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Table of contents

Front desk receptionist resume examples
Choose a format for your receptionist resume
How to write a front desk receptionist resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Front desk receptionist resume — key takeaways
Frequently asked questions from job seekers

As a front desk receptionist, you’re a master of organization, friendly greetings and redirecting phone calls. But there’s one thing you can’t seem to organize — your resume.

Don’t worry! It’s never too late to learn how to make a resume that puts your experience and qualifications in the best possible light. In fact, with your skill set, putting together a great resume will be a breeze.

This guide will show you:

Front desk receptionist resume examples to use in 2024.
What makes a great front desk receptionist resume example.
Proven strategies for writing an eye-catching resume.
What to include in each section of your resume.
How to select the ideal resume format and design for the position.

If you’re ready to make your resume today, head directly to our AI Resume Builder. There, you can choose a design of your liking and get advice and easy-to-edit, auto-generated text for every section.

Front desk receptionist resume examples

Entry-level front desk receptionist resume example

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What makes this a great receptionist resume sample

Objective highlights transferable skills
This candidate is moving from an administrative assistant position into a receptionist role, and he touches on the skills he hopes will help him make the transition.
Work experience shows a clear trajectory
Philip rose from secretary to administrative assistant to executive assistant in five years. His rise is impressive and easy to see in his work experience section
Professional certification is listed
This candidate is a Certified Administrative Professional — and he makes sure to include it in a Certifications section.

Experienced front desk receptionist resume example

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What makes this a great receptionist resume sample

Puts the spotlight on work history.
This candidate is extremely experienced and rightfully includes a robust, full-width work history section in a chronological resume format.
Good use of metrics
The experience is given more strength by the inclusion of stats like client satisfaction scores and the number of visitors screened every day.
Offers a mix of hard and soft skills
Receptionists use interpersonal and technical skills equally, and this resume runs the gamut!

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Choose a format for your receptionist resume

You’ll want to pick a resume format that helps you make the most of your work experience and skills.

There are three different resume formats, each one best matched for job seekers at particular points in their career

Experienced applicants would be best served by a chronological resume format that emphasizes work history.
Entry-level or transitional job seekers will find the skills-focused functional resume format more appropriate.
Mid-level applicants should consider using a combination resume format, which balances skills and experience.

Next comes the fun part — picking the perfect design for your resume.

Pick an eye-catching receptionist resume template

Create your resume

You want your resume to look good, right? Choosing a style for your document — known as a resume template — is the next step in creating your resume.

Your style should be based on your job title and industry. For example, if you’re a receptionist in an open-minded industry like entertainment, you may want to consider using a creative resume template, which is more colorful and daring in their design. If you’re in a more buttoned-down career field like medicine or law, a classic professional resume would be better.

You can also download resume templates for Word or use Google Doc resume templates if that’s where you’ll be writing your document.

Speaking of writing, let’s go step by step through how you’d make an excellent resume.

How to write a front desk receptionist resume in 5 simple steps

The key to an excellent resume is customizing it for every job — and you can do exactly that with a receptionist resume in just five steps. Let’s outline your resume step by step.

Later, feel free to browse our resume examples for additional inspiration.

Step 1

Look closely at the receptionist job description

Job ads are an essential resource. When you read the job ad closely, you can identify keywords that will help you customize your resume.

Why is this important? Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen applicants based on whether they meet specific criteria, which often includes a list of keywords and qualifications. If you include the right keywords, you’ll sail past the ATS and get one step closer to a human review.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

You have to start your resume strong with a well-written resume profile. Profiles come in two flavors — professional summaries and objective statements.

Professional summaries offer an overview of your top accomplishments and skills. Summaries are well suited for applicants with a consistent work history and many high points.

Resume objectives lay out the goals of an applicant, explaining how their skills can serve a company’s mission. Job seekers who are entry-level or looking to change industries find the most value in objectives.

Now, let’s check out how each of these would look on a front desk receptionist resume:

Receptionist resume summary example:

Highly organized and client-focused front desk receptionist with over five years of experience managing administrative tasks and providing exceptional customer service. Possesses strong communication and organizational skills with a proven track record of responding to inquiries and concerns in a timely manner while maintaining a positive demeanor. Comfortable working with senior citizens and their families. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Receptionist resume objective example:

Passionate and detail-oriented administrative assistant seeking to start a career in the entertainment industry as a front desk receptionist. Skilled in managing administrative tasks, including answering and directing phone calls, greeting visitors and residents, and assisting with filing and data entry. excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their background.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant front desk receptionist skill

There are many receptionist duties to add to your resume, so where do you start? The resume skills section, of course.

You should always include both hard skills, like record-keeping and managing telephone lines, and soft skills, like collaboration and communication. The ultimate goal is to have a mix of hard and soft skills so the employer can see the full spectrum of your qualifications

Hard and soft skills for a receptionist resume

Hard Skills

Customer service
Multitasking
Record-keeping
Microsoft Office
Telephone etiquette
Virtual meetings

Soft Skills

Communication
Empathy
Time management
Attention to detail
Adaptability
Positive attitude

Here is an example of a strong front desk receptionist skills section:

Proficiency in using multi-line phone systems.
Capable of multitasking effectively and prioritizing tasks.
Skilled in scheduling appointments and managing calendars.
Excellent record-keeping and filing.

Pro tip

Don’t forget to list your computer skills. Many receptionists use Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and other productivity software.

Step 4

Write a strong receptionist work experience section

Every receptionist role will require slightly different skills and qualifications, but the key to grabbing the hiring manager’s attention is writing a work experience section that shows your value.

Make your experience pop with action words. These words make your experience seem more active and present, giving fresh life to what could sound like history.

Here’s an example of a great receptionist work history entry:

Front Desk Receptionist, Bamford Day School
Menlo Park, CA
January 2019 – Current

Maintained a welcoming front reception area, including lost and found, resulting in a 15% reduction in lost items reported by parents.
Answered and redirected phone calls, utilizing visitor management systems to generate a 25% reduction in unauthorized visitors to the campus.
Assisted with summer ordering bulk supplies, organizing and coding the receipts for a 15% reduction in accounting errors.
Reinvented the process for ordering student lunches, leading to an 8% increase in student satisfaction.
Helped schedule and coordinate events for campus directors, improving the efficiency of event and meeting coordination.
Collaborated with Front Desk team to divide tasks and share workload, and supported communication systems across multiple buildings and many teams, resulting in a 20% reduction in errors in communication systems.

Pro tip

If you want your resume to focus on your skills, you can change your experience section into core competencies. Competencies is an umbrella term that encapsulates a broader skill set.

Step 5

List your relevant education and training on your receptionist resume

Companies are increasingly likely to hire receptionists with some level of education. You can showcase your degrees in a well-placed education section.

Top candidates for this role often have a bachelor’s degree in a field like communication or business administration. But it’s also common for a receptionist to have a high school diploma. Either way, when you list your degrees, start with the most recent and work backward.

How to list your front desk receptionist education:

Education

Associate of Arts in Business Administration
Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA

Certifications

Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
Certified Office Manager (COM)

Pro tip

Make sure to include any professional certifications or special trainings you’ve done over the years. They’ll fit well in your education section — or a separate section if you prefer.

Optional sections for your front desk receptionist resume

Awards and Certifications

When it comes to your resume, you want to put your best face forward, right? You should include honors and awards on your resume. Whether these awards recognize your outstanding leadership or a special contribution to a project, they’re worth including.

The same goes for certifications. Certifications show an employer that you’re dedicated to your field and have the expertise to have a major impact on their organization. That’s exactly the type of thing that can up your chances of landing a dream job.

How to list awards on your receptionist resume:

Employee of the Month – January 2022

Recognized for going above and beyond in assisting clients and colleagues.

Customer Service Excellence Award – December 2019

Acknowledged for demonstrating exceptional organization, collaboration and multitasking.

Projects

Projects are a great way to punch up your resume. Why? Because they show you’re not simply regurgitating information you learned in school. No, you’re the kind of person who turns theoretical knowledge into practical results.

There’s another reason projects look great on your resume — they show off many skills employers love to see. Creativity, problem-solving, leadership, time management and teamwork, to name a few, all come into play with special projects. Bonus points for projects related to your area of expertise. That’ll show you know your stuff.

How to list projects on your mechanical engineer resume:

Project Management
Coordinated a popular company-wide charity fundraiser that brought in more than $10,000 for a local nonprofit organization.
Event Planning
Assisted in the organization and execution of many company events, from holiday parties to client meetings.
Web Development
Helped create a website for a local nonprofit animal welfare organization, generating a user-friendly interface and ensuring search engine optimization.

Languages

If you know multiple languages, don’t hesitate to say so on your resume. Being multilingual will show you have greater cultural awareness and adaptability, two qualities employers value in a globalized job market.

Additionally, knowing more than one language means you can communicate with a broader variety of clients or customers. Imagine how useful it would be to connect with more people and open yourself up to international opportunities.

How to list languages on your front desk receptionist resume:

Fluent in English and Spanish
Proficient in German

Interests and Hobbies

Adding hobbies to your resume is a good way to share a bit about yourself and add to your resume layout.

But remember — when choosing hobbies to include on your resume, try to pick ones that are relevant to the job you’re trying to land and that showcase valuable skills. With that out of the way, don’t be afraid to get creative. Your interests and hobbies can set you apart from other candidates and show potential employers that you’re an individual who has a full life outside of work.

How to list interests and hobbies on your receptionist resume:

Volunteer at the local animal shelter
Event planning for friends and family
Stay active with yoga and meditation

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

When the competition is fierce, cover letters are a great opportunity to set yourself apart from the pack.

Consider writing a front desk receptionist cover letter. You can use your cover letter to highlight skills or projects you didn’t have space to discuss in your resume. They also offer the perfect forum for addressing potential questions, like work gaps or career transitions.

If you aren’t sure how to write a cover letter, that’s no problem! Browse our cover letter examples to find inspiration and choose a cover letter template that matches your style. If you’re in a crunch, edit one of the templates in our Cover Letter Generator, which will practically write the letter for you.

When you’re done, don’t forget to check the formatting of your cover letter to make sure you are following the rules

Front desk receptionist resume — key takeaways

Read the job ad for clues
Help the employer’s screening process by including the right keywords — the skills you found in the job ad — to your resume.
Choose the most effective format
Use a chronological resume when you have extensive experience and a functional or combination for less experience.
Style your resume for success
Pick a resume design that is well-suited to your industry, organized to showcase your skills and capable of passing an ATS scan.
Include a balance of skills
Make sure to add a mix of technical and interpersonal skills — both categories are important for front desk receptionists.
Customize your resume for every job
Generic applications get tossed. A perfect resume will be personalized to the specific job you’re applying for.
Add metrics for more impact
Show the value you contributed in previous roles by using action verbs, data and metrics in your experience section.
Take it to the next level
Increase your chances of landing an interview by including a tasteful, well-written receptionist cover letter.

Frequently asked questions from job seekers

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.