Receptionist CV Example and Writing Tips

Ensure your CV format is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.

Being a receptionist requires strong organisational skills to ensure the smooth flow of daily operations and excellent customer service for creating positive first impressions and creating a welcoming atmosphere for clients and visitors.

To get ahead in your receptionist job hunt, you’ll need to demonstrate both skills when you write your CV. Here are five tips to help you make the best case for why you should be hired.

1. Start with a compelling personal statement

A CV personal statement acts as the ‘hook’ to ensure recruiters read the rest of your CV. Learn how to write an effective receptionist personal statement with these examples:

Entry-Level Receptionist Personal Statement

Enthusiastic and motivated individual ready to transfer a strong background in customer service to a receptionist role. Excellent communication skills, a keen learner, and a passion for providing outstanding support ensure readiness to become an effective team member.

Mid-Level Receptionist Personal Statement

Dedicated receptionist with 2 years of experience in fast-paced environments. Proven track record of efficiently managing administrative tasks and improving customer satisfaction. Skilled in multi-line phone systems and database management, eager to contribute to team success.

Senior Receptionist Personal Statement

Experienced receptionist with 5+ years in high-pressure settings, including public sector roles. Specialise in diary management and stakeholder engagement, ready to bring exceptional organisational skills and a proactive approach to Jack Crawford MP’s office as his Diary Manager.

Gym Receptionist Personal Statement

Dynamic and health-conscious receptionist with a passion for fitness and wellness. Skilled in creating a welcoming environment, managing bookings, and addressing member inquiries. Ready to bring energy, organisational skills, and a positive attitude to a busy gym front desk.

School Receptionist Personal Statement

Compassionate and organised receptionist with experience in educational settings. Adept at supporting administrative needs, managing communications, and providing a friendly point of contact for students, parents, and staff. Committed to contributing to a positive school environment at St Bartholomew’s Church of England School.

2. Use numbers in your work history bullet points

We recommend you use data like percentages and numbers in your work experience section to showcase your achievements. Here are 15 great examples of receptionist CV bullet points that use action verbs and numbers:

1. Managed 50+ daily inbound calls, ensuring efficient routing and customer satisfaction
2. Processed and accurately distributed 100+ parcels and letters per day
3. Implemented a new digital filing system, reducing retrieval times by 25%
4. Coordinated schedules for 10 meeting rooms, boosting utilisation by 30%
5. Handled 200+ weekly appointment bookings, maximising manager availability
6. Spearheaded a customer feedback system, enhancing service quality by 20%
7. Streamlined front desk operations, cutting wait times by 15%
8. Organised 5+ corporate events monthly, from planning to execution
9. Increased social media engagement by 40% through effective communication strategies
10. Reduced administrative costs by 10% through efficient supply management
11. Led a team of 3 junior receptionists, fostering a collaborative work environment
12. Maintained a 98% accuracy rate in data entry tasks over 2 years
13. Improved email response time by 20%, enhancing client communication
14. Initiated French/English bilingual customer service options, broadening client base by 15%

3. Align your skills with the job description

When you’re adding skills to your CV, prioritise those in the job advert (as long as you’re skilled in them!). Here are some of the top skills employers are looking for in would-be receptionists:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Multi-line telephone systems
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, Zoho CRM)
• Appointment scheduling software (e.g., Calendly, Microsoft Bookings)
• Typing (75+ WPM)
• Bookkeeping software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage 50)
• Data entry and database management (e.g., Microsoft Access, SQL)
• Office equipment operation (printers, scanners, fax machines)
• Digital filing systems management
• Confidentiality and data protection (GDPR awareness)
• Web and social media platform management (e.g., Facebook for Business, Hootsuite)
• Customer complaint handling
• Event planning and coordination
• Basic IT troubleshooting
• Office supply and inventory management

4. Include any receptionist qualifications you have

As a receptionist, you may have some qualifications or certifications to add to your CV. Here are some of the top UK qualifications receptionists are likely to have:

• NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration
• NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration
• BTEC National Diploma in Business Administration
• City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Business Support
• City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
• ILM Level 2 Award in Reception Services
• OCR Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service
• OCR Level 3 Diploma in Customer Service
• Pitman Training Receptionist Diploma
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification

5. Take advantage of upskilling opportunities

Whether you’re an experienced or new receptionist, continuously improving your skillset will help you stay competitive in the job market.

Here are some ways you can make yourself a valuable candidate:

1. Focus on technology: Technical skills are highly important for the modern workplace, so stay up-to-date with the latest tools and software used by receptionists. Consider taking online courses on LinkedIn Learning or Coursera or even attending workshops to learn about software such as Microsoft Office, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, and appointment scheduling software.
2. Understand how to use basic office equipment: Research the types of office equipment that are commonly used in receptionist roles, such as printers, fax machines, and telephone systems. If these office tools are new to you, watch online tutorials and videos that’ll help you learn how to use them.
3. Develop your communication skills: Communication-focused abilities are critical for success as a receptionist, so consider taking courses or workshops that focus on communication, such as public speaking or business writing.
4. Show you’re an organised worker: Receptionists are often tasked with managing a busy front desk and handling multiple tasks at once, so mentioning your organisational skills can help you work more efficiently and effectively. Learning and then listing your knowledge of tools like Trello or Google Drive in your CV will help you succeed as a receptionist.
5. Gain experience in customer service: Providing top-notch customer service is a key aspect of a receptionist’s role. Consider taking free or paid courses or workshops that focus on interacting with others, such as communication and customer service or conflict management and then add them to your CV’s introduction, skills section, or work experience section.

Takeaways

To sum up our advice, here’s how to quickly write a receptionist CV that gets you that job:

1. Start with a gripping CV personal statement
2. Add numbers to your work experience section
3. Include the skills employers want to see in your receptionist CV
4. Highlight your receptionist qualifications
5. Upskill and mention your new skills in your CV

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Receptionist job outlook in 2025 — things to know

According to the UK Earnings Explorer provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), receptionists in the UK earn an average annual salary of £16,535.

You can find information about the gender pay gap for receptionists on the ONS’ website.

Sources

1. National Careers Service (His Majesty’s Government)
2. Peterborough College

Our editorial process

This receptionist CV sample was created in line with CV Genius’s editorial process. We’re committed to creating the highest-quality UK job search resources so that you can get a job as quickly and easily as possible.