You can't put a price on the value of the work you do for your company! But your front desk receptionist resume needs to communicate it clearly either way.
Greeting guests, redirecting phone calls, preparing correspondence, managing agendas or organizing business travel may be just a few of your many tasks expected to handle with promptness and a positive attitude. Learn how to showcase all of your skills through your resume by following our guide, brimming with the best writing tips, resume samples, detailed examples, and templates you can adjust to your liking.
Keep on reading to learn:
- How to best format your front desk receptionist resume
- How to craft an eye-catching front desk receptionist professional summary
- What must-have skills to put on your desk receptionist CV
- How to make your resume sparkle with the work experience section
- How to compile a great education section for your front desk receptionist CV
- What additional sections should you include in your front desk receptionist resume
- Where to look for suitable work opportunities for job-seeking front desk receptionists
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. How to best format your front desk receptionist resume?
There is no doubt that a good-looking resume works wonders. It might be the first step to getting a recruiter diving into individual sections of your CV.
Use the following tips to neatly format your resume:
- Set one-inch margins.
- Organize your CV into the following sections: contact details, professional summary, skills, work experience, education, additional sections.
- Opt for a neat, two-column layout.
- Use clear headings.
- Employ white space to frame individual elements.
- List your job experiences in a reverse-chronological order.
- Pick a classic font such as Georgia, Calibri or Cambria.
- Keep your page count low, and avoid sharing irrelevant information.
- Save your CV as a PDF document.
Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.
2. How to craft an eye-catching front desk receptionist professional summary?
You have as many as 3-5 lines to make an immediate positive impression on the hiring manager.
As a brilliant front desk receptionist, you know what needs to be done just by the look on the manager's face. The same way, you know what the recruiter is looking for in your resume — a balanced combination of your key work experience, exceptional skills and achievements.
The important thing is to tailor your professional profile to the job posting you're applying for, and include the keywords popping up in the ad.
Example of a professional summary for your Front Desk Receptionist Resume
Enthusiastic Front Desk Receptionist with 3+ years of administrative experience, providing exceptional support to clients. Showed a positive attitude and friendly demeanor at all times, and executed all administrative tasks to the highest standard. Managed agendas and prepared financial spreadsheets in a professional manner while running daily reports of 50+ satisfied clients.
3. What must-have skills to put on your desk receptionist CV?
Imagine Emily. She is an exceptional front desk receptionist who can multitask as no one. She is dependable, organized, flexible and tech savvy.
Anyone would have accepted her application if she just had not underestimated the skills section on her resume. Emily didn't customize her competencies to the job posting. Instead, she only included a few unrelated skills in her CV.
Don't be like Emily. Always refer back to the job ad, and draft a balanced combination of competencies required in the posting and additional skills you possess.
The best front desk receptionist soft skills for your resume
- Outstanding Spoken and Written Communication
- Effective Organization
- Professionalism
- Multitasking
- Prioritization
- Flexibility
- Problem Solving
- Customer Service
- Attention to Detail
- Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
- Dedication
Effective hard skills to put on your front desk receptionist CV
- MS Office Suite (Superior Proficiency)
- Schedule Management
- Data Entry
- Bookkeeping
- Inventory and Supply Management
- Office Administration
- Office Maintenance
- Multi Line Phone Systems
4. How to make your resume sparkle with the work experience section?
Your service is valuable, and it should be presented as such.
Show the recruiter that you are not just any administrative employee. They should be able to project your past accomplishments into their future success.
Use the following tips to compile the best work experience for your resume:
- Tailor your work experience section to the job posting.
- Fill it with keywords from the job ad, and link them to your unique accomplishments.
- Avoid mentioning too many duties and responsibilities. The number of bulleted points should not exceed 6.
- Always stay relevant.
- Use quantifiable achievements in your past role.
- Employ impactful language.
Front desk receptionist work experience example
Marknight
Front Desk Receptionist
2018-2021
- Greeted clients and directed inquiries to the respective departments, employing a positive attitude and reassuring manner.
- Maintained executive managers’ agendas by thoroughly planning and scheduling business meetings.
- Prepared financial spreadsheets and closed monthly sales invoices in a professional manner.
- Kept detailed and accurate records of 50+ clients daily.
- Reached and maintained 100% client service satisfaction rating.
5. How to compile a great education section for your front desk receptionist CV?
You may not think that, but your education section can make a difference. Especially if you lack prior work experience. In that case, mentioning relevant coursework, areas of interest or academic achievements can turn into a game changer.
List your college name, degree (if applicable) and years in school along with your relevant accomplishments.
Listing education in your resume
Cresington High School
2014-2018
- Excelled in Information and Communications Technology
- Positive Attitude Award recipient
- Voted Leader of the Debate Team
- Named to Honor Roll all four years
6. What additional sections should you include in your front desk receptionist resume?
In case your masterfully crafted work experience or education still have not towered above the other best candidate, additional sections might be your ace in the hole.
Pick those sections that can best showcase your exceptional administrative and interpersonal skills:
- Certifications
- Awards
- Projects
- Qualifications
- Extracurricular Activities
- Language Skills
- Training Courses
- Volunteering Activities
- Interests
- Accomplishments
7. Top resources for job-seeking front desk receptionists
As a front desk receptionist, you're no stranger to diligent research! Yet, navigating the vast sea of work opportunities ahead can still be daunting. That's why we've prepared the following list of valuable resources to assist you along the way:
- Job boards for front desk receptionists: Firstly, we recommend checking websites like AdministrativeJobs.com, OfficeTeam, or Administration Jobs which feature a wide range of administrative and receptionist opportunities across various industries and locations.
- General job search platforms: But that doesn't mean that you should overlook platforms with broader focus, such as Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, or Monster, because these can also yield compelling results.
- LinkedIn: Take advantage of LinkedIn’s job search feature and join receptionist-related groups to connect with industry professionals, recruiters, and potential employers.
- Professional associations: Websites of organizations like the Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP), and the National Association of Professional Receptionists (NAPR) can provide you with access to networking events, job listings, training programs, and so much more.
- Recruitment agencies: Alternatively, you can place your career progression into the hands of recruitment agencies like Ajilon, Robert Half, Kelly Services, or Randstad.
- Continuous learning: From foreign language proficiency to computer skills, improving mastery of your abilities significantly increases your employability. And with the help of online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning, you can discover courses that fit your career goals like a glove.
The road to your ideal job position can sometimes be full of twists and turns. But if you tackle this challenge with enthusiasm, determination, and resistance, it's just a matter of time until you find exactly what you're looking for.
Front Desk Receptionist Resume FAQ
How can I effectively use keywords in my front desk receptionist resume?
Firstly, you need to review the job posting carefully and identify keywords and phrases related to the employer’s requirements, such as "customer service," "appointment scheduling," "phone etiquette," and "administrative support." Then, you proceed to Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your resume, especially in the skills section and work experience bullet points. Incorporating keywords into your resume helps you pass the applicant tracking systems (ATS).
How can I quantify my achievements on my front desk receptionist resume?
You can quantify your achievements by including numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts to provide context and demonstrate the direct impact of your contributions. For example, you might mention that you managed a high volume of incoming calls, processed a certain number of guest check-ins per day, or achieved a specific customer satisfaction rating.
Should I include references on my front desk receptionist resume?
That depends on what the job posting you're responding to says. If it's stated that you should include your references directly on your resume, do as instructed. But if that's not the case, we recommend creating a separate document with a list of professional references who can speak to your qualifications and work ethic instead. Be ready to produce the document when asked to by the recruiters during any point of the hiring process.
How far back should I go when listing work experience on my front desk receptionist resume?
Generally, you should include the most recent 10 years of work experience on your resume. However, if you have relevant experience from 10-15 years ago that demonstrates your skills and qualifications as a front desk receptionist, you may choose to include it as well. But anything older than that should be out of the question.
How can I demonstrate my customer service skills on my front desk receptionist resume?
The best way to do this is by highlighting specific examples of your customer service experience, such as assisting guests with inquiries, resolving complaints or issues, and providing a welcoming and professional atmosphere. To give more weight to your words, use quantifiable metrics, such as customer satisfaction ratings or positive feedback, to showcase your effectiveness in this area.