Research Summary. Below we've compiled a list of the most important skills for a receptionist. We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of receptionist resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.0% of receptionist resumes contained patients as a skill. Let's find out what skills a receptionist actually needs in order to be successful in the workplace.

  • The most common hard skill for a receptionist is patients. 17.0% receptionists have this skill on their resume.
  • The second most common hard skill for a receptionist is phone calls appearing on 13.8% of resumes. The third most common is customer service on 8.9% of resumes.
  • Three common soft skills for a receptionist are communication skills, computer skills and customer-service skills.

One of the most important hard skills a receptionist can possess is data entry, as receptionists play a large role in keeping track of important data. It's also important for receptionists to have the hard skill of experience scheduling appointments, making and answering phone calls, and supervising a front office or reception area.

When it comes to soft skills, receptionists should have strong customer service skills above all else. Receptionists will act as the point of contact and correspondence for whom they are assisting, so great communication skills are also crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most important skills for a receptionist. We ranked the top skills based on the percentage of receptionist resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.0% of receptionist resumes contained patients as a skill. Let's find out what skills a receptionist actually needs in order to be successful in the workplace.

15 Essential Receptionist Skills For Your Resume And Career

1. Patients

Here's how patients is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Notified and supported patients with abnormal test results- scheduled follow-up testing and referrals to physicians.
  • Check insurance eligibility and assist patients in completing personal information and insurance forms.
  • Communicate directly with patients and doctors to discuss detailed and confidential information.
  • Check in of patients including entering demographic information and verifying insurance coverage.
  • Maintained discharge information on patients by recording doctor orders for future appointments.

2. Phone Calls

Phone calls are a wireless or wired connection made over a telephone or a mobile phone between two people. Two parties are involved in a phone call, the caller and the receiver. A caller dials the number of the one he wants to call, and the recipient hears a bell or a tune to which he picks up the call. The call establishes a connection between them through which they can communicate. The voice is converted into signals and is transmitted through wired or wireless technology.

Here's how phone calls is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Received and directed telephone calls and relayed conversations and pertinent messages, while maintaining accuracy, clarity, and confidentiality.
  • Facilitate students, Manage phone calls and Manage university log system with student information
  • Fielded telephone calls and forwarded correspondence to concerned departments.
  • Answered phone calls.maintained security by following procedures.
  • Directed phone calls, scheduled service calls to customers, maintained customer files to reflect service calls, installations and billing.

3. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how customer service is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Greeted customers/clients, provided quality customer service by answering customer inquiries, describing package of selected massage package.
  • Functioned as primary liaison to guests to ensure a consistently positive customer service experience.
  • Focused on customer service - identified and anticipated customer requirements, expectations and needs.
  • Provide exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment by maintaining excellent client relations.
  • Provided excellent customer service by accurately processing client's orders within agreed-upon deadlines.

And if you’re looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:

  1. Allstate Jobs (592)
  2. Farmers Insurance Jobs (450)
  3. Medical Record Associates Jobs (330)
  4. State Farm Insurance Agency Jobs (643)
  5. State Farm Jobs (459)

4. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how data entry is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Completed general clerical duties including data entry and filing; operated office machinery.
  • Provided general administrative support involving filing, faxing, data entry and photocopying
  • Performed administrative task including data entry, scheduling, and file organization.
  • Managed data entry containing client confidential information.
  • Copied documents and entry-level data entry.

5. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how telephone calls is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Directed office callers by answering telephone calls from customers; determined nature of business and directed callers to appropriate destination.
  • Created official documents for informative mailings to church officials and members while directing telephone calls to appropriate destinations.
  • Answered telephone calls from other departments, directed patients, compiled confidential personal health and time-sensitive information.
  • Answered telephone calls and provided accurate information and scheduled appointments for clientele.
  • Directed all incoming telephone calls to necessary staff and/or other departments.

6. Front Desk

Here's how front desk is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Managed demanding front desk office, executed patient management, scheduled and maintained patient appointments.
  • Lead monthly receptionist meetings eradicating any security and front desk issues by implementing solutions.
  • Coordinated front desk administrative activities and duties in a fast paced hospital environment.
  • Front desk customer service-greet customers and provides assistance and guidance as necessary.
  • Front desk receptionist including switchboard operation and paging system.

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7. Appointment Scheduling

Here's how appointment scheduling is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Handled weekly student appointment scheduling; entered student information into computer system, maintaining confidentiality and ensuring no overlaps.
  • Communicate with various providers and clinical team members to ensure appropriate appointment scheduling or medication renewals.
  • Provide administrative support to President including coordination of calendar, appointment scheduling and travel arrangements.
  • Managed heavy daily patient volume including telephone triage, appointment scheduling and patient referral.
  • Managed and coordinated daily patient appointment scheduling to maximize office efficiency and productivity.

8. Office Equipment

Here's how office equipment is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Keep medical office supplies adequately stocked by anticipating inventory needs, placing orders, and monitoring office equipment.
  • Routed calls, data entry, and utilizing office equipment to speed communication efficiently and effectively.
  • Solidify office equipment leasing and monitor related operational expenses for headquarters and 12 branch offices
  • Operated office equipment and handled logistics to ensure delivery of mail to designated recipients.
  • Monitor and maintain office equipment; control inventory relevant to reception area.

9. Word Processing

Here's how word processing is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Managed a variety of responsibilities in busy office environment including: data entry, word processing accounts receivable and general office duties
  • Provided typing and or word processing services for administrative office correspondence; assisted with other business office functions.
  • Operated word processing/personal computer (PC) equipment to type correspondence, resumes and other administrative documentation.
  • Ensured accuracy of information put into word processing for chemotherapy treatments.
  • Created data entry and word processing documents using Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint.

10. Direct Calls

Direct calls are connections established with a previous customer or client, most likely a subscriber.

Here's how direct calls is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Answer telephone, screen and direct calls *Take and relay messages *Greet persons entering organization *Monitor visitor access and maintain security awareness
  • Screen and direct calls; Answer and refer inquiries Direct people to correct destination Provide general and administrative and clerical support.
  • Direct call-in clients to the correct department * Responsible for entering new and previous clients in to call and visitor log.
  • Handle all incoming calls and direct calls to three locations throughout the New England area for over three hundred people.
  • Answer and direct calls from a Cisco phone line system, interact with vendors and accounts payable, schedule meetings.

11. Multi-Line Phone System

Here's how multi-line phone system is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Answer Multi-Line Phone Systems up to 15 lines.
  • Performed traditional administrative assistant functions such as operating a multi-line phone system, setting up appointments, and preparing reports
  • Major responsibilities included answering multi-line phone system, message logging and verifying employment.
  • Scheduled appointments and surgeries Managed multi-line phone system Managed electronic and paper medical records
  • Provided services to potential customers using multi-line phone system.

12. Greeting Visitors

Here's how greeting visitors is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Managed receptionist area in an organized manner, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in person requests for information.
  • Managed reception area in neat and organized fashion, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person request information.
  • Managed receptionist area, including greeting visitors, responding to telephone and in-patient request while providing great customer service.
  • Managed the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
  • Managed receptionist area, including greeting visitors - Responsible for directing telephone calls and in-person requests for information

13. Clerical Support

Clerical support performs activities that must be done in every workplace in order to support the company going forward. These duties, which come within the category of clerical support, are typically delegated to entry-level employees since they are simple and easy to learn. Even though clerical duties like printing and filing are easy, they require time and in many instances, other workers are preoccupied with other activities and unable to keep up with all that needs to be accomplished. As a result, many businesses employ clerical support staff who are solely responsible for these duties.

Here's how clerical support is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Provided administrative and clerical support to the executive and administrative team that included screening, answering, and directing calls appropriately.
  • Managed switchboard proficiently, distributed departmental mail, provided clerical support as requested and assisted productivity projects as assigned by supervisor.
  • Provided part-time reception coverage and clerical support on an as needed basis to membership and research unit for religious based organization.
  • Provide general administrative and clerical support which includes receiving mail and deliveries, scheduling all appointments and maintaining appointment diary electronically.
  • Provided comprehensive clerical support to fast paced administrative office, researching and entering data into daily blotter and daily tasks.

14. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how hr is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Assisted Human Resources General Manager with HR responsibilities as directed.
  • Provide Customer Service, answer phones, process payroll for about 300 employees and HR requests etc new hire and terminations.
  • Assist HR department as necessary with candidates filling out applications, directing applicants to the appropriate conference room, etc.
  • Worked in a high volume lobby in one of the main buildings on campus for the HR and Legal departments.
  • Assisted HR department with filing documents, sets up new hire files, sorted mail and entered payroll adjustment information.

15. Computer System

Here's how computer system is used on receptionist resumes:
  • Managed computer systems *Faxing/copying *Scheduled appointments *Distributed applications *Handled/organized incoming resumes
  • Scheduled patient appointments daily Check-out patients and collected co-pays Verified that information in the computer system was up-to-date and accurate.
  • Performed data entry duties including the input of candidate information into computer system profiles.
  • Schedule appointments and accurately enters and updates patient information into the computer system.
  • Coded patient diagnosis after appointments and entered into computer system for insurance billing.
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The eight most common skills based on Receptionist resumes in 2023.

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List Of Skills To Add To Your Receptionist Resume

According to recent trends, the most relevant receptionist Resume Keywords for your resume are:

  • Patients
  • Phone Calls
  • Customer Service
  • Data Entry
  • Telephone Calls
  • Front Desk
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Office Equipment
  • Word Processing
  • Direct Calls
  • Multi-Line Phone System
  • Greeting Visitors
  • Clerical Support
  • HR
  • Computer System
  • Patient Appointments
  • Collating
  • PowerPoint
  • Patient Charts
  • Visitor Badges
  • Transferring Calls
  • Fax Machines
  • Inbound Calls
  • Insurance Verification
  • Multi-Line Telephone System
  • EMR
  • Update Appointment Calendars
  • Telephone Switchboard
  • Bank Deposits
  • Administrative Support Tasks
  • Customer Inquiries
  • Travel Arrangements
  • Customer Complaints
  • Relay Messages
  • Courier Deliveries
  • Insurance Claims
  • FedEx
  • Multi-Line Switchboard
  • Greeting Clients
  • Senior Care
  • Book Appointments
  • Facsimile Machines
  • Credit Card

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Online Courses For Receptionists

One of the best ways to acquire the skills needed to be a receptionist is to take an online course. We've identified some online courses from Udemy and Coursera that will help you advance in your career. Since receptionists benefit from having skills like patients, phone calls, and customer service, we found courses that will help you improve these skills.

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