How to Write a Receptionist Resume Summary with Samples

To secure a receptionist position, you’ll need a compelling resume with a strong summary that highlights your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments. As the first point of contact for many internal and external clients, receptionists must be organized, personable and proficient in both written and verbal communication. This article explains how to write an effective receptionist resume summary with samples provided.

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary is a brief summary of your work experience and everything you can offer to the position you’re applying for, covered in just one or two sentences. Also known as a professional summary, this section should provide a clear idea of what your resume demonstrates regarding your previous experience and developed skills. 

When writing your resume summary, you should consider the key qualifications listed in the job description and tailor your summary to include the qualifications you have that match what the employer is looking for in a candidate. This can ensure you use this brief section to discuss the ways in which your experience and skills can benefit their office.

Receptionist resume summary examples

Here are some examples that showcase the features you should include in your receptionist resume summary:

Example 1

‘Friendly and organized receptionist with exceptional customer service skills in both written and verbal communication. Fluent in English and Spanish composition.’

This example highlights all the most important skills necessary for a receptionist to excel in an entry-level role.

Example 2

‘Receptionist with over seven years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Highly organized and self-motivated with a diplomatic personality and adept at managing stressful situations and sensitive materials.’

This summary describes a receptionist who is more experienced. Because they have so many years on the job, mentioning any relevant education achievements is generally less important than the job experience itself. 

Example 3

‘Enthusiastic receptionist with four years of hands-on experience providing front-desk service for a major corporation. Highly personable multitasker capable of answering phone calls, guiding visitors and maintaining general office security in accordance with established procedures.’

This summary describes a receptionist applying for a position that’s likely high-level with a lot of activity in a fast-paced office environment. Multitasking is a common skill required for receptionists, so highlighting it in your summary can be useful.

Example 4

‘Highly trained receptionist with 10 years of experience working various front-desk positions, excelling in those reliant on digital record-keeping systems and efficient filing using state-of-the-art software.’

If you’re a career receptionist looking for a new position, consider writing a resume summary similar to this one. Not only does it show extensive experience, but it demonstrates variety, adaptability and technical experience. 

Example 5

‘Receptionist with three years of experience in a fast-paced corporate environment. Competent at data entry and word processing with a 90 wpm typing speed, in addition to scheduling appointments and greeting clients.’

This summary is best suited for a receptionist looking for a position at a fast-paced company that’s looking for a lot of work to be done in the shortest amount of time possible. The summary highlights speed as a central skill.

Example 6

‘Versatile receptionist with a friendly telephone manner and exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Customer-focused with creative problem-solving skills suitable for supply management and customer service.’

If the position you’re applying for involves a wide variety of tasks to perform as a receptionist, consider a summary like this one. It highlights several different responsibilities as well as the necessary skills to excel in all of them.

Example 7

‘Reliable receptionist with the communication and organizational skills necessary to serve as the first point of contact and to manage general administrative tasks. Experienced with complex filing systems, both physical and digital, in addition to scheduling and supply management.’

This summary sample is useful for a receptionist position at a company that values organization and image. If you’re applying for a company in which the receptionist has to keep track of an excessive amount of data or has to greet a lot of visitors, a summary like this that showcases service and record-keeping is ideal.

Example 8

‘Adaptable receptionist with experience in a wide variety of industries and a history of success in providing premier customer service. Effectively manages general office administration and adept at digital record-keeping and scheduling using applications like MS Office and QuickBooks.’

If you’re applying for a tech company receptionist position, it’s always beneficial to highlight your technical proficiencies. This sample specifies, by name, two common programs receptionists have to use, in addition to highlighting work experience.

Example 9

‘Focused and passionate receptionist with extensive experience in conflict resolution in a variety of situations. Proficient in detail-oriented medical record-keeping software and Microsoft Office programs.’

This summary indicates that the applicant is uniquely suited to be a receptionist at a medical facility by highlighting their experience with relevant software and conflict resolution skills.

Example 10

‘Friendly receptionist fluent in both English and Spanish with exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Customer-service oriented with extensive experience in correspondence composition.’

The receptionist in this summary indicates that they have extensive experience with positions that interact with diverse customers who speak various languages. Relevant skills are also stated.

Example 11

‘Efficient and detail-oriented front desk receptionist with exceptional guest service skills. Skilled in POS terminal use and commended by guests with a 99% approval rating on average. Fluent in English and Spanish.’

This summary is effective for a hospitality receptionist position. It not only demonstrates expertise with guest services but also with additional skills like POS terminal operation and bilingualism.

Example 12

‘Award-winning receptionist with four years of experience as a hotel front desk clerk at a busy 5-star property seeking to leverage customer service skills to enhance the guest experience at your prestigious hotel.’

This summary is focused on highlighting accomplishments, and that’s useful when applying for competitive receptionist positions with higher barriers of entry such as front desk agents at an upscale hotel.

When you keep your receptionist resume summary similar to these samples with all the necessary features, you’ll be in a much better position to have a resume that stands out from the rest.