Best Receptionist CV Example & Writing Guide

Provide contact details on your receptionist CV

It may seem basic, but some candidates forget to include their most up-to-date contact details at the top of their CV, which can lead to missed opportunities.

To ensure employers can reach you easily, double-check that all your contact information is included before submitting your application. Consider using a slightly larger or bolder font for clarity and easy access for this section. Make sure to include the following:

• Full name – both your first name and surname
• Location – simply the city or country where you’re based (mention if you’re willing to relocate)
• Phone number – provide the best number to contact you
• Email address – use a professional, work-appropriate email address

Example of a correctly formatted contact section

Start your receptionist CV with a personal statement

A strong personal statement is a great way to open your receptionist CV and make an immediate impression. This brief summary, typically just three to four sentences, provides an opportunity to highlight your experience, key skills, and what you can bring to the role.

Your personal statement should present a snapshot of your career and achievements, positioning you as an asset to the employer. Focus on how your skills—such as excellent communication, organisational abilities, and customer service expertise—will benefit the workplace. Tailor the statement to the specific job description, ensuring you mention key qualities the employer is seeking.

What else do you need to know about personal statement writing?

• Keep it concise—aim for around 50 words and avoid unnecessary fluff.
• Highlight your strengths in customer service, organisation, and communication.
• Repeat some of the job requirements to reassure employers you have what it takes to succeed.
• Mention relevant metrics when possible (e.g. “Managed a busy front desk with an average of 50+ visitors daily”).

Example of a receptionist personal statement

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Add your work experience to your CV

Work experience is the top deciding factor in the hiring process. Employers always prefer candidates with a proven track record because they need less training and supervision. For your receptionist CV, list your previous and current positions in reverse-chronological order and outline three to four key responsibilities for each role.

If you’re unsure what to include, ask yourself: Is this recent and relevant? There’s no need to mention a job role from several years ago if it no longer aligns with your current skill set. Similarly, unless you can highlight transferable skills, there’s no need to include certain positions.

How should you format this section? We suggest including:

• Job title
• Company name
• Company location
• Employment start and end dates
• List of responsibilities
• Achievements, awards, and promotions

Whenever possible, use specific examples and metrics to back up your achievements. For instance, if you’ve “managed a busy front desk,” you could say, “managed a front desk serving over 50 clients daily.” Or you might highlight, “coordinated scheduling for a team of 10 professionals”. The more detailed you can be, the stronger your application will be.

Also, aim to cover a broad range of duties to demonstrate the full scope of your abilities. If you’ve already mentioned “answering phone calls” in one role, try highlighting “maintaining office supplies” or “assisting with event coordination” in another. Use action verbs and power words to start your bullet points, such as “greeted,” “organised,” and “coordinated,” to make your experience sound more engaging. This will help your receptionist CV stand out and show the hiring manager the full extent of your skills.

Example of work experience for a receptionist CV

List top skills for your receptionist CV

When employers review CVs, they often skip straight to the skills section to quickly assess whether you meet the job requirements. This section is also crucial for passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which filter CVs based on keywords. To make the most impact, we recommend listing 6-8 key skills, with a balance between hard (technical) skills and soft (personal) skills.

Hard skills are job-specific and technical abilities you develop through experience or training. Examples include “managing multi-line phone systems,” “booking appointments,” and “handling office software such as Microsoft Office.”

Soft skills, on the other hand, are personality traits that help you work well with others and thrive in a professional setting. These might include “communication,” “organisation,” “problem-solving,” and “customer service.”

Here’s our top advice: You need both to succeed. Strong technical abilities are important, but so is the right attitude. To help you get started, here are some skills you might consider including on your receptionist CV:

Outline your education on a receptionist CV

When competing for a receptionist position, your educational background can set you apart from other candidates. This section allows you to highlight your formal education, relevant training, and any certifications that demonstrate you have the foundation needed to excel in the role.

While it’s straightforward, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind when filling out the education section of your receptionist CV. First, avoid listing qualifications that aren’t relevant to the role. For example, if you’ve completed a higher-level qualification, there’s no need to mention your GCSEs unless they directly relate to the job. Additionally, don’t focus on any poor grades or incomplete courses – the aim is to showcase your strengths and qualifications.

For most receptionist roles, a good level of secondary education is sufficient, but additional training in office administration, customer service, or IT skills can give you an edge. If you have relevant certifications, such as First Aid or secretarial qualifications, be sure to include these as well.

Here are a few details to include:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g., undergraduate degree or A-levels
• Qualification result – optional, but can be useful if it’s strong

Example of an education section for a CV