Most jobs you will apply for throughout your career will require a cover letter. A cover letter is the document that most employers view first, and one that could influence the likelihood of them reading the rest of your application. Writing an impressive receptionist cover letter isn’t overly difficult. It’s about having a good guide and knowing what information is most important to include. Here, we offer you tips and a cover letter template that will help you secure the eye and interest of every employer you encounter.
Receptionist cover letter do's
- Do keep it short. One page is the maximum for cover letters, with the ideal length between 250 - 350 words, or around four paragraphs
- Do address your cover letter to the right organisation, and correct member of staff
- Do tailor or customise your accounting cover letter for every role you apply for
- Do borrow the best bits of your resume to use throughout your cover letter
- Do use short lists and bullet points to show your technical skills and core abilities
- Do end your cover letter by thanking the employer for their time
- Do always run a thorough spelling and grammar check before submitting your cover letter
Receptionist cover letter don'ts
- Don’t use out-dated or unprofessional contact details. Always use the most recent, most relevant, and the most professional
- Don’t simply copy or rewrite your resume in your receptionist cover letter
- Don’t include irrelevant information. Consider the role, the specific needs of the employer and the company more broadly, and what they want most from candidates. Focus on these areas in your cover letter
- Don’t use buzzwords. When overused they tend to lose meaning and impact
Receptionist cover letter example
This receptionist cover letter is strong because it observes general cover letter writing best practice. The layout is neat, with each idea or point broken into its own short paragraph. The most significant achievements from the candidate’s resume have been used in the cover letter without it being a direct copy of all her skills and experience.
The candidate also details her passion for customer service and enthusiasm for the organisation, something that all employers want to see in an application. This receptionist cover letter example also includes ambition, and the candidate expresses a desire to use her skills and experience to improve the organisation’s programs and processes. Importantly, at the conclusion of the cover letter, the candidate’s sign off is courteous and the employer is thanked for her time.
The way in which you write and communicate key messages in your receptionist cover letter is just as important as the actual experience and content you include, so make sure yours is suitably formatted, neat, and easy to read for every role you apply for.
Take a look at our cover letter tips hub for more cover letter writing tips and examples.