Front Desk Resume: Samples for a Receptionist, Agent & Clerk

Front Desk Resume Sample

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Sample Front Desk Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.

Check out other front desk and office-related resume guides:

• Help Desk Resume
• Hospitality Resume
• Receptionist Resume
• Hotel Front Desk Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Secretary Resume
• Office Administrator Resume
• Entry Level Administrative Assistant Resume
• Library Assistant Resume
• Examples of Resumes That Get Jobs

Now, here’s how to write a front desk resume:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Front Desk Resume

Whether it’s at a hotel reception or at the local car dealership, front desk clerks keep things organized so everything goes smoothly.

It’s the same here—

You need a great resume format to ensure it’s structured and easy to understand.

So, adhere to these resume formatting rules:

• Start with your contact details in the resume header area at the top.
• Use clearly-defined headings to make each front desk resume section stand out.
• Use the best resume format: most front desk agents go with the chronological format.
• Choose a top resume font, and use white space to your advantage. No clutter!
• Unless the job ad explicitly asks for a Word document, send your resume as a PDF.

Pro Tip: If you’re applying to your first job as a front desk clerk, check out our no-experience resume guide for helpful tips on adding transferable skills and experience.

2. Write a Front Desk Clerk Resume Objective or Summary

That intro statement at the top of any resume for front desk jobs?

It’s called a resume profile, and it comes in two flavors: the front desk resume objective or front desk clerk summary.

Each one is 3–4 lines long, and gives the office hiring manager or HR member a brief look at your front desk background, clerk skills, office experience, and career goals.

And—

Like a fire in the foyer, you’ve got to grab their attention with this introduction as soon as they begin.

Which one to choose, though?

Pick the resume summary if you have front desk job experience. This introduction type sums up your front desk skills and office-related experience. It also adds a key achievement with numbers to prove you’re the candidate with the amenities they’re looking for.

Select the resume objective if you have no reception job experience. This one talks up your front desk career goals, while still providing a numbered win to prove your capabilities.

Pro Tip: The resume heading gets read first, of course, but that doesn’t mean you must write it first. Instead, save it for last to make it easier to get those thoughts down.

3. Create the Perfect Hotel Front Desk Job Description for a Resume

Doesn’t matter if you’re making a hotel front desk resume or a medical office front desk resume—

Get the work experience section just right.

How?

Here’s how to write the best front desk job description for resumes:

• Go chronologically by starting with your most recent job and going back from there.
• Place your job title on top, then dates worked, company name, and up to 6 bullet points outlining your front desk clerk duties for resumes.
• Reduce the number of front desk job description bullet points you give as you go further back, and include only the most relevant clerk accomplishments.
• Begin each entry with action words and verbs (e.g., initiated, mentored, etc.)
• Give them quantifiable accomplishments, not just standard job duties and front desk tasks.
• Target each resume to one job only!

Pro Tip: Don’t have front desk experience? Still list the most reception and front office-relevant job duties in your bullet points. Show off administrative tasks and secretarial responsibilities which you handled.

4. Make Your Front Desk Clerk Resume Education Section Shine

Don’t think your education resume section is important?

Think again.

To be the face of your company, you’ve got to put a good face on your hotel front desk resume with a perfectly structured education section.

Here’s how to get it right:

• Have 5+ years of experience at the front desk? Add just your degree, major, and college name.
• Newer to reception? Add extra deets, such as academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and relevant hospitality coursework.
• Finished university? Don’t include high school on your front desk resume.
• Still working on it? Add high school below your ongoing university entry.

Pro Tip: Relevant coursework for hospitality jobs aren’t just those which relate to secretarial duties and reception tasks. Add coursework for your given industry, as well, such as your medical billing class if you’re applying for a doctor’s office front desk position.

5. Highlight Your Front Desk Skills for the Resume

From Microsoft Excel to juggling multiple tasks, you’ve got mad skills.

But do they know it?

Show the HR manager you’re the best front office candidate with a perfect skills list.

Front Desk Resume Skills

• Customer Service
• Courteousness & Professionalism
• Interpersonal Skills
• Data Entry
• Time Management Skills
• Guest Reservation System
• Technical Skills
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Multitasking Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Written & Verbal Communication
• Office & Administrative Skills
• Receptionist Skills
• Upselling & Promotion
• Decision-Making Skills
• Microsoft Office / Google Docs
• Conflict Resolution

However—

Don’t just copy this list and paste it in your front desk resume.

Do this, instead:

• List all relevant job skills you have, including soft skills and hard skills.
• Pull out the job ad where the front desk clerk position was advertised.
• Highlight front desk agent skills from their job requirements—those are the best resume keywords to add to a resume.
• If one of your highlighted skills matches one on your list, add it to your front desk resume!

Pro Tip: Front desk clerks require plenty of soft skills, such as empathy and communication. However, the hiring manager will value hard skills more (e.g., typing speed, invoicing), so pay special attention to the job description to look for these.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

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6. Add Other Sections to Your Front Desk Receptionist Resume

Here’s the thing—

All the other front desk candidates have the same resume sections as you do.

You need to stand out if you want that call back for an interview.

To make yours unique, add some extra resume sections.

Here are great additions to a resume for front desk jobs:

• certifications on a resume
• language skills
• projects
• resume awards
• licenses
• memberships
• hobbies and interests
• volunteering on a resume

7. Attach a Cover Letter for Front Desk Receptionist Resumes

53% of employers say a resume without a cover letter isn’t enough.

So—

A cover letter is necessary.

Whether it’s front desk or back office, give them one to talk about.

Here’s how to write a front desk clerk cover letter:

• Get your cover letter format in order before you begin.
• Start the cover letter in a compelling way.
• Talk up your office-related experience and any front desk duties.
• Add key achievements with numbers to verify your value.
• End the cover letter with a strong call to action.

We’ve also got some great cover letter tips to help you along. Check them out!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to follow up on your application. Shooting off a quick email or making a brief call might be the thing that gets you hired.

Got any questions on how to write a front desk receptionist resume? Need more hotel front desk resume samples? Not sure how to talk about clerk skills or office achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!