Resume Templates For Customer Service: Work Experience
The experience section is typically the second section in a resume, unless you recently graduated. This section may be titled: Work Experience,Professional Experience, or simply, Experience. It should be specific, achievement- or evidence-oriented, and should use plenty of those relevant keywords in your descriptions. Each piece of experience should be listed in reverse chronological order: start with your most recent job first and work your way backwards in time through your other jobs.
The basic elements for each work experience entry are:
Job title
Name of organization
Employment date
Brief description of top accomplishments and responsibilities in the job, as well as skills gained/used in that job
Sometimes job title is listed first, sometimes the place of employment is listed first. If youve worked for a recognizable company, maybe you want to lead with the company name. If youve had job titles that demonstrate well your progression and promotions, you may want to start with job title first. Just be consistent in whichever approach you take. Its helpful to list the dates along the right-hand side so hiring managers and recruiters can quickly scan dates to understand your career stage.
If you have customer service experience, devote more resume space to those jobs in your professional background. Move your education section below your work experience section, unless youve graduated within the last 3-5 years.
How To Write A Customer Service Resume Summary Or Objective
Establishments are always on the lookout for customer service representatives.
But this fact only makes competition more intense.
And with this in mind, we shouldnt be surprised that recruiters spend just a few seconds on each resume.
If only there was a way to get the recruiter hooked and read through your whole resume?
Fortunately, you can this with a resume summary or objective.
As a customer service representative, you know that friendly introductions go a long way. Similarly, both resume summaries and objectives are short paragraphs that introduce your skills and experiences.
But what is the difference between a summary and an objective?
A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your most notable restaurant experiences and achievements.
Customer Service Resume Summary Example
- Enthusiastic customer service representative with five years of retail experience responding to all manner of customer inquiries. Career highlights included being awarded Employee of the Month for 36 months out of 48 months and receiving 99% positive customer survey results at XYZ Convenience. Seeking a role at ABC Tech, where my service skills can be leveraged to achieve and maintain the highest level of customer service.
A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your goals and aspirations.
Customer Service Resume Objective Example
Got relevant work experience? Use a resume summary.
Got the skills, but cant back it up with experience? Use a resume objective.
Simple!
Demonstrate An Impressively Rare Skill Set
One of the best ways to send a hiring manager to sleep is to include the same resume skills as every other candidate. When they read the words communication skills for the tenth time, they will mentally pigeon-hole you with all the rest of the average candidates.
If they think that you are average because you have included the same average skills as everyone else, it will be incredibly hard to shift that perception if you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview.
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How To List Customer Service Skills On A Resume
OK, we have the complete list of excellent customer service skills. But you are probably asking yourselfwhich skills should I put on my resume for customer service? Surely I cant put nice moves and good body language right next to my Microsoft Excel proficiency!
Skills for customer service resume:
- Active listening skills
| Tidio Jira |
Check out the top customer service interview questions and answers to better prepare yourself and boost your chances of getting the job.
You can become an awesome agent even without much job experience. Typical resume skills for customer service include emotional intelligence, empathy, and clear communication. The way you approach other people is more important than working for X years at a specific company.
If you need more tips on deciding which skills you should put on your customer service resume, here is a useful guide:
Top 10 Skills For A Customer Service Resume
Whether youre skilled enough to multi-task while on the phone or operate POS systems with ease, the recruiter is waiting to find out.
However to keep your resume to one page, you cant list every skill you own.
So, which skills dont make the cut?
It comes down to looking at the job description to identify what the company wants from their new customer service representative.
Will the specific skill be beneficial to the company?
If so, list it!
For some inspiration, here are some of the best customer service resume skills:
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Customer Service Consultant Resume
Why this resume works
- As a senior staff member, your customer service consultant resume should be packed with achievements. Dont undermine your own success by formatting your resume incorrectly.
- Include skills, contact information, education, and work experiences.
- List 4-10 skills, which is enough to highlight your grasp of customers, their needs, and behaviors without this section becoming a laundry list.
- Your work experience should contain about 3 highly relevant job titles, each with 3-6 action-packed bullet points that demonstrate how you’ve improved customer satisfaction by understanding the customer and helping employees meet the customer’s needs.
Related Resume Guides
Hard Skills For Customer Service
Here is a list of 10 hard skills for customer service to use on a resume:
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Include A Cover Letter With Your Resume
As a customer service representative, you need to leave a positive impression.
Your application is no different.
And the best way to leave an unforgettable impression is to write a convincing cover letter.
You see, resumes give the vital information, but nothing speaks to a recruiter like a cover letter that delves deeper into who you are and why you want the job.
Heres how to create a structure that works.
You should complete the following sections:
What Are The Best Customer Service Skills I Should Add To My Resume
Before you can determine the best customer service skills to include on your resume, you need to understand the two main types of skills:
When writing out your skills on a resume, it is important to include both soft and hard skills.
For customer service, you should always take the time to plan out the skills you want to include.
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Call Center Agent With Strong Highlights
Source: LiveCareer
This sample resume also clearly shows off the fictitious Natalie Hill’s call center experience. The majority of her resume is taken up with her professional experience and the skills she’s acquired, which is a tip-off that she’s someone that doesn’t require extensive training or supervision.
Moreover, even before her experience, she added her highlights. Placed in brief bullet points, they easily catch the eyes of employers and show off all her traits, skills, and knowledge in one quick section.
What To Include In A Customer Service Resume
The main sections in a customer service resume are:
- Work Experience
To really make an impression, you can also add these optional sections:
- Awards & Certification
- Languages
- Interests & Hobbies
So those are the customer service resume sections, but what do you write for each of them?
Lets find out!
Want to know more about the different sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume.
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Job Skills To Include On Your Resume
As you carefully craft a resume thats tailored for the specific role youre applying for, know that the way you report your skills for a job can determine how far you advance in the hiring process. If you want your resume to show you have what it takes to justify an interview, you need to show off your job skills.
The skills on your resume can differentiate you from the competition so you can land the position you want. And if a hiring panel does decide to offer you the job, your resume skills section can easily influence the salary figure they settle on.
So, where do you start? Click on the links below to skip to the resume writing tips that interest you most. Or start from the top and read through to the end for a comprehensive review of the job skills for a resume any professional should consider.
To Help Organizations Grow With Higher Retention Up
It’s easier to sell to someone who already knows your brand and has purchased from you before. In addition, it’s very possible that the issues customers want to solve are easily rectified with add-ons or premium offerings. With that in mind, a call center rep’s primary focus is on handling customer issues and solving problems, but there’s always an opportunity for cross-selling and upselling in these conversations. To call this function out in your objective signals to potential employers that you’re growth minded.
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Customer Service Resume Summary Examples
Below are a few examples you can consider when drafting your resume summary.
1. Experienced Support Rep
When applying for any position, it helps to showcase your experience performing in that role. Below is an example summary you can refer to from my colleague’s application for the HubSpot Support team.
“Experienced customer service rep seeking a support position with an expanding tech company. Possesses a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications and has over 3 years of experience in customer service roles. Highly skilled communicator who meets deadlines and ensures customer satisfaction.”
2. Bilingual Service Rep
Communication is key in customer service and being able to communicate with people from all over the world makes you a much more attractive applicant. If you’re capable of speaking two or more languages, be sure to include that skill in your summary to distinguish yourself from other candidates.
Here’s an example from Cover Letters and Resume of an applicant who speaks both English and Spanish.
“Friendly and outgoing Customer Service Representative with 8+ years of experience, looking to increase the customer experience at the ABC Company. Expert in taking and entering orders, managing accounts, and resolving complaints. Familiar with the processes of customer needs assessment, quality standards for services, and customer retention. Bilingual: English/Spanish.”
3. Skilled Customer Service Rep
4. Call Center Team Lead
5. Call Center Manager
The Structure Of The Customer Service Resume
Reverse Chronological Order Format
You will benefit from a reverse chronological order format if you are a seasoned customer service professional seeking another customer service job.
It highlights your vertical career progression, showing hiring managers your wealth of customer service experience.
Functional Format
This format is best when you would like to highlight your professional skills more than your work history.
You may also use this if you have employment gaps or want to make a career shift.
Hybrid or Combination Format
The combination is suitable for established customer service professionals who would like to bank on their expertise and developed skillset in customer service.
You may also use it when you intend a change in your career path, and you have acquired enough transferable skills.
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Education And Certification Requirements For Customer Service Resumes
Many industries dont require a customer service representative to have advanced training or degrees. For most entry-level roles, you just need a high school diploma or GED.
However, having an associates or bachelors degree in business administration or something similar can help. These degrees demonstrate that you can dedicate yourself to something. They also show that you can communicate well enough to get through higher education.
If you want to move into a managerial role, a bachelors degree is more important. Many companies require their managers to have a college degree, but the specific degree is flexible.
You can also get management certifications. If youre currently a customer service representative, you may not have specific managerial experience getting a management certificate can make you a more attractive candidate.
Common management certificates include:
Customer Service Resume Examples And Writing Tips
Are you applying for a customer service position? If so, you’ll want to emphasize some of the soft skills commonly required for customer service employees, such as being an excellent communicator and having strong interpersonal skills.
Employers will also be looking for candidates who are punctual and responsible, because customer service workers often handle cash registers and replace other employees during shift changes.
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Customer Service Representative Job Description
The Customer Service Representative attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions suggesting information about other products and services. Process orders, prepare correspondences and fulfill customer inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction.
Requires a high school diploma or equivalent and 0-3 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Rely on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The target is to ensure excellent service standards and maintain high customer satisfaction.
How To Make A Customer Service Resume
Hiring managers would want to see a customer service resume pleasing to the eyes yet packed with information that will convince them that you are the right fit for the customer service job.
It should highlight the following information about you:
- Work History
- Professional Skills
- Honors, Awards, Membership to relevant organizations
Recommended Reading: Where To Put Relevant Coursework On A Resume
Customer Service Skills For Job Interviews And On The Job
As you proceed to job interviews, you will have the chance to showcase your customer service skills by arriving on time, responding clearly to interview questions, maintaining eye contact and presenting a friendly demeanor.
Customer service is an important part of every business. Creating positive interactions in the workplace can help ensure your company continues to draw both new and repeat and customers, and help develop a cohesive relationship with colleagues. Utilizing customer service skills will be essential in your job search process and as you advance in your career, whether you apply them with external clients or internal colleagues.
Create A Master List Of Skills
Go through each category and create a master list of the skills in your toolbox. Dont be afraid to list things that seem obvious, like computer skills or customer service.
Although they might seem like a given in your profession, many hiring managers still want to see these skills listed.
Never include skills that you are no longer familiar with. If you write a skill on your resume, hiring managers will be expecting that you can deliver on that activity.
If you are worried that a hiring manager will over or underestimate your level of proficiency, feel free to write beginner, intermediate, or proficient next to each skill listed.
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Resume Objectives And Summary For Customer Service
The first section of your resume needs to convey an accurate, appealing, and concise message about what you have to offer. There are three basic options for the opening section:
1.The resume summary statement
A resume summary statement is a few sentences that outline the value you add to the position. Here are the basics for a resume summary statement:
It should be 1-3 sentences long.
Youll want to consider customizing it for each job application.
It should explain who you are and what you have to offer specific to this job opening.
| Example |
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Customer Service professional combines energy and empathy with a solid history of achievement in retail. Areas of expertise include communication, problem-solving, and reading physical and emotional cues. |
2.The professional summary
The professional summary offers more details than a standard resume summary statement. This is the right choice if you have at least 5-10 years of experience. A professional summary statement has these traits:
It can be a full paragraph or 4-8 bullet points of career highlights.
It should detail the years youve specialized in particular fields or areas.
It should highlight your major projects, achievements, and awards.
Alternately, this summary statement could be presented as a full paragraph:
3.The resume objective
Early career:
When you have little experience, an objective statement can be helpful to state that youre looking for an entry-level position.