How to write an impressive medical receptionist CV

Updated 17 January 2023

Medical receptionists are specialists in medical administration. They handle insurance, liaise with doctors and provide patient customer service. If you want to apply for a job as a medical receptionist, knowing how to write and structure an impressive CV that showcases all of your most relevant skills to employers can help you stand out as a candidate. In this article, we explore what a medical receptionist is, describe how to write a medical receptionist CV that helps you to get the role you want and provide a template and an example of a CV for a medical receptionist.

What is a medical receptionist?

A medical receptionist CV is a document aids administrative professionals applying for medical receptionist roles. A medical receptionist is a receptionist that works primarily in health care settings, including hospitals, clinics and walk-in centres. They answer phones, greet patients and visitors, schedule appointments and carry out other administrative duties. They also make sure that all of a patient's relevant paperwork is complete before the beginning of each appointment. Most medical receptionists come from a background in administration before choosing to specialise in medical administration.

How to write a medical receptionist CV

If you desire to apply for a role in medical admin, then writing a CV tailored to this field could help you maximise your chances of gaining an interview. CVs for a medical receptionist role primarily highlight administration and customer service skills, but being able to show that you have experience working within a health care setting may reveal to employers that you understand the unique challenges that medical receptionists handle. Follow the steps below to find out how to write a CV to impress potential employers:

1. Format your CV clearly

Before you add information to your CV, choose the document's layout. Many document editors allow you to use professional CV templates, or you could simply configure your text editor yourself. Choose a font that's professional and easy to read, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and set the font size to around 12pt or similar. Use headings and subheadings like Experience and Education to break up the different sections of your CV and make it easier for hiring managers to skim through if they have many to read through.

2. Include up-to-date contact details

At the top of your CV, write your name, address and contact details so that hiring managers and employers can contact you easily. Including both an email address and a telephone number ensures that potential employers can contact you using their preferred method of communication, but remember to only include contact details for email addresses and phones that you still use. Get into the habit of checking your email inbox and your phone regularly in case potential employers contact you so that you're able to respond promptly.

3. Write a brief professional summary

After your contact details, summarise yourself briefly as a professional. This summary may be the first thing many employers read, so make it concise and hard-hitting. You could include how many years of experience you have working in medical administration or the health care field, a highlight of your greatest achievement and a reference to your most relevant skills. Some personal summaries might mention career goals, especially if you aim to transition into this field, such as from general administration to medical administration.

4. Detail your work history

After your personal summary, fill in your work history. Start with your most recent roles first, listing the organisation, job title, dates of work and primary responsibilities for each position. If you have a lot of relevant work experience, consider removing your work history from jobs that don't apply or where you worked only for a short time. For example, if you spent a few months working in retail but have years of experience in medical receptionist roles, omit your retail experience. If you have less work experience, include everything that demonstrates transferable skills.

5. List your education and qualifications

After your work history, list your qualifications, starting with the most advanced, relevant qualifications. Although many medical receptionist roles don't have any advanced education requirements, you may consider listing qualifications such as a diploma in administration. If your highest qualifications are A-levels or GCSEs, include these to show that you have sufficient basic skills in English and Maths. You can also include extra certifications in typing, CPR, or other relevant continued education courses.

6. Highlight your skills

The final major section of your CV highlights the relevant skills required for medical receptionist roles. Cross-reference the medical secretary job description when you write this section. Make sure you align your relevant skills with those that the job description mentions. Some examples of important skills for medical receptionists include handling calls, data entry, IT skills, customer service, appointment scheduling, filing, office administration and organisation skills.

7. Proofread the final product

After writing your CV, read through it to check for spelling and grammar errors. As a receptionist, good written communication skills and attention to detail are both important skills. Sending off a CV free of mistakes shows you can write a document without errors and may persuade potential employers that you pay attention to details when working. You could also ask a trusted friend or family member to read through your CV for you to check for spelling errors, clunky wording, or inaccuracies.

CV template for a medical receptionist

Use the CV template for a medical receptionist below to write your own CV and structure it in a way that maximises your chances of securing an interview:

[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an entry-level professional].

Experience
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree] | [Name of School or University]

CV example for a medical receptionist

Use the example below to inspire your own medical receptionist CV:

Daisy Lawther 07849 66 723| d.lawther@email.com| Manchester

Professional Summary
A specialist medical receptionist with over five years of experience in reception roles in hospitals and GP clinics. I'm hardworking, empathetic, friendly and passionate about offering the most efficient and welcoming service to all patients.

Experience
Receptionist | November 2020–Current JP Burrell Surgery | Manchester

responsible for answering phones, scheduling patient appointments and coordinating all patient communications
provide feedback on marketing pamphlets
organise patient records and handle patient queries
took on extra shifts during out-of-hours clinics
supported an overhaul of the clinic's scheduling system during my time

Receptionist | June 2017–November 2020
Southland Hospital | London

used scheduling software daily
practised speaking with empathy with patients suffering from a wide range of medical ailments
responsible for answering calls and scheduling appointments

Receptionist | January 2017–June 2017
Leland Leisure | London

responsible for answering calls, taking bookings, addressing customer queries and scanning members at a leisure facility
learned how to deliver strong customer service
resolve customer complaints effectively

Education
A-levels in English, Business Studies and Geography, St Wilfrids College
GCSEs in Maths and English and Science, Mary St John's School

Disclaimer: The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.