Working at the front desk offers many opportunities for development. With a well-written CV, a receptionist can get employment in a place where she will gain valuable experience in working with clients, improve her communication skills and learn to communicate efficiently in English. Write a receptionist’s CV and see what your options are!

Read on and you’ll learn:

Receptionist resume

Do you need a resume?

Sign up and use our resume builder!

Create a CV

Receptionist CV – how to quickly convince an employer of your candidacy?

Working in the customer service sector requires you to have a lot of soft skills. A receptionist in a hotel must show commitment and win the sympathy of guests, she is a kind of showcase of a given place. For this reason, passion and willingness are particularly important in this profession. You will show such qualities by including a professional summary on your receptionist resume.

Receptionist CV – how to create a professional summary?

You’re probably wondering, what exactly is a professional summary? Otherwise known as a target or professional profile – it’s just a few sentences at the very top of a receptionist’s CV. Writing it abroad is often the norm, but in Poland you can impress the recruiter by writing an accurate summary.

What should a professional summary be included in a receptionist resume?

  • Introduction of the candidate. In one or two sentences, write who you are and what you do. You can include education as well as work experience in this or a related profession.
    Example: “I am a graduate of Polish philology at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, I have two years of experience working at the reception desk in Dobre Hotele hotels”.
  • Identify key skills. Write what your strengths are. Think about what makes the job of a receptionist stand out and list what you can do. Remember that English for a hotel receptionist is very important.
    Example: “I have a Certificate of English Proficiency at B2 level. I’m fluent in Office.”
  • Presenting your motivations. Tell your employer why you are interested in their offer. Indicate what you want to achieve in this position.
    Example: “I would like to use my interpersonal skills to build a positive image of the GreatHotels chain. I think this position would help me develop my ability to work in an international environment.”

Receptionist / receptionist job offers – how to match your professional summary to them?

Receptionist CV

Here’s an example of how to accurately match your receptionist resume to a job posting.

An example of a hotel’s offer:
Requirements:

  • knowledge of Office
  • efficient operation of office equipment
  • openness and ease of establishing contacts
  • good organization of work
  • good manners, conscientiousness and self-reliance

Welcome:

  • knowledge of English
  • experience in office work

Receptionist CV – Tailored Job Summary:
I am a student of English philology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, I have been working as an assistant in the XYZ office for a year. At work, I use Office and use office devices. I am an organized and outgoing person. In your company, I would like to develop organizational skills, as well as use my openness and communication skills to build positive relationships with guests.

Is work experience important on a receptionist resume?

Even if you think that an ordinary hotel reception is not a big challenge, you need to try to stand out with your receptionist CV. Customer service positions are very important for any business. A hotel receptionist should make a positive impression on customers so that they remember their visit well. Communication skills, problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations are learned as we gain work experience. Handling schedules, computer programs, and office equipment is also important.

Where to put experience on a receptionist resume?

Employers are more likely to hire people who have already had some contact with customer service or administrative tasks. That’s why you can put the experience section in your receptionist resume just below the professional summary.

Receptionist duties / receptionist duties – how to list them in the experience section?

  • Match your receptionist resume to the position you are applying for. After reading the advertisement, think about what requirements you meet, what things you have already done, and make it clear.
  • Be specific to make your receptionist resume look professional. Avoid the generic wording that most candidates type.
  • Use the language of benefits. Try to show the employer why you will be a valuable employee for them. Highlight your strengths and achievements.
  • If you have a lot of experience, divide your receptionist duties into sections. This will make the whole thing more readable. You can use the titles “Main Responsibilities”, “Achievements”, and “Additional Responsibilities”.
  • If you have little experience, remember that your receptionist resume doesn’t have to be empty or uninteresting. Write down the things you did in your previous jobs, internships, apprenticeships, etc. Focus on activities that you will be able to use as a receptionist.
  • Validate the content. Spelling mistakes or even simple typos can leave the impression that you’re not a detail-focused person. The duties of a receptionist require meticulousness and accuracy. Show in your application documents that you exhibit these positive qualities.

How do you stand out on a receptionist resume?

Some job offers are answered by many candidates. What you should do to get an invitation to an interview is to get attention. Even though a receptionist resume must be created in a professional manner with some rigid rules in mind, you can write it better than others. What terms you use is very important.

Receptionist Duties – Examples To Include In A Receptionist Resume

See how easy it is to describe your duties as a receptionist in a favorable way in the work experience section.

  • Instead of “customer service” you can write “professional customer service, including foreign ones” or “informing customers about promotions, new treatments, advice on choosing the right services”;
  • instead of “accepting reservations” you can type “manage reservations using the XYZ system”;
  • Instead of “answering phones” you can write “PBX service (also in English)” or “PBX service, taking care of the proper flow of information between employees and all departments of the company”;
  • Instead of “cleaning at the reception”, you can write “keeping the reception house tidy and taking care of the appropriate décor”.
Receptionist Cover Letter

In addition, it is worth mentioning the things that the receptionist deals with on a daily basis.
Receptionist – the scope of duties that may attract the recruiter’s attention:

  • “Communication with SPA staff to coordinate work and provide the best customer service”
  • “Quick and effective resolution of customer problems and complaints”
  • “Monitoring and ordering of office supplies”
  • “Keeping the information available to customers up-to-date: brochures, leaflets and website information”

Where to describe skills and language proficiency on a receptionist resume?

In any profession, skills play a key role. Experience, on the other hand, confirms them, inspires trust and can convince the employer to hire the candidate. These two things should be on the first page of a receptionist’s resume, right below the professional summary. Be sure to make sure that the skills are tailored to the requirements of the specific job offer. When choosing which competencies to highlight, it is worth relying on the job description and the employer’s requirements to match the receptionist’s CV to the candidate profile sought as much as possible.

Hotel Receptionist

Receptionist CV – Examples of Skills

Soft skills in a receptionist’s CV:

  • communication and interpersonal skills;
  • empathetic approach to the needs and expectations of guests;
  • high level of personal culture;
  • the ability to establish and maintain positive relationships;
  • online customer service, writing professional e-mails;
  • effective organization of working time;
  • ability to work under time pressure;
  • ability to prioritize responsibilities and multitasking;
  • self-reliance;
  • meticulousness;
  • enthusiasm and zeal for work;
  • orientation towards the sales goal;
  • the ability to quickly identify and resolve problems;
  • professionalism;
  • taking care of a positive image of the company;
  • knowledge of the industry, e.g. SPA, hotel, medical, etc.

Hard competencies in a receptionist’s CV:

  • proficient computer skills;
  • operation of office equipment;
  • knowledge of office software (e.g. Microsoft Office) and reservation systems;
  • knowledge of a language (e.g. English) at a level (good, very good, proficient) or at a level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2), you can also use graphic markings available in the CV Creator.

Do you need a resume?

Sign up and use our resume builder!

Create a CV

Resume receptionist – how to describe the qualifications well?

Example of a receptionist job offer – requirements:

  • very good organization of work,
  • ability to work in a team,
  • communicativeness,
  • smile and kindness,
  • category B driving licence is welcome,
  • computer skills, including MS Office and creating schedules in Google Sheets,
  • minimum secondary education, preferred field of study: administration,
  • communicative knowledge of English.

Skills on a receptionist resume tailored to the requirements:

  • excellent organization of work on independent workstations,
  • building positive relationships with clients and the team,
  • knowledge of English at C1 level,
  • driving licence category B,
  • very good knowledge of MS Office,
  • very good knowledge of Google Sheets.

The second example of a receptionist job offer – requirements:

  • You have an easy way to establish contacts, build relationships and you know how to take care of them,
  • You show initiative in your work and you enjoy it,
  • The smile on the other person’s face is your personal satisfaction,
  • You are able to empathize with the guest/customer and find the right solution,
  • You are able to sell a hotel offer,

Skills on a receptionist resume tailored to the requirements:

  • Communication and interpersonal skills, empathy,
  • Commitment and initiative,
  • Positive attitude and goal-orientedness,
  • Ability to solve problems and cope with stressful situations,
  • Very good sales skills.
Resume Receptionist

Receptionist Jobs – Is A Description Of Education Important?

You don’t have to graduate from a specific field of study to work at the front desk, but a description of your education is important in every CV. Sometimes, in the list of requirements, for example, for a hotel receptionist position, “higher education” appears. Does this mean that if you are in the middle of your studies or have finished your education after your high school diploma, you should not apply? It’s always worth trying, as it may turn out that the skills and experience in a professionally written receptionist CV will convince the recruiter.

Resume receptionist – how to describe a university degree?

In this section, provide only the most important information about your studies:

  • the date of commencement and end of studies;
  • the name of the university;
  • direction;
  • title obtained.

Such a description of education in a receptionist’s CV will be sufficient. Without going into too much detail, you will leave more space to indicate your key qualifications and experience. If you have a college degree, don’t include high school on your resume.

Reception jobs – what kind of education can you have?

Post-secondary schools with the profile of hotel technician or hotel receptionist prepare for the profession of receptionists.

After passing the final state exam organised by the Central Examination Board, the following qualifications may be obtained:

  • HGT.03. Guest service in a facility providing hospitality services;
  • HGT.06. Provision of services at the reception.

If you have completed a relevant course at a post-secondary school and have the appropriate professional qualifications, you should include this in your receptionist’s CV.

Receptionist Jobs

Reception jobs – what courses and training can you complete?

  • Courses in the use of office programs, e.g. Microsoft Office.
  • Training in sales techniques. They will allow for more effective promotion of services and products offered by the employer.
  • Language courses. Knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, is valuable when working with international clients.
  • Pre-medical first aid.
  • Trainings dedicated directly to the profession of a receptionist, during which you gain complete knowledge needed to start work or improve your competences in your current position.

Where to enter interests on a receptionist resume?

Employers pay special attention to what you can do and what experience you have. Your hobbies should therefore be at the very bottom of the document. If you have interests related to the position you want to apply for, you can mention them. They are often looking for interesting people who will fit into a close-knit team in the company. Showing your passions can then be your asset.

Examples of interests in a receptionist resume

  • Domestic travel (you will present yourself as an open-minded person curious about new things);
  • foreign languages (you can mention them, for example, in the context of foreign literature or a passion for a particular culture and history);
  • technology and new media (working as a receptionist involves using computer programs, it is worth introducing yourself as a person who is up to date with technological innovations);
  • fitness and wellness (a valuable hobby when applying to places such as SPAs);
  • cooking (a good hobby when applying to facilities with restaurants);
  • team sports (you will emphasize the ability to work in a group);
  • social activity in organization XYZ (it can also be volunteering in organization XYZ, it will show the recruiter that you are hardworking and willing to act).

Receptionist CV in English – practical tips

At first glance, it can be said that a receptionist’s CV in Polish differs from a CV in English only in the language. These documents, however, are structured in a completely different way. If you want to successfully look for employment in American or British companies, you need to stick to a few simple rules.

  • Do not include a photo, date and place of birth, or gender. Western employers will not consider a receptionist’s CV with a photograph because they want to avoid being accused of discrimination.
  • Omit the GDPR clause, it applies in accordance with Polish regulations that do not apply abroad.
  • Put a professional summary at the beginning of the document, this is a common practice in the west.
  • Try to keep it concise. The optimal length of a CV that a receptionist should write in English is one A4 sheet.
  • Explain in a specific way what the companies you worked for do. For example, “DobryHotel – a chain of Polish premium hotels, welcoming guests from many countries”.
An example of a hotel's offer

Is it worth writing a receptionist cover letter?

Candidates for the position of receptionist may choose not to submit a cover letter, making the erroneous assumption that the employer will focus solely on the CV, even if the job offer explicitly asks for such a document.

However, such an approach may close the door to employment. It always pays to include a cover letter on your receptionist’s CV if the employer asks for it.

Receptionist cover letter – what will you gain from it?

Industries related to customer service or active sales are suitable for people who are motivated, hardworking, and goal-oriented. A receptionist cover letter is a great tool to show that you are ambitious and creative. This is especially important if you are just planning to start working in this profession. By showing initiative and sending a cover letter together with your receptionist CV, you can gain a lot.

Receptionist cover letter – tips in a nutshell

  • Match the content to the position;
  • highlight your strengths;
  • give examples from experience;
  • explain why you are interested in working here;
  • write in a concise and clear manner;
  • Make sure the content is error-free;
  • take care of the consistency of the form – font, paragraphs, bullet points, etc.;
  • Write a conclusion with an encouragement to action, show openness to conversation.

Receptionist – A Job Full of Opportunities, How Can A Receptionist Resume Help You Advance Your Career?

A receptionist’s resume plays a crucial role in advancing or launching a career, determining the first impression a candidate will make on potential employers. A proper receptionist resume and cover letter focuses on specifics , presenting not only previous work experience, but also skills that are necessary for the job. By highlighting specialized training, knowledge of foreign languages, or additional skills, a receptionist’s CV can distinguish a candidate from others and show her readiness to take on new challenges. As a result, the CV becomes an effective tool that opens the door to new career opportunities.

Do you need a resume?

Sign up and use our resume builder!

Create a CV

We also recommend our other publications:
Programmer CV, IT Specialist CV and IT CV – Everything You Need to Know
CV logistician – apply for your dream job
Salesperson CV – Your Path to Career Success
Physiotherapist CV – apply for your dream positions

-->