Customer services jobs pave the way for a career in numerous environments, including offices, call centres, or retail spaces. To get a customer service job interview, you will need an excellent telephone manner and be proficient in using computers and building rapport.
You can start your career at the bottom with almost no qualifications or previous experience. You can hone your skills on the job and work your way up to supervisory and managerial positions. If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, you will find opportunities to enter the sector at a higher level.
Qualifications You Need For Working In Customer Services
A GCSE in English and maths is the minimum requirement that recruiters are searching for. An A level, diploma, or degree will help you achieve your career aspirations sooner.
The qualifications employers are looking for include:
- Two or more GCSEs
- One to two A Levels
- Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
- Level 2 Certificate in Contact Centre Operations
Soft Skills To Highlight On Your CV
Qualifications will help you find a job in customer services, but your interpersonal skills might have even greater sway. When writing your CV, consider how you can show your prowess in listening, patience, conflict resolution, working under pressure, team working, and achieving targets.
If creating or updating your CV feels like a daunting task, you can save time and hassle by starting with a CV template. A CV template will help you highlight your core skills, qualifications, and experience.
Popular Jobs In Customer Services
The most popular jobs in customer services include:
Telehandler
A career as a Telehandler can be rewarding if you enjoy answering telephone calls and speaking to customers and clients. It would help if you refined your CV to highlight previous customer service and sales experience.
Your duties can range from answering customer questions, resolving issues, handling complaints, and selling products or services. Interpersonal skills are prized by employers, along with the ability to follow company policies and procedures.
Customer Service Manager
To attract recruitment opportunities for a Customer Service Manager position, you should show off your customer service and managerial work experience. You can work your way up through an organisation or join as a trainee if you have a degree in retail management, business management, financial services, or tourism and hospitality. You can add weight to your CV by taking a Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma in Customer Services.
You will succeed in the Customer Service Manager role if you enjoy motivating others, are target-driven, and have knowledge of the industry you wish to work in.
View Customer Service Manager Jobs
Complaints Handler
To work and find success as a Complaints Handler you will need excellent investigatory and interpersonal skills. Recruiters will be searching for individuals who can diffuse tense situations, empathise with customers, and improve customer satisfaction.
Your responsibilities will include ensuring customers are treated fairly and equally, resolving disputes, ensuring legal compliance, and taking ownership of cases that require further research and investigation.
Customer Service Advisor
Finding work as a Customer Service Advisor requires good maths and English skills and you can make your CV more attractive by taking a Diploma in Customer Service. The attributes an employer will be looking for include listening, empathy, multi-tasking, and prioritisation.
If you see yourself working in a busy office as part of a team, then a Customer Service Advisor job could be for you. Your duties will include meeting goals, cross-selling products, following procedures, and resolving complaints.
View Customer Service Advisor Jobs
Call Centre Manager
A Call Centre Manager will usually have a Bachelor’s degree in communications or a relevant field. However, if you have managerial or leadership experience, then you will be considered for the role.
The skills you will need to put on show include effective communication and coaching, with a drive to ensure targets are achieved. Your duties will consist of overseeing call centre workers, ensuring service and sales goals are met, and preparing performance reports.
Customer Service Representative
No specific qualifications are needed to secure a job as a Customer Service Representative. However, you should be willing to sell, resolve complaints, keep accurate records, and respond to a high volume of calls.
Successful Customer Service Representatives have a polite telephone manner, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and computer proficiency. You can improve the likelihood of getting a job and furthering your career by studying for your Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service and Level 2 Certificate in Contact Centre Operations.
View Customer Service Representative Jobs
Contact Centre Manager
Proven management and customer service experience will help you get a job as a Contact Centre Manager. You will want to highlight your talent across service, sales, and leadership. Qualifications in business management or administration will help your career progress.
Desirable skills include proficiency with call centre software and Microsoft Office, performance analysis, problem-solving, budgeting, and a results-driven mindset. Your duties will include answering calls, evaluating staff, arranging training, and ensuring customer satisfaction and retention.
View Contact Centre Manager Jobs
View customer services career advice here or make a customer services job search.