ToC

Be sure you use the proper cover letter format to make your cover letter readable and professional.

Receptionist Cover Letter Template (Text Format)

(Your Address)
(Your Phone Number)
(Your Email)

(Today’s Date)

(Contact Person’s Name)
(Company Name)

Dear (Mr/Ms/Mx) (Surname),

‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression’ is a motto that I’ve lived by since my late teens. I’ve always loved being the face of my company, so I was delighted when I saw you have an opening for a Receptionist at [Company Name] as advertised on [Website].

(Option 1: No Experience)
Although I don’t have direct experience in this field, I’m eager to begin my professional career and believe my strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for learning make me a strong fit for this role. Through (mention relevant experiences, such as volunteering, school projects, or personal achievements), I’ve developed excellent communication skills and the ability to manage tasks efficiently. I’m confident that these transferable skills will allow me to quickly adapt to the demands of an office environment.

(Option 2: Experienced Candidate)
With (X years) of experience in (relevant roles, such as administrative support, customer service etc.), including my recent position at (Last Company/Organisation), I’m confident my skills align well with this role. At (Last Company/Organisation), I managed (mention specific tasks such as front desk operations, communications, or administrative support). This experience has helped me develop a strong ability to balance multiple responsibilities while providing excellent service to clients and colleagues.

I’m proficient in (mention any relevant skills, such as Microsoft Office Suite or customer service skills) and eager to further develop my abilities in a professional setting. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to (Company Name) and provide a welcoming and efficient front-office experience for both clients and colleagues.

I would love the opportunity to discuss how I can bring value to your team. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the possibility of joining (Company Name).

Yours sincerely,
(Your Name)


Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a cover letter in a way that makes you seem like the best candidate for the job.

Receptionist Cover Letter (No Experience)

By writing an effective no-experience cover letter like the one below, you’ll boost your chances of finding a job:

A receptionist cover letter example (no experience).
Download this free cover letter sample.

Experienced Receptionist Cover Letter

After years of experience as a front-desk receptionist, prove your skills and make your experience count with a cover letter sample based on this one:

An experienced receptionist cover letter sample.
Download this free cover letter sample.

How to write a receptionist cover letter

You already know how to perform several office tasks and maintain a pleasant environment for visitors. And now you need a receptionist cover letter to prove to employers that you can successfully manage their front desk operations.

Learn how to write an effective receptionist cover letter by checking out three helpful cover letter writing tips for front desk receptionists.

1. Begin with an attention-grabbing opening paragraph

Receptionists are the first point of contact for visitors and clients. And setting a positive impression in your cover letter is essential for communicating to employers you’re the perfect receptionist for their company.

If employers see that you have the personality, skills, and front desk experience they’re looking for, they’ll want to continue reading the rest of your cover letter.

So start your receptionist cover letter effectively by describing:

1. reasons why you’re applying for the job
2. how you found the position
3. your years of work experience
4. personality traits that make you a good hire

Have a look at how our receptionist cover letter sample introduces the applicant below as a friendly and experienced professional:

‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression’ is a motto that I’ve lived by since my late teens. I’ve always loved being the face of my company, so I was delighted when I saw you have an opening for a Receptionist at [Company Name] as advertised on [Website]. I’m confident that my 3+ years of experience and friendly demeanour make me an ideal fit for the position.

2. Showcase your top receptionist skills

Receptionists help a company’s daily operations run smoothly, so make sure your cover letter highlights your top qualifications.

First, mention your receptionist hard skills. Also known as technical skills, hard skills are gained from education, training, or previous work experience in office environments.

For instance, your typing speed, ability to speak foreign languages, or experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software like Salesforce are considered hard skills.

Our receptionist applicant describes their work experience with CRM using a cover letter bullet point below:

Suggested and implemented a new CRM and reporting system, which reduced costs and time waste by 30%

Here are some other examples of valuable hard skills for receptionists:

 

  • Administrative skills
  • Business etiquette
  • Cash handling
  • Computer skills
  • Data entry
  • Email
  • Filing
  • Keeping inventory records
  • Microsoft Office
  • Supply management
  • Switchboard knowledge
  • Using office equipment (e.g., fax machines, copiers, multi-line phone systems)
  • Using scheduling software
  • Windows and Mac
  • Writing and note-taking skills

 

Additionally, describe your soft skills. As a receptionist, you need to have a range of soft skills which show you know how to relate to customers and colleagues in a professional office environment.

Providing excellent customer service is one of the most important skills for receptionists. For instance, take a look below at our applicant’s body paragraph describing their ability to interact positively with customers:

A receptionist cover letter sample highlighting the applicant's customer service skills
Mention your customer service skills in your receptionist cover letter.

Employers also want to know you’re highly organised and they can count on you to complete different tasks throughout the workday. So mention your time management skills using an example like this when you make a cover letter:

Furthermore, I’ve consistently received high praise for planning and scheduling appointments in a timely fashion as well as responding to enquiries professionally.

These other soft skills are also useful for front desk receptionists:

 

  • Ability to work independently
  • Accuracy
  • Adaptability
  • Communication skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Dependability
  • Effective body language
  • Good telephone manner
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Memorisation
  • Multitasking
  • Patience
  • People skills
  • Working under pressure

 

3. Format your receptionist cover letter correctly

Employers seek careful receptionists who pay close attention to detail, so ensure your receptionist cover letter reflects these same qualities.

Follow these four steps when you’re formatting your cover letter for a receptionist role:

  1. Use a cover letter header effectively and get employers to notice your application right away by making your name’s font bigger and bolder than the rest of the text. Consider using a pre-formatted cover letter template with boxed or colourful headings to make your receptionist cover letter stand out.
  2. Keep your cover letter on one page (250–400 words) because recruiters are busy professionals and don’t have time to read long, waffly cover letters.
  3. Use an appropriate font like Arial or Times New Roman and keep the font size between 10.5–12 points to ensure your receptionist cover letter’s contents are easy to read.
  4. Optimise your page margins by adjusting them from a minimum of 1.25 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Using appropriate page margins helps fill out space evenly and keeps your receptionist cover letter from looking too crowded or empty.

Don’t forget to proofread your receptionist cover letter using Grammarly for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes so recruiters don’t see any errors.


Samuel Johns
Written by

Samuel Johns

Samuel Johns is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and senior career counsellor on the CV Genius team, with almost 5 years of experience in the career space. He has helped countless job hunters craft high-quality CVs and cover letters, exceed expectations at interviews, and obtain their dream jobs. Born and raised in County Durham in the beautiful North East of England, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in French Language and Literature from the University of Bristol in 2013 and has worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, London, Paris, and Taipei as a French–English translator. He’s determined to use his native English and fluent French skills to help UK and French candidates get the jobs they deserve. In addition to the British and French versions of CV Genius, Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published on numerous websites, including Careers.org, the University of Warwick, the Enterprisers Project, and HR.com. If you’d like to collaborate, please reach out to Samuel through LinkedIn. Please note, we don’t accept guest posts and won’t reply to such requests.