Receptionist resume examples & templates

A receptionist is the friendly face or warm voice of a company’s brand, building customer relationships and making the office run smoothly. How can your receptionist resume convey everything employers need to know about your excellence in this role?

Your resume needs to highlight the administrative skills and personality traits you can bring to the position. It should convince a hiring manager you’re a cut above the other receptionist candidates.

If you need some help with creating a receptionist resume, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go over everything you need to know about writing an optimized resume with our receptionist resume sample and writing guide.

Resume guide for a receptionist resume

Land your next receptionist job with Resume.io. As a leading resource for job seekers, Resume.io offers over 500 occupation-specific resume samples and writing guides, plus a resume builder you can use to create a high-quality resume in minutes.

This guide and corresponding receptionist resume example will show you:

• How to write a resume for a receptionist role
• Picking a format for your receptionist resume
• The right contact information to include
• How to write a professional summary
• Listing your receptionist experience
• Providing your education and certifications
• Choosing a resume layout and design
• What the receptionist job market and average salary look like

How to write a receptionist resume

Make sure your resume offers the right information to showcase your office management skills. The recommended framework for a receptionist resume includes these components:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (sometimes called profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

The first step toward building a great receptionist resume is understanding the role. Employers want to hire receptionists who can make their businesses look good. When a receptionist has the right combination of charisma, attention to detail, and patience, the entire company benefits.

Your resume should convince a prospective employer that you’re the best receptionist to promote a positive image of their company. Follow these tips to make your case:

• Highlight your accomplishments and initiative. How have you gone above and beyond in other roles? For example, maybe you implemented a paperless filing system to save the company money or improved customer satisfaction by providing incredible service.
• Customize your resume to the job. Use the job description to determine what information to include on your resume. Adjust your resume for every application you send out.
• Showcase your professionalism with a polished resume template. A clear, organized, and detailed resume mirrors the qualities employers look for in receptionists.

Choose the right format for a receptionist resume

Most likely, the chronological resume format is the best option for structuring your resume, as the receptionist resume sample in this guide illustrates. It’s the most commonly used format for job seekers. Use a chronological format if you have recent experience working as a receptionist or in a similar role.

If you’re new to the workforce or making a career change, take a look at alternative resume formats. A functional resume format can help you emphasize your transferable skills or training.

Additionally, a hybrid resume may be a good choice if you have some professional experience, but it doesn’t translate directly to a receptionist position. You can also use this style if you have some gaps in your work history.

Choose the right format for your situation by exploring the resume templates in our resume builder. We also offer examples of all three formats in our collection of resume examples.

Include your contact information

A receptionist is often a customer’s first impression of a company. Similarly, your resume header can make a positive first impression on a hiring manager.

When providing your contact information, make it neat, orderly, and accessible. Here’s what details to include:

• Full name and title. Provide your full name and the title of the job, such as “receptionist” or “office administrator.”
• Professional email address. Have a professional email, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Phone number. Give a hiring manager your primary number, so you don’t miss their call.
• Location. Mention your city and state, or list that you’re open to relocating if the job requires it. Never give out your full street address and zip code.
• LinkedIn. You can include a link to your LinkedIn profile if it’s complete and updated.

Don’t include:

• Your date of birth. You don’t need to include your age or date of birth.
• Personal information. Don’t give employers personal information, such as your marital status or driver’s license number.
• A headshot. For receptionist jobs, there’s no reason to include a headshot of yourself.

Use a summary or profile statement

Your receptionist resume summary (also called a profile or personal statement) is the place to convince employers that you’ll stay upbeat and focused even on the busiest days. A compelling resume summary is a lot like a receptionist: hardworking, efficient, and welcoming. It’s your first introduction to employers and an invitation for them to get to know you better.

Start your summary with the years of experience you have as a receptionist or in a related field. What were the main transferable tasks involved in those positions? Did you have any noteworthy accomplishments? Mention those attributes and combine them with a few of your best qualities, such as friendliness, organization, or a customer-focused mindset.

Don’t forget to take a look at the job posting and customize your receptionist resume by including keywords favorable to an ATS.

You can find sample receptionist resume summaries below.

Outline your receptionist work experience: keep everything in order

Your previous work experiences reassure employers they’ll have nothing to worry about when you’re at the front desk. Your employment history plays a key role in showing employers you’ve learned enough on the job to be a competent receptionist.

If you’re looking for a position with a large or prominent company, previous work as a receptionist is a must. In some industries and small businesses, previous summer jobs and part-time positions will suffice. Just make sure to show how your employment history relates to the specific receptionist job you're applying to.

As you outline your work history, pay attention to how you describe your experience. The bullet points on your resume should show outcomes and achievements, not just duties you’ve had. Employers want to know how you’ll contribute to the office’s success.

For example, here are some bullet points that just focus on responsibilities:

• Answered and directed phone calls to the right departments
• Managed schedules for several executives
• Greeted visitors with a warm welcome

These bullet points show familiarity with a receptionist’s job duties, but they don’t provide any information about your initiative, work ethic, or impact on a business. Adjust your bullet points to describe the outcomes of your job duties using results-focused language and measurable data.

Consider these reworked versions of the bullet points listed above:

• Managed over 50 calls daily, reducing average customer wait times by over two minutes
• Streamlined and managed schedules for three company executives to improve efficiency and punctuality
• Improved the customer experience by greeting visitors with a warm welcome, contributing to a 23% increase in satisfaction scores

Check out the receptionist work history resume example below:

How to write a receptionist resume with no experience

Many businesses hire receptionists with no experience, so don’t worry if you’ve never worked behind the front desk before. You can still use your resume to show an employer why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Focus on the transferable skills and abilities you’ve gained from working in other jobs. For example, these positions may have equipped you with relevant experience:

• Desk assistant
• Retail employee
• Tutor
• Camp counselor
• Food service employee
• Research assistant

Describe some similar duties you may have performed in the past, such as using office software, doing data entry, or providing customer service. Connecting this experience to a receptionist role can prove you understand the job’s responsibilities and requirements.

If you have no work experience, emphasize your other qualifications, such as education, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work. Use a functional resume format to downplay your lack of experience while highlighting your best qualities for a receptionist job.

Include your key skills relevant to being a receptionist

There’s more to being a good receptionist than answering the phone politely and scheduling appointments. That’s why it’s important to know the right resume skills for a receptionist, so you can include them on yours.

In the skills section, include a mixture of hard and soft skills to show you can handle all parts of the job. Examples of hard skills include the Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling software, payment and billing systems, and data entry. These skills indicate you can use office technology and manage administrative tasks.

Your hard skills might be the key to landing a receptionist job, but your soft skills are how you keep it. On even the most stressful of days, you’ll need to stay calm and resolve a variety of customer complaints. Emphasize the soft skills you’ll use in the role, such as a positive attitude, multitasking, organization, communication, and conflict resolution.

This is the nitty-gritty, so make sure to give this section enough attention. That’s easy to do using our field-tested templates and resume builder.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our car sales resume template. 

A skills section lists your abilities for easy reference, but it’s not the only place to mention skills on your resume. Highlight your proficiencies in other areas, like your summary statement and work history sections.

In these areas, you may choose to describe your:

• Customer service skills. Give examples of times when you provided excellent service or communicated with customers in a positive, friendly manner.
• Patience and professionalism. Explain how your patience and professionalism have improved a company’s reputation or contributed to customer retention.
• Administrative skills. Describe the ways you use your administrative skills to streamline processes and keep offices running smoothly.

If you get stuck on what skills to include on your resume, take another look at the job description. It should list the preferred skills employers want candidates to have.

Detail your education & relevant receptionist certifications

While traditional receptionist positions may only require a high school diploma or equivalent, a college degree can be a big advantage when it comes to securing a receptionist job at a top company. Additional credentials, like certifications, can also show your commitment to learning and professional development.

List your highest level of education with the name of the school, the degree or diploma, and the location. If you have an associate degree or higher, you don’t need to list your high school diploma.

Besides your formal education, some other credentials to highlight in this section include:

• Relevant certifications. Some relevant certifications for receptionists include scheduling, data entry, and office communication and computer systems.
• Training programs. If you completed a training course or program through a former employer, you can list it as part of your education.
• Professional development. Memberships in administrative organizations or industry groups can show your commitment to professional development.

If you’ve never worked as a receptionist but you have a business degree or an office management certification, you can move your education section ahead of your employment history. This format highlights your most relevant qualifications at the top of your resume.

Pick the right layout & design for a receptionist resume

A receptionist resume format should match the vibe of the company, while also providing a visual representation of your professional qualities. Match your resume format to the hiring organization's image and branding. For example, a law firm will be looking for a prim-and-proper resume, while a photography studio might appreciate a creative flair.

If you’re not sure what style to go for, it’s best to create a clean and modern resume format that isn’t overrun by color or extra elements. One of the simplest ways to do this is by using a resume template. Templates allow you to start with a good design base that can be customized for each application.

With Resume.io's template collection, you can choose the most attractive template and adjust the colors, font, and other formatting elements. Take a look at the professional resume templates for more serious industries and the modern section for companies that are a little more relaxed.

You’ll probably be uploading your resume to an online application portal, so you’ll need it to be easily readable by robots and human eyes alike. Our resume builder allows you to download the final version of your resume document as a PDF, which is ideal for uploading, emailing, and printing.

Receptionist text-only resume example

Receptionist job market & outlook

Becoming a receptionist can open the door to other areas of an industry. There are stories of high-level employees, like managers and executives, getting their start as receptionists. For this reason, the job market can be competitive, especially in certain industries, like healthcare.

What type of pay you can expect as a receptionist

Many receptionists earn an annual salary. However, if you work in a part-time, seasonal, or temporary role, you may get paid an hourly wage.

The average salary for receptionists is $44,190 per year. The salary scale for this job ranges from about $36,700 to $53,100 per year. Some companies may also offer bonuses for receptionists.

Key takeaways for building a receptionist resume

Creating a great receptionist resume can get your foot in the door and lead to a job interview. When building your resume, choose the right format for your experience, use keywords to describe your skills and experience, and match the design to the company’s brand. With all these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to landing a new receptionist job.

Now it’s time to get started! Use our online resume builder to kickstart your job search, and then take it to the next level with Career.io.

Discover 18 powerful tools to search for receptionist jobs, monitor your progress, prepare for interviews, and negotiate the best salary—all within our advanced career toolkit.