How to Say “Answered Phones” on a Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

When crafting your resume, it’s essential to effectively communicate your skills, experiences, and responsibilities. One common task that many professionals handle is answering phones. To convey this experience accurately, you can utilize both formal and informal language on your resume. In this guide, we will explore various ways to express your phone answering skills, providing tips, examples, and even regional variations if necessary.

Formal Ways to Say “Answered Phones”

When tailoring your resume to formal occasions such as corporate positions or traditional industries, utilizing professional language is crucial. Here are some formal phrases that can effectively describe your phone answering skills:

1. Handled phone calls: This concise and straightforward phrase communicates that you were responsible for managing phone conversations in a professional setting.
2. Managed inbound calls: Highlight your ability to handle incoming calls proficiently, demonstrating your telephone etiquette and professionalism.
3. Responded to phone inquiries: This phrase emphasizes your prompt and courteous responses when dealing with phone queries, showcasing your ability to provide excellent customer service.
4. Fielded incoming calls: This phrase suggests that you were adept at receiving and redirecting calls, indicating your organizational skills and ability to multitask.
5. Provided phone support: Showcase your ability to assist callers with their questions or concerns, emphasizing your problem-solving skills and patience in providing exceptional customer support.

Informal Ways to Say “Answered Phones”

Informal language might be more appropriate when targeting creative industries or startups. Utilize these expressions to showcase your phone answering abilities in a less formal tone:

1. Handled phone communications: This phrase highlights your experience in managing phone conversations in a more casual and modern way.
2. Took care of phone calls: This simple and approachable phrase suggests that you efficiently managed incoming calls, giving potential employers a sense of your hands-on approach.
3. Dealt with incoming calls: This expression conveys your ability to handle and resolve phone inquiries effectively, showing that you can handle different types of callers and situations.
4. Assisted with phone inquiries: Showcase your friendly and helpful approach when dealing with callers, emphasizing your dedication to providing excellent customer service.
5. Managed phone communication: This phrase indicates your role in handling phone calls and ensuring effective communication within the organization, highlighting your ability to coordinate with different team members.

Regional Variations

While the general phrases mentioned above can be used universally, there might be regional variations in certain areas. Consider these variations if you are applying for a job in a specific location:

• American English: Instead of “Handled phone calls,” you can say “Handled telephone calls” or “Managed incoming phone calls” to align with regional conventions.
• British English: Modify phrases like “Assisted with phone inquiries” to “Assisted with telephone enquiries” for a more British English-friendly resume.
• Australian English: Instead of “Managed inbound calls,” you may consider using “Managed incoming phone calls” or “Handled phone enquiries.”

Tips for Describing Your Phone Answering Skills

When listing your phone answering experience on a resume, keep these tips in mind:

1. Quantify your achievements: If possible, mention the number of calls you handled daily or weekly to demonstrate your ability to handle a high volume of inquiries.
2. Showcase relevant skills: Highlight skills such as active listening, problem-solving, and multitasking to demonstrate your proficiency in handling phone conversations efficiently.
3. Use action verbs: Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb like “managed,” “answered,” or “responded” to make your experience more impactful.
4. Focus on customer service: Emphasize your ability to provide excellent customer service, as this is often a crucial aspect of answering phones effectively.
5. Highlight any specialized tools or systems: If you have experience with specific phone systems or customer relationship management (CRM) software, mention them to showcase your technical skills.

“Answering phones efficiently and professionally is a fundamental skill in many industries. Make sure to present your phone answering experience effectively, tailoring your language to the formality of your target job or industry.”

– Career Advisor

Remember, whether you prefer to use formal or informal language to describe your phone answering experience, it is essential to tailor your resume to the specific job and industry. Be sure to review and edit your resume for grammar, style, and relevance before submitting it to potential employers. By following the tips and using the examples provided in this guide, you can effectively demonstrate your phone answering skills and increase your chances of landing your desired job.