You should normally include any previous experience you have with related job duties when writing a front desk receptionist resume. Typing, operating a multi-line phone, using email management software, and greeting customers as they enter a business or organization’s lobare examples of these skills. If you’ve never worked in an office support position before, your receptionist resume could include any previous customer service experience you’ve had in other industries like retail or food service. Many employers prefer to hire receptionists who have pleasant personalities and maintain a professional demeanor even in stressful situations, so including any relevant on-the-job achievements on your resume can be beneficial.
Some receptionist jobs, especially in specialty areas like law or medical offices, may require completion of a college degree or certificate. Other types of businesses may offer these front-desk positions to motivated high school graduates who can quickly pick up the responsibilities. Include relevant skills you may have learned through short-term secretary training courses if you have not completed a higher education degree. Word processing and inputting numbers with a 10-key pad on a computer keyboard are two common skill sets.
Even if you have little prior work experience, your front desk receptionist resume should highlight your organizational skills. Many receptionists also work as administrative assistants, scheduling meetings and appointments for their employers on a daily basis. One of the most important job duties in this type of receptionist position is keeping the schedule current. Good spoken and written communication skills are also required of a qualified receptionist, and these should be highlighted on your resume. Clear speech is ideal for answering the phone, and many receptionists must take neatly written phone messages throughout the day.
Include action verbs like “organized,” “scheduled,” and “maintained” when listing your qualifications and past accomplishments on your front desk receptionist resume. These words show hiring managers that you’re capable of managing large amounts of data and communicating relevant information from it to others. This type of skill set does not have to be acquired through previous employment. These qualifications can also be listed if they were obtained through volunteer work or school extracurricular activities. While references are not typically listed on a front desk receptionist resume, keep a separate list of at least three previous employers or other people familiar with your skills and work ethic.