Your Complete Guide to the Best Customer Service Jobs

Your Complete Guide to the Best Customer tafelgeschirr JobsPop quiz Customer tafelgeschirr is not a job for googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) (A) the faint of heart(B) impatient people(C) people who hate other people(D) all of the aboveThe answer is definitely D. In customer tafelgeschirr, you help other people like its your job, because it is your job. Whether that includes helping customers with a particular product, fielding questions and complaints with a pleasant smile, or listening to people rant and rave about a product you didnt sell them and didnt create, its a role that requires a hr of people skills and diplomacy. Youre often a front-line brand ambassador for your company. In the best of times, you might earn loyal customers for your company. When things go wrong, you might end up a viral cautionary tale of customer tafelgeschirr gone wild. So remember not for the faint of heart (or patience).What Do Customer tafelgeschirr Profe ssionals Do?Customer services representatives (also known as customer care representatives) can be found in any customer-facing industry. That includes retail, hospitality, healthcare, or any service industry. These professionals are the friendly faces and voices who are ready to help Their tasks might includeReceiving customers or answering phone callsCoordinating customer ordersEvaluating problems or issues and determining the next stepsTroubleshooting issues, give advice or informationEnsuring a good customer experienceReceiving customer feedbackInvestigating issuesMaintaining detailed client or customer recordsEscalating issues when necessaryCoordinating follow-up outreach to customersInteracting with customers in person or via phone, online chat, fax, or social mediaGiving information about a store, company, or productGenerating ausverkauf leadsProcessing payments or refunds as necessaryBuilding customer and brand relationshipsMeeting sales targets and goalsFollowing company pr otocols for customer careExamples of common customer service jobs includeClient Services ManagerClient Services SpecialistClient Services CoordinatorClient Services RepresentativeCustomer Service AssociateCustomer Service CoordinatorCustomer Service ManagerCustomer Service coachCustomer Service/Care RepresentativeCustomer Support AssociateCustomer Support ManagerCustomer Support SpecialistFront Desk AgentFront Desk AssociateFront Desk ManagerFront Desk ReceptionistHelp Desk AssociateHelp Desk SupportHelp Desk TechnicianReceptionistRetail AssociateRetail Sales AssociateSales AssistantSales CoordinatorTechnical Support EngineerTechnical Support RepresentativesIts important to note that this is not your typical 9-to-5 job. Depending on the industry or company, you may be working odd or overnight shifts, including holidays and weekends.What Does the Customer Service Career Path Look Like?In the past, customer service was often looked upon as an entry-level job, or a career dead end, but that is no longer the case (if it ever really was). Many customer service careers start in the aforementioned entry-level job (customer service rep, or any associate-level job), but with experience in the field, a person can go on to become a coordinator, manager, supervisor, or executive).As we become a mora consumer-driven culture, and one where a customer can be blasting a poor experience over social media within seconds, that means that the customer service industry is growing and becoming more sophisticated by the day. Customer service representatives are not just for placating customersthey may be troubleshooting complicated issues, using advanced technical skills, and using a variety of different communication platforms to connect with customers.The data obsession that drives so many other industries has taken root in the customer service field as well, with metrics, reporting, and customer data management becoming more complex in the pursuit of generating sales and creating lasting, positive relationships with customers.What Skills Do Customer Service Professionals Have?Remember when I mentioned people skills? These are among the most essential skills for a fulfilling and productive career in customer service. Heres the rundown of the skills youll need (or should build) if youre looking for a job in the field.Communication SkillsYoull be communicating with all sorts of people. Happy customers with questions, unhappy customers with problems, people who have very few communication skills themselves, people with language barriers, people who just want to talk to someoneyou name it, you might encounter it as a customer service professional. If youre one of those people who can have a conversation with anyone and everyone you meet, great Youve got a good starting point.Your communication skills shouldnt just be customer-facing, though. You may need to explain complicated issues or problems to other teams within your company, and will likely need to be able to communicate brand-specific messaging as well. Your written skills should be strong as well, because so much customer service happens online these days, either via email, online chats, or social media.PatienceIf youre a tech-savvy person who has tried to help someone whos, uh, less tech-savvy with a complicated computer issue, then you know that being the one with all the knowledge comes with great responsibilitynamely, not getting frustrated or yelling if the person doesnt necessarily get what youre putting down. Being able to stay calm and walk through things as many times as necessary is an essential skill for customer service.Organizational SkillsCustomer service reps may need to do a lot of juggling, especially during busy times of the year (for example, holidays). Being able to keep customer information straight and make sure youre logging everything accurately is key. Chaotic or frenzied customer service is usually lousy customer service.Attention to DetailBecause customer service actions can have consequences with customers, companies like to make sure that their customer service reps and contacts have an eagle eye for small details. Whether its making sure an order is being processed correctly, or ensuring that someones insurance information is accurate, youll want to be able to demonstrate ninja-level attention to detail.What Education Do Customer Service Professionals Need?This is a field that you can get into without a degree. Most customer service jobs, especially entry-level ones, require a high school diploma or equivalent, and rely heavily on candidates who demonstrate the kinds of skills outlined above. There is typically on-the-job training, since every industry and every company have their own customer service needs, processes, and policies. Theres no one-size-fits-all training or certification that customer service professionals can undergo.How Much Do Customer Service Professionals Make?The salary can vary according to experience level, but here are some sample median salaries for customer service professionals, per PayScale and the U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCustomer Service Representative $32,300Customer Service Associate $36,680Customer Service Specialist $40,121Customer Service Supervisor $47,938Customer Service Manager $54,066What is the Outlook for Customer Service Professionals?The outlook is strong This is a field that is definitely growingagain, the emphasis on a consumer society means there will always need to be consumer support professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this field will grow 10% faster than average by 2024.If youre thinking about breaking into this field, or wondering where you can go next after your first opportunity, working in customer service can be a solid growth choice for your career. And if youre not necessarily interested in making it your career base, the skills you use and build as a customer service representative are ones that you can successfully take to many other industries.