Every company has customer service representative (CSR), whether it is one person or a whole call center. They are the ones that help form a lasting business relationship. There are many different jobs for customer service representatives, but to land one you have to have specific skills.
What is a customer service representative (CSR)?
A customer service representative (CSR) will service a company’s customers usually by phone or in person. They can also be the liaison between upper management and the customer.
What are some of the duties of a customer service representative (CSR)?
A CSR can take orders for a specific product or service the company offers over the phone. They do problem solving and may have to handle irate customers. A CSR may just give information on a specific product or service and some also work in the sales department.
What types of companies need customer service representatives?
Any company that provides a service or product has customer service. Here is a list of some companies that offer jobs in customer service.
- Telephone companies
- Insurance companies
- Hospitals or clinics
- Doctor offices
- Department stores
- Mortgage companies
- Manufacturing companies
- Airports/bus stations/train stations
- Fitness centers
I am sure you can think of more, but that is just to get you started. As I mentioned before, you need certain qualifications to land a customer service representative job.
What are the qualifications needed to become a customer service representative?
When you have customer service skills it can open doors to other opportunities.
- Patience:
- Good attitude
- Handle an irate customer
- Good Listener
- Pleasant
- Good communication skills
- Problem solver
- Friendly
- People oriented
- Work under pressure
- Excellent grammar
Usually customer service representative jobs pay well. There are some companies that pay anywhere from $15 to $20 an hour. Larger companies will have different divisions of customer service within the company. There are a lot of companies using “in home” customer service representatives. This saves companies money and works out great for stay at home moms, retirees or just if you prefer to work from your home.
To work from home as a customer service representative, there are some strict rules you must follow in order to be eligible. These rules are pretty general for all companies that hire “at home’ customer service representatives.
Rules for working at home as a customer service representative.
- Most companies prefer you have a separate phone line and it must be a land line.
- Computer with Internet access
- Must have a quiet area to work in (no barking dogs or loud children in the background) they will check
- They prefer you use a headset on your phone
The application process is usually online, but some documents you will have to have notarized and sent to them. Most companies will follow-up with a telephone interview.
Advantages to working from your home as a customer service representative.
- Flexible schedule
- More time with your family
- No fighting traffic to get to and from work (you might trip over your dog laying in hallway)
- Saves you money
Disadvantages to working from your home as a customer service representative.
- Not having co-workers
- The pay may be less
Remember, there are many different types of opportunities for customer service representatives. If you have the skills, you should have no trouble finding a job.
