Writing a Receptionist CV that will impress an employer comes down to a few things.
1. First, start with a strong personal statement that outlines your skills and work experience.
2. Follow with your work experience, listing previous roles in reverse chronological order.
3. Include a section for key skills and qualifications relevant to the role.
4. You can also include additional information such as hobbies or references, but they’re not as important.
Use these CV writing tips as guidance to understand the overall structure that you need, and here we will guide you through what a Receptionist's CV needs to help it stand out.
How to Write a Personal Statement for a Receptionist
You need a strong personal statement to impress an employer, so make sure you only write about relevant skills and work experience. It is important that your statement looks professional, so do not use any slang or casual language, as this will detract from your application.
Briefly write about your skills and qualifications within 150 words, you will be able to go into more detail in specific sections of your CV.
Receptionist Personal Statement Example
“At my previous job, I was a Receptionist in a GP Surgery, during my time there I spoke with patients about their symptoms and documented all appropriate information so that it was easy for doctors and nurses to read.
I became adept at using calendar software to create appointments and I would frequently send reminder emails and texts to patients. I was always professional and empathetic will the needs of our patients who would leave the practise satisfied with their care.
I am now looking to move into a new role, and my skills and experience will work well within your company.”
Ideal Work Experience for a Receptionist CV
An employer might list some preferred experience that they’d like candidates to have, and there are a few places that offer the skills and experience needed for a Receptionist job.
Which Jobs to Include
Jobs in customer service or hospitality will have useful transferable skills for this role, as most of them involve speaking with clients or customers. This might include working as Shopfloor staff, Waiter/Waitressing, or Event staff.
When writing about your work experience, separate your jobs and the skills you gained from them using bullet points. To keep your CV at an acceptable length, it is best to only mention 5-6 relevant job positions.
Receptionist CV Work Experience Example
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Waitress at [company name] from [start date] to [end date]
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During my time as a Waitress, I would often greet customers, check if they had reservations, and guide them to their tables.
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I would accurately take orders and relay these to the kitchen staff, including any customisations that the customer asked for.
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I would also take calls to book table reservations and use dedicated software to input information into a calendar.
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When dealing with customer issues or complaints I was always empathetic and professional in hopes that they would still receive satisfactory service despite any issues they had.
Key Skills & Qualifications for a Receptionist CV
An employer will expect an applicant to have certain skills and qualifications, which will be written in the job description. It is then up to you to talk about the relevant skills you have that match their expectations.
Important Skills for a Receptionist
To excel as a Receptionist, you will need to have strong written and verbal communication skills, and as you will be speaking with clients or customers on a regular basis, it’s important to be an active listener, and have a professional demeanour.
An employer may also expect you to be able to multitask, be empathetic and understanding, and have some computer proficiency.
Qualifications Needed to Be a Receptionist
You don’t typically need specific formal qualifications to be a Receptionist, but employers will look for candidates with IT skills, and GCSE level Maths and English. Having a diploma or NVQ in business administration, customer service, or office administration will boost your CV and make it more desirable to employers.
Additional Content to Boost Your Receptionist CV
Employers are also interested in how you’ve worked on certain soft skills outside of work, this is a good time to talk about any hobbies and interests that have helped you with that. Additionally, you can add some references for an employer to follow up on if they feel it is necessary.
Hobbies & Interests
The hobbies and interests you mention should have helped you develop certain skills. For example, participating in volunteer work can improve your communication skills. Helping to plan events in your spare time might increase your organisation and multitasking skills. It is beneficial to add this kind of information to your CV, to show an employer that you are active outside of work.
References
References can be useful if an employer wants to follow up with one of your previous managers or mentors. If you add one or two references to your CV, they should work in a more senior position than you and know your work ethic. Make sure you have permission before including someone as a reference.
How to Make a Receptionist CV Stand Out
The best way to make your CV stand out is by structuring your CV so that it’s easy to read. This is why short sections and bullet points are useful when listing qualifications and skills. Putting important information within blocks of text can be off-putting, and you need your CV to impress an employer.
Including information about notable achievements and positive feedback will always boost your CV, as it shows that you have the ability to go above and beyond for your job, this is an admirable skill that could impress an employer.
Mistakes to Avoid
Try to avoid using unprofessional language, as this will detract from your application, and potentially make an employer think you’re not serious about the job. It’s also important to check for mistakes in your writing, if possible, have someone else read your CV before you send it anywhere.
Receptionist CV Example
Now that you’ve read our guide and the writing tips provided, you might also want to download our free CV template to help with the structure and layout of your CV. This way, you can write with confidence and create a CV that will stand out to employers
