Veterinary Receptionist Resume Guide
Veterinary receptionists are responsible for greeting clients, scheduling appointments and providing customer service. They also handle payments, maintain client records and answer basic questions about services offered by the veterinary clinic.
Veterinary clinics are always on the lookout for knowledgeable receptionists like you. But before employers can consider you, they need to know who you are—which means crafting a resume that stands out from the competition.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Veterinary Receptionist Resume Sample
Shana Kirlin
Veterinary Receptionist
[email protected]
679-735-3942
linkedin.com/in/shana-kirlin
Summary
Amicable veterinary receptionist with 5+ years of experience providing exceptional customer service and administrative assistance. At XYZ Veterinary Hospital, successfully managed incoming calls, scheduled appointments, handled payments and billing processes for over 200 clients per week. Received numerous awards from the hospital staff for outstanding performance in client relations. My goal is to provide excellent customer service at ABC Animal Clinic while expanding my knowledge of veterinary practices and procedures.
Experience
Veterinary Receptionist, Employer A
McAllen, Jan 2018 – Present
- Reorganized the appointment scheduling system, reducing wait times for clients by 25% and increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
- Successfully processed over 50 payments per day while providing accurate information to pet owners on veterinary services available at the clinic.
- Monitored inventory levels of medical supplies, medicines and other items required in daily operations; alerted management when stock was running low or expired products were detected.
- Streamlined filing systems for patient records & billing documents which resulted in a 30% reduction in clerical errors and improved overall efficiency of administrative tasks within the practice environment.
- Represented the hospital professionally as first point-of-contact with customers over phone calls and face-to-face interactions; handled complaints diplomatically to maintain goodwill between patients/clients & staff members alike.
Veterinary Receptionist, Employer B
Rockford, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Communicated with pet owners, veterinary staff and other stakeholders in a friendly and professional manner; assisted over 200 customers daily.
- Recorded patient medical histories while ensuring accuracy of information; decreased data entry errors by 15%.
- Spearheaded the implementation of an updated appointment scheduling system that improved customer wait times by 20 minutes on average.
- Reliably ensured timely filing and management of sensitive medical records for 500+ patients across multiple locations according to relevant regulations & standards set forth by governing bodies in the industry.
- Assisted veterinarians with preparing surgical instruments, equipment sterilization & pre/post-operative care for all clients as needed during appointments, resulting in positive feedback from 75% of surveyed customers about their experience at the clinic.
Skills
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Animal Welfare
- Data Entry
- Receptionist Duties
- Veterinary Medicine
- Communication
- Veterinary
- Animal Behavior
Education
Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Veterinary Receptionist Certification
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary for a veterinary receptionist should showcase your customer service skills, organizational abilities and knowledge of animal care. You can mention the number of years you have worked in the field, any relevant certifications or training programs you completed, and how well-versed you are with medical software such as VetMatrix. Additionally, highlight any awards or recognition that demonstrate your commitment to providing excellent client services.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Dependable veterinary receptionist who excels at multitasking and working with animals. 4+ years of experience in a veterinary office setting, including greeting visitors and scheduling appointments. Proven ability to handle sensitive client information while maintaining professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality. Seeking to join ABC Vet Clinic as the next front desk receptionist where I can bring excellent customer service skills to help create a positive environment for clients and their pets.
Driven and organized veterinary receptionist with 5+ years of experience in the animal care industry. Skilled in managing multiple tasks and delivering excellent customer service to pet owners while maintaining accurate patient records. Proven ability to work under pressure and quickly adapt to changing environments. Seeking an opportunity at ABC Clinic where I can utilize my extensive knowledge of pet health needs, along with my friendly demeanor, to provide outstanding client support services.
Seasoned veterinary receptionist with 5+ years of experience in a fast-paced animal hospital. Proficient in multiple computer systems, including Avimark and Cornerstone. Committed to providing superior customer service while managing client appointments and maintaining accurate medical records for over 2,000 clients. Seeking to join ABC Animal Hospital as the next veterinary receptionist where I can utilize my knowledge and expertise to provide excellent care for all patients.
Committed veterinary receptionist with 5+ years of experience providing exceptional customer service to pet owners. Highly organized and able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. At XYZ Veterinary Clinic, successfully handled appointment scheduling, billing inquiries, and staff communications for over 100 clients per day. Received recognition from management for consistently exceeding expectations and maintaining excellent client relationships.
Skilled veterinary receptionist with 10+ years of experience working in busy animal clinics. Adept at providing exceptional customer service, scheduling appointments and managing the front desk. At XYZ Clinic, managed a client base of over 500 pet owners while maintaining accurate records for all animals under care. Received numerous commendations from clients for being both knowledgeable about their pets’ needs and friendly towards them.
Accomplished veterinary receptionist with 5+ years of experience in a veterinary clinic. Possess excellent customer service skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. At XYZ Veterinary Clinic, managed client check-ins, appointments scheduling, billing processes, filing documents, and customer inquiries with efficiency and accuracy. Led training sessions for new staff members on office policies and procedures.
Energetic and detail-oriented veterinary receptionist with 3+ years of experience in customer service, scheduling appointments, and managing client records. Looking to bring strong organizational skills and problem solving abilities to ABC Veterinary Clinic as the next front desk attendant. At XYZ Animal Hospital, achieved 97% satisfaction rating from clients for promptness and accuracy of services provided.
Determined veterinary receptionist with 6+ years of experience in the healthcare industry. Looking to join ABC Veterinary Clinic and provide top-notch customer service, critical data management support, and efficient front desk operations. At XYZ clinic, boosted patient satisfaction ratings by 15%, while also improving efficiency in scheduling appointments by 20% via process improvements.
2. Experience / Employment
Next comes the work history section, which should be written in reverse chronological order. This means your most recent job is listed first.
Stick to bullet points when describing what you did, as this makes it easier for the reader to take in all of the information quickly and easily. When writing these bullets, make sure to include details about what you did and any quantifiable results that were achieved due to your work.
For example, instead of saying “Managed client appointments,” you could say, “Scheduled over 200 veterinary appointments per month while ensuring clients received timely reminders via text message or email.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Scheduled
- Greeted
- Answered
- Recorded
- Processed
- Monitored
- Updated
- Managed
- Assisted
- Resolved
- Communicated
- Collected
- Filed
- Organized
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Managed the front desk operations of a busy veterinary clinic, responding to client queries over the phone and in person while scheduling appointments for 10+ pets per day.
- Facilitated smooth patient flow by checking-in customers promptly upon arrival, verifying pet insurance information and collecting payments quickly; increased customer satisfaction ratings by 25%.
- Advised clients on animal health care topics including vaccination schedules, feeding instructions & treatments; reduced average wait times from 30 minutes to 15 minutes or less.
- Accurately inputted medical data into an electronic records system within 2 hours of initial appointment completion; eliminated errors due to manual filing methods previously used at the clinic.
- Filed all relevant documents such as invoices, laboratory reports and vaccine certificates according to organizational protocols; improved filing system organization efficiency by 40%.
- Independently managed the front desk of a busy veterinary practice, overseeing reception services for over 100 clients per day and assisting with animal care tasks as needed.
- Structured efficient check-in/check-out procedures that enabled staff to process all appointments within 1 hour; improved customer satisfaction ratings by 25%.
- Presented information on pet health programs & vaccinations to customers upon arrival, upselling additional services such as spaying/neutering when applicable; raised revenue by $1,500 in the last quarter.
- Utilized scheduling software to book appointments for veterinarians and maintain an organized database of patient records; reduced appointment reminder calls from 12 minutes to 2 minutes on average each day.
- Formulated comprehensive medical files containing complete client histories & treatments administered for quick reference during exams; expedited workflow rate by 35% in first month of employment.
- Updated patient records and appointment schedules for over 500 clients daily, expediting the admissions process and reducing paperwork errors by 15%.
- Resolved customer inquiries efficiently in-person, via phone & email; successfully managed a call volume of up to 40 calls per day with no backlogs or delays.
- Reduced average wait time from 30 minutes to 10 minutes through efficient scheduling management while ensuring that patient needs were addressed first priority.
- Confidently handled billing processes including payments, collections & refunds accurately and within established timelines on a daily basis.
- Processed over 200 invoices per month with 100% accuracy while providing professional administrative support to veterinarians at all times.
- Collected payments from over 150 pet owners each week, utilizing POS systems and ensuring accurate record keeping to optimize cash flow.
- Optimized operations by creating a filing system for client records and streamlining appointment scheduling processes; reduced wait times by 40%.
- Efficiently handled customer inquiries regarding services offered, pricing structure, payment methods & potential treatments; increased client satisfaction ratings by 15%.
- Processed payments of up to $5,000 per day on behalf of veterinarians while maintaining clear audit trails in the accounts department database with 100% accuracy rate.
- Achieved cost savings targets set out by management team through efficient use of office supplies such as paper and printer cartridges; lowered costs down 20% year-on-year for 3 consecutive years.
- Scheduled over 80 appointments for clients and their pets each week, ensuring that all visits were timely and accurate.
- Developed an efficient filing system for patient records to improve organization of data; decreased appointment wait times by 10%.
- Greeted over 200 pet owners a day in person or on the phone with compassion, providing information about services offered at the clinic and scheduling follow-up visits as needed.
- Proficiently managed cash register transactions including deposits, payments and refunds while adhering to established accounting guidelines; increased revenue by 4% within 6 months of employment.
- Improved customer experience ratings significantly through friendly interactions both online & in-person; achieved 100+ positive reviews from customers on Yelp within 1 year of hire date.
- Organized and managed patient files, ensuring accuracy of data entry for over 50 patients per day; streamlined filing system which resulted in a 20% decrease in paperwork time.
- Revised the existing scheduling process to optimize veterinary appointment slots, resulting in an increase of 15% efficiency with regards to customer service times.
- Participated actively during client visits by providing accurate information about animal health care procedures and products as well as answering queries related to pet medical services; increased customer satisfaction rate by 10%.
- Resourcefully troubleshot technical issues regarding software systems used at the clinic on a daily basis while adhering to proper protocols; reduced downtime from 2 hours/day to 30 minutes/day on average.
- Assessed customers’ financial needs based on their individual situations and created payment plans accordingly; enabled 90+ clients access necessary treatments despite budget constraints each month.
- Substantially increased customer satisfaction ratings by 15% within the first quarter of employment, through friendly and professional interactions with pet owners.
- Compiled detailed medical records for over 100 animals per day, ensuring accurate information was documented in a timely manner.
- Prepared and administered medication to pets under veterinarian supervision; successfully provided 340 vaccinations during last 6 months of work.
- Demonstrated excellent organizational skills when scheduling appointments for clients; managed an average of 50+ visits per week without any delays or cancellations reported.
- Coordinated between veterinary staff members in order to ensure that all equipment used were sterilized properly before each appointment; reduced incidence rate of infection by 17%.
- Answered incoming calls from clients, responded to emails and scheduled over 500 appointments per month for both walk-in and return customers.
- Mentored two junior receptionists in the use of veterinary software systems; provided detailed training on patient data entry as well as client relations protocols, resulting in a 20% increase in efficiency across the team.
- Meticulously managed medical records according to industry standards, ensuring that all information was accurately recorded and securely stored with minimal chance of loss or duplication; reduced misfiling cases by 25%.
- Introduced new customer service initiatives which raised overall satisfaction levels among pet owners visiting the clinic by 10%; performed follow-ups with clients after their visits so they could provide feedback about their experience at our facility.
3. Skills
Skill requirements will differ from one employer to the next; this can easily be ascertained from the job posting. Organization A may be looking for someone with knowledge of veterinary terminology and Organization B may be seeking someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
It is important to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job you are applying for because many employers use applicant tracking systems these days, which scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human.
In addition to listing relevant skills here, it’s also beneficial to discuss them in more detail elsewhere – such as the summary or experience sections – so that they stand out even more.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Animal Behavior
- Animal Care
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal Welfare
- Appointment Scheduling
- Cashiering
- Client Education
- Communication
- Customer Satisfaction
- Data Entry
- Dogs
- Filing
- Medical Records
- Medical Terminology
- Office Administration
- Organization Skills
- Pets
- Phone Etiquette
- Photography
- Receptionist Duties
- Social Networking
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Telephone Skills
- Time Management
- Veterinary
- Veterinary Medicine
4. Education
Including an education section on your resume is a personal choice. If you just graduated and have no work experience, it might be beneficial to mention your education below your resume objective. However, if you have significant work experience that showcases the skills necessary for the veterinary receptionist role, omitting an education section altogether may be best.
If an education section is included in your resume, try to highlight courses or subjects related to the job such as animal care and handling or medical terminology.
Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications demonstrate to a potential employer that you have the necessary knowledge and skills for the job. They also show employers that you are committed to developing your professional abilities, which can be an attractive quality in any candidate.
If you have certifications related to the position or industry, make sure they are included on your resume as it could give you a competitive edge over other applicants.
Veterinary Receptionist Certification
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Shana Kirlin, this would be Shana-Kirlin-resume.pdf or Shana-Kirlin-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your job application is an important step to take. It helps you stand out from the competition and provides recruiters with a better understanding of who you are and why they should hire you.
A cover letter usually consists of 2 to 4 paragraphs that provide more information than what’s on your resume, such as reasons for wanting the role or examples of past accomplishments. They also give employers insight into how well-suited you are for the position in question.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Gilbert,
I am writing to apply for the veterinary receptionist position at your clinic. As a highly organized and efficient professional with 5+ years of experience working in customer service and administrative roles, I am confident I would be a valuable asset to your team.
In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I was responsible for managing the front desk, handling customer inquiries, scheduling appointments, and maintaining filing systems. My excellent communication skills and ability to stay calm under pressure have allowed me to effectively handle multiple tasks simultaneously while providing top-notch customer service. I am also proficient in using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
As a self-starter who is always willing to go above and beyond to get the job done right, I am confident I would excel in this role. Moreover, my friendly personality makes me well-suited for working closely with clients and their pets. In addition to being an excellent communicator, I am also very detail-oriented which allows me to accurately manage client records and schedule appointments without error.
If given the opportunity, I would be proud to put my skills and experience to work for you as your next veterinary receptionist. Thank you for your time; please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need any additional information about my qualifications.
Sincerely,
Shana