Dental receptionists are the professionals who help guests check in to dental offices, understand their insurance and billing and make future appointments. To learn more about the skills, experience and education necessary for the role, you can review a dental receptionist job description. If you're applying for dental receptionist positions, learning how to write an effective resume can help you encourage a hiring manager to schedule an interview.In this article, we detail the steps you can follow to write an effective dental receptionist resume and provide two resume samples you can use for reference when writing your own. When your application materials are ready, you can upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume to apply for open dental receptionist positions.To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
How to write a dental receptionist resume
These are some steps you can follow to write an effective dental receptionist resume:
1. Format the document
The first step to writing an effective dental receptionist resume is formatting your document. Hiring managers may prefer resumes with simpler formats, so it can be a good idea to choose design elements that allow the hiring manager to quickly find your information. Consider using 1-inch margins and a font like Times New Roman, Arial or Georgia. A standard black font color and a font size between 10 and 12 points can keep your resume readable. Avoid adding graphics or pictures as they may distract from the information in your resume.Related:Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes
2. List your contact information
It's important to include your contact information on your resume because the hiring manager can use it to schedule an interview with you. Be sure all the information you include is current and accurate so the hiring manager can reach you. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address and location.A professional email address is usually some combination of your first and last name at a standard email provider. If you don't have a professional email address, it can be a good idea to sign up for one prior to submitting your resume. When listing your location, avoid including your street address to protect your privacy. Instead, just include the city and state in which you live.Related:How To Write Contact Information That Gets Your Resume Noticed
3. Create your professional summary
The professional summary in your resume is a section in which you can detail who you are, what your value is and what you're seeking in a workplace. You can customize the professional summary based on your specific skills, experience, education and certifications, but it's best to include your most impressive information here. It's often the first part of the resume that a hiring manager reads, so by including important information, you can encourage them to look through the rest of the document and learn more about your experience and skills.Related:How To Write a Resume Summary Plus 5 Strong Examples [Video + Transcript]
4. Detail your education information
The hiring manager may look for your education information on your resume to ensure you have the proper qualifications for the role. Many employers require that you have at least a high school diploma to become a dental receptionist, but some may prefer a higher level of education. When you list your educational information, do so in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the educational institution, the degree or diploma you earned and the year in which you earned it.Related:How To List Education on a Resume
5. Describe your work experience
In your resume, the work experience section is one of the most important. It allows you to describe your previous roles and show how they prepared you for the role to which you're applying. This section can help you define your value and emphasize to the hiring manager the specific value you can contribute to their team. In this section, detail the name of the company or organization, how long you worked there, what your title was and the specific tasks you managed in the role.When describing the tasks you managed, try to add specific figures to show the positive influence you had. For example, rather than saying you encouraged clients to return to the dental office, you may state that you encouraged more than 50% of clients to make another appointment and return for future dental needs.Related:How To Write Work Experience on a Resume
6. Include your relevant skills
Review the job listing to determine which of your dental receptionist skills are most relevant to the position. Identify skill words the listing uses more than once and recognize which they place the most importance on. For example, if the listing mentions the ability to use spreadsheets several times, it can be most relevant to include your proficiency in data entry and Excel. Dental receptionist skills often include those that allow you to manage files and interact with clients.Related:52 Hard Skills To List on a Resume and Why They're Important
7. Highlight your certifications
As a dental receptionist, certification may not be necessary, but earning them can help you advance your career. If you have certifications related to dental receptionist work, list them on your resume. This can show your dedication to maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills. Detail the name of the certification and include the year in which you earned it or renewed it.Related:What Are Certifications? Definition, Benefits, Types of Certifications and Examples
8. Edit and proofread the resume
To edit your resume, read through it and identify areas in which you can strengthen the word choice. Review the job listing during this step to ensure you're optimizing for keywords. When proofreading, you search through the document for grammar and spelling mistakes. Consider using online programs to help you remedy minor errors you may not see. You can also ask a friend or family member to read through your resume to ensure it's free of errors prior to submission.Related:Why Edit Your Resume for Each Job Application? Tips for SuccessPlease note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
