Hard working, polite, and friendly receptionist with 5 years of experience of working within the leisure industry. Committed to ensuring an exceptional level of customer service and exceeding the expectations of any visitors.
06/2018 - 10/2021, Receptionist, Banisters Hotel and Leisure Complex, Edinburgh
- Meeting and greeting up to 100 hotel guests daily to ensure they received a warm and friendly welcome.
- Taking time to understand the needs of each visitors and offering them additional information to enjoy their stay at the hotel.
- Keeping accurate records on check-ins and maintaining data confidentiality.
- Working as part of a team of 10 and motivating others whenever possible.
02/2015 - 06/2018, Leisure Receptionist, BeeHive Gym, Glasgow
- Ensured an exceptional and efficient level of customer service to all gym members.
- Offered visitors a warm welcome and answered questions about services or memberships.
- Handed 40+ calls daily and responded to all voicemails within 1 hour.
- Provided support to the cafe team by ordering supplies when needed.
- Helped to ensure a friendly, relaxing, and professional environment.
09/2017 - 05/2021, Scottish Qualifications Certificate, River Run Academy, Edinburgh
Undertook various online courses during lockdown including:
- Marketing in a digital world
- Getting started with social media
- Customer service skills for receptionists
- Counselling skills for beginners
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Ability to Work in a Team
- Fast Learner
- Microsoft Office
- Computer Skills
- Customer Service Skills
Receptionist CV example & writing guide
You could say that a receptionist is the heart of any company. They are the first point of contact for visitors, and as such, they help to determine the impression others have of the company.
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The role of a receptionist should never be underestimated. This is a role that requires great communication skills, a positive attitude and excellent people skills. You should take your time with your CV and make sure you highlight those aspects of your skills and expertise that will help you stand out from the crowd.
With occupation-specific CV examples and writing guides, Resume.io is a resource for job seekers in every field and at every level of their career. In this writing guide, together with the receptionist CV example, these are the topics we will cover:
- The role of a receptionist and what this entails
- How to write your receptionist CV – including some handy tips and tricks
- The best format to use for your receptionist CV
- What sections to include and what information these should contain (including summary, work history, education, skills)
- Tips and hints for designing your receptionist CV
What does a receptionist do?
When a visitor enters the building of your business, it is vital that they are greeted in a polite, professional and friendly manner, and provided with any information they may need. It is the role of the receptionist to ensure that the visitor feels informed and comfortable.
Receptionists work in a variety of settings including doctor’s offices, hotels, businesses, schools and many more. Beyond receiving guests and visitors, receptionists handle many duties, including:
- Answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
- Responding to emails and other inquiries
- Sending and receiving packages and mail
- Ordering and organizing office supplies
In the UK, employment of receptionists is highest in the South East of England, with an employment rate of 29,576. It is lowest in Northern Ireland, with only 5,775.
Receptionist job market and outlook
If you are looking for a role as a receptionist, you will be pleased to hear that the job market seems to be positive, particularly for temporary workers. The hiring potential appears to be most significant in London and Bristol, compared with the rest of the UK. It seems that salaries are also increasing for receptionists, as more businesses become aware of the importance of having good receptionists at the heart of their organisation.
How much do receptionists earn?
The average hourly rate for a receptionist in the UK is £8.59, according to Payscale.
How to write a receptionist CV
First and foremost, you need to plan the layout of your receptionist CV. There are five main sections on a CV, including:
- CV header
- CV summary
- Employment history
- Skills
- Education
Always keep your audience in mind when writing your CV as a receptionist can work in many settings. You may like the idea of working within a large organisation with a busy reception, or you may prefer a more relaxed, quiet environment. It is a good idea to show that you are interested in the type of business you would be handling the reception for. For instance, if you are applying for a receptionist role within a beauty spa, you should show your interest in health and beauty in your CV. Tweak your CV to the role you are applying for and take your time so you don’t make any rash mistakes.
These are the main guidelines we would suggest following when writing your receptionist CV:
- Understand the audience and tailor your CV to suit
- Use a crisp, clear design, without being outlandish.
- Take keywords from the job spec and use them on your CV.
Choosing the best CV format for receptionists
There are three main types of CV formats: reverse chronological order, function and hybrid. Reverse chronological order is the most traditional format and centers on an employment history section where you can list related work experiences starting with the most recent first. This is the best format to use for your receptionist CV if you have any previous experience to show.
Alternative formats may be a good option for candidates just starting out in the field or making a career change. You can read more about them in this guide to CV formats.
CV summary example: the warm welcome
The warm welcome is the first stage of the receptionist’s role and for a CV, it is the summary. This section situated at the top of your CV is your introductory paragraph, where you give the hiring manager a glimpse into your skills and expertise. Be sure to focus on your experience as a receptionist, or any experience that involves dealing with the public.
Focus on action verbs when describing your expertise. For example, ‘managed a busy reception with up to 200 visitors per day.’
Below you’ll find an adaptable summary from our receptionist CV sample.
Hard working, polite and friendly receptionist with 5 years of experience of working within the leisure industry. Committed to ensuring an exceptional level of customer service and exceeding the expectations of any visitors.
Employment history sample: the objective
Your employment history section should always start with your most recent employment and work back to the start. It is recommended that you don’t go further back than 10 years. Each paragraph in the employment section should be in bullet form, with the key aspects of your experience. For instance “responsible for providing first class customer service for up to 100 visitors a day.” It’s best to use tangible examples. For instance, you may consider saying “responded to voicemail messages within 1 hour,” rather than simply “responding to voicemail messages.” Check out the receptionist employment history CV sample below, that can be adapted to your needs.
Receptionist, Banisters Hotel and Leisure Complex, Edinburgh
June 2018 - October 2021
- Met and greeted up to 100 hotel guests daily to ensure they received a warm and friendly welcome.
- Took time to understand the needs of each visitors and offered them additional information to enjoy their stay at the hotel.
- Kept accurate records on check-ins and maintained data confidentiality.
- Worked as part of a team of 10 and motivated others whenever possible.
Leisure Receptionist, Beehive Gym, Glasgow
February 2015 - June 2018
- Ensured an exceptional and efficient level of customer service was provided to all gym members.
- Offered visitors a warm welcome and answered questions about services or memberships.
- Handed 40+ calls daily and responded to all voicemails within 1 hour.
- Provided support to the cafe team by ordering supplies when needed.
- Helped to ensure a friendly, relaxing and professional environment.
CV skills example: taking care of the brand
The CV skills section is the place to show the abilities you possess which are relevant to the role. What makes you the right fit and how can you stand out from other candidates?
You can also mention any skills which are directly relevant to the industry. For example, if you are applying for a receptionist role within a gym, do you have any experience or interest within the sporting industry that might be of interest to the hiring manager? Direct experience and industry experience is a winning combination!
Check out our adaptable CV sample skills section below.
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Ability to Work in a Team
- Fast Learner
- Microsoft Office
- Computer Skills
- Customer Service Skills
Receptionist CV education example
While receptionists aren’t required to have formal education, this section helps communicate your background to the employer. When you list your education, it should start with the most recent and include any ongoing learning. CPD (continuous professional development) is always appealing to employers, so make sure you mention this on your receptionist CV.
Check out the education section from our receptionist CV sample.
Scotisch Qualifications Certificate, River Run Academy, Edinburgh
September 2017 - May 2021
Undertook various online courses during lockdown including:
- Marketing in a digital world
- Getting started with social media
- Customer service skills for receptionists
- Counselling skills for beginners
CV layout and design: less is more
As a receptionist, you already know the importance of a professional appearance, with a ‘less is more’ attitude. The same applies to your CV. Although you want to maintain professionalism, there is no need to go over the top with it. Keep the design clear, concise and clean.
If you want to make sure your layout is done right, you may consider using a CV template with professional formatting.
Key takeaways for a receptionist CV
- Before you start creating your receptionist CV, work out the structure you want to use.
- Tailor your CV to the role you are applying to and the setting you will be working in. Make sure to mention any interest/experience you have in the industry.
- Make sure you have relevant keywords in your receptionist CV. You will find some of these on the job spec that you can use. The company you are applying to may have an ATS in place, so you want to ensure your CV doesn’t get lost.
- Check out our receptionist CV sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
