leadership
- Business Development
- Adobe Photoshop
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Receptionists use a variety of technology in their work, from computers and phones to fax machines and scanners. They also need to be familiar with office software, such as Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite. Additionally, many receptionists use social media platforms to communicate with customers, so experience with these platforms is also beneficial.
Related: How Much Does a Receptionist Make?
Remember The Basics
As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.
Be Concise
A resume should be concise and to-the-point. It should not be more than one or two pages long, unless you have a lot of experience to include. When trimming down a resume, focus on removing irrelevant information and streamlining the content.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is an important step in ensuring that it looks its best. There are a few key things to look for when proofreading: spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. It is also important to be aware of easily confused words. Spell-checking your resume is a good way to catch mistakes, but it is important to have someone else read it over as well.
Consider Including a Summary
A resume summary statement can be an extremely useful way to quickly communicate your skills and experience to potential employers. By highlighting your best traits and skills, as well as explaining what you’re looking to do next, you can show that you’re a perfect fit for the role you’re applying to. In addition, a well-crafted summary can help to demonstrate your interest in the position and showcase your most relevant experiences.
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