Customer Service Resume Guide: Example, Samples & Tips
In today's market, good customer service is essential. Microsoft reports that 96% of consumers globally consider customer service before staying loyal to a brand. Because of this, customer service crucial. They turn challenges into opportunities to build loyalty. That's why having a standout customer service resume is vital if you want to enter or advance in this field.
MATTHEW PAULSON Customer Service Representative Brooklyn, NY 11222 (718) 456 9087 matthewpaulson@gmail.com
Professional Summary
People-oriented and efficient customer service representative with 5+ years of experience responding to customer queries and resolving customer concerns. Consistent top-performer with an average monthly customer satisfaction rating of 96% Amplify Business Solutions’ only Japanese-speaking customer service resource. In search of a senior customer service representative role at TopWork, Inc. to optimize exceptional customer service skills in an innovative environment
Work Experience
Amplify Business Solutions Customer Service Representative November 2018-May 2020
Answered customer queries that range from requests for product information to escalated complaints with an average handling time of 8 minutes. Used expert probing methods to draw out customer concerns Tracked response time and made sure that the customers’ concerns are attended to within 48 hours of the first call Garnered at least 96% customer satisfaction rating for ten months, from July 2019 to May 2020
Amplify Business Solutions Receptionist/Telephone Operator April 2018 - October 2018
Assisted visitors by politely asking about their purpose and addressing their concerns promptly. Issued security passes to visitors and retrieved the same from them in a prompt manner Answered phone calls using standard receptionist spiels and connected callers to the correct party Made sure that the reception area was clean, orderly, and had no hazards Handled lost and found queries
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Management Brooklyn College September 2012 - June 2017
Honors and Awards Received Graduated with honors, earning a 3.7 GPA Loyalty Awardee
Skills
Strong customer service skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Empathy Positive Attitude Proficiency in basic computer applications
So it is not surprising why companies hire people capable of providing customer service excellence.
Many people try to get into the customer service industry but wonder what it takes and how they should present themselves when they apply for the job.
The best way to begin is with a well-written resume.
So we've put up a step by step guide to writing customer service resumes to help you successfully showcase yourself to a firm looking for a customer care representative.
Their site also says that the median base pay for customer service representatives is above $17/hour.
This rate may decrease or increase depending on experience and years in the industry.
For example, if you apply for an entry-level position, the base is about $11.
Customer Service Managers, on the other hand, earn an average of $59,000, and the ones with less than a year's experience only get around $48,000 annually (Payscale).
How to Write a Customer Service Resume
Recruitment managers or anyone responsible for hiring employees expect to see impressive resumes that grab their attention. That's why it is essential to think about how you will present yourself to that one person who can make that decision to hire you. Think of how to pack all those critical details about you into a concise but well-designed resume.
What would recruitment managers want to see in your resume?
Employment history and examples of your work
Educational background and awards received
Skills that will make you stand out among other applicants
Be honest about your skills and mention the ones you can confidently support with examples.
How to Properly Format a Customer Service Resume
Recruiters know exactly what they're looking for. Even though they review numerous resumes, it only takes them a little time to limit their options.
In most situations, they will go with a straightforward resume. Depending on how much experience they require in a customer service professional candidate, choose a format that highlights your work experience or education.
Here are some tips for structuring your customer service resume effectively:
White space is beneficial; it makes your resume look clean and uncluttered
Ideal margins are one inch on all sides, though half an inch is fine if you need extra space
Use bullet pointsto make your resume easier to read and to highlight your skills and qualifications
Don't overlook the power of line breaks and separators; they enhance the attractiveness of your resume
Subtle colors are increasingly popular. Use them wisely to draw attention to specific skills but avoid bright and distracting hues
Keep it simple with fonts that are easy to read. Check out these colourful resume templates here.
You may not think much about what fonts to use if you’re aiming for artistry, but you need to consider employers who will be reading your resume. Do they have the ability to read the text? Some tips to keep in mind when choosing fonts for your resume:
Stick with just one type of font for your cover letter and resume.
Use the same font but preferably another variation of it -bigger and bolder - to highlight bullet points, headings, and your name.
In the body of the document, use a font size of 11 or 12.
The following font types will make resumes easier to read;
Serif, Bookman Old Style, Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, Sans Serif, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma or Verdana.
Be conscious of your resume’s readability.
Organize your layout to position the best parts of your resume strategically. The content should not overwhelm, either, and recruiters will not want to spend their precious time reading a wall of text.
Remember, if they can’t read it, you won’t make it through to the interview!
The Structure of a Customer Service Resume
A well-organized resume will showcase your work experience.
Reverse Chronological Order Format
This format is the most common of all resume formats and the most advantageous to candidates with good work history.
Because it prioritizes your most recent job experience, HR Managers will find it easier to determine if you are the right fit for the job.
Avoid this format to look for a job in a different industry from your past and recent work.
Functional Format
Some skills are not necessarily acquired through work. Use this format if you happen to be absolutely good at something that can make someone gasp, WOW!
This format showcases your skills or talents rather than your work experience. A functional resume format is best for applicants who have experienced an employment gap or have no relevant work experience.
Refrain from using this format if you have limited skills required in the customer service industry.
Hybrid or Combination Format
This format is best to use if you would like to highlight both your skills and your work experience. If you plan to shift to another industry and you don’t want the HR managers to focus on your work experience since most are irrelevant, use this format to emphasize your skills relevant to the job you are seeking.
Use this format if you want to shift to another line of work.
Outstanding Header of the Customer Service Resume
Whatever you do, the header must stand out. Remember that you might be one of many applicants for the job, so your resume must be appealing.
The header must include your personal information without focusing too much on your online presence. Although it would be good to be familiar with emails, messaging apps, and social media, you don't need to include them unless they are relevant to the job. It is alright to include your LinkedIn account.
You might not believe it, but your email address shows if you are serious about a job. It would be better not to use something informal like tinkerbell@gmail.com as HR Managers will usually not consider you as someone who can be professional.
Mobile phone numbers should be included in the header more than your landline number because you are more accessible through your mobile phone.
Customer Service Resume Header Examples
You’ll know you’ve seen a good header if it looks like this:
TAMARA CALHOUN
Customer Service Representative
tamaracalhoun@gmail.com
(123) 456 7890
LinkedIn.com/in/tamaracalhoun
All relevant information about the applicant should be visible and readable at first glance. We need to pay attention to the alignment and layout.
Resume Headers Should Never be Unaligned
Never overlook proper alignment, and make sure to emphasize your name, or you'll never get a call for that job interview.
Sometimes we think that these things can be overlooked, but it's telling how much an applicant pays attention to detail which is one of the things hiring managers look for in an applicant.
If you struggle with keeping columns and text aligned, simply use our resume builder as it will become done automatically for you.
Do Resumes for Customer Services Require a Photo?
It is not a requirement to include a photo in the USA on your resume in fact we recommend you don’t as companies are too concerned about being accused of discriminating against candidates based on their looks. To protect themselves, they often reject an application that includes a photo.
What Title Should I Choose for a Customer Service Resume
Your resume title should be relevant to the job or industry you’re applying for.
Giving your resume a title is not required but adds to the overall impact of your resume.
If done right, it can help with catching the interest of hiring managers and employers.
Think about love at first sight.
A hiring manager glances at your resume, sees your resume title, and POP! They would want to get to know you better and read further into your resume.
Take the example below:
ALL-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION
Professional Summary for a Customer Service Resume
A professional resume summary sums up in 2 to 3 concise statements your professional experience and significant accomplishments throughout your work history, plus a statement of how you want your career to progress.
Want to create more impact?
Mention the name of the position you aspire for and the company you would like to join.
Express your achievements in numbers when possible.
Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service
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With over three years of work experience as a customer service representative. Self-driven and has excellent interpersonal skills. Applies diplomacy in dealing with unhappy customers, earning her an all-time high customer satisfaction rating of 99%. Seeks to leverage skills with Innovative Technologies, Inc. as Customer Service Supervisor.
And here is how a flawed resume summary reads:
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Handled customer inquiries and concerns as a customer representative with 3+ years of experience. Monitored the status of customer complaints resolution and reported customer complaints to management. Contributed to the company's customer satisfaction survey rating of 95%. Aiming for a higher position related to customer service.
Whether you are applying for an entry-level job or have no relevant work experience, you can still wow hiring managers with your capabilities through a resume objective.
Resume Objective Examples Customer Service
Check this out. Does this resume objective impress you?
CORRECT
Earned a 96% rating as Front Desk Intern at The Opus Hotel for quick and accurate check-in and upsell of hotel service. Spanish-speaking volunteer office administrator at the MLK Institute for Nonviolence. Organized the most recent charity event sponsored by the school's Honors Society. With a 3.6 GPA, aims to start a career as a Customer Service Advisor at ZYX Telecommunications.
What about this one?
INCORRECT
Completed internship requirements as Front Desk Intern at the Opus Hotel. Active volunteer at the MLK Institute for Nonviolence. An active member of the school's Honors Society. Ready to use skills in the field of customer service.
There’s nothing exceptional in the second resume objective. Almost all college graduates complete their internship requirements, so what makes this job seeker special?
A hiring manager would not even spend time guessing what the applicant did as a volunteer or the role they played in the Honor Society.
And how vague can this applicant get with their career objective?
If you don’t have a lot of experience, use a customer service resume objective instead of a professional summary. An objective is very similar but instead of focusing on past achievements and experience, it should talk about goals, ambitions and show your passion for the job.
Work Experience in the Customer Service Resume Examples
The work experience section breathes life into your customer service resume as it showcases your professional history and the achievements you have acquired throughout.
It is the heart of your resume if you’ve got relevant experience.
Describe Your Professional Experiences on Your Customer Service Representative Resume
Use the reverse chronological order format to outline your work history. Start with the most recent.
Since you fit everything in a one-page resume or two pages if you have over 15 years of experience, you don't need to put all the details of your work experience. Choose only those that are meaningful to the customer service job you are applying for.
So, how do you know which is meaningful? Read the job post carefully and note the employer's qualifications in their customer service employee.
Indicate your job title, the name of the company where you worked, the month and the year when you started and ended your employment.
Outline your primary duties and responsibilities for each role with a minimum of three to a maximum of five bullet points.
In this section, make it a point to highlight your most impressive achievement that showcases your skills.
To pack more punch, use a practical action verb at the beginning of each bullet point.
If you are fresh out of university or lack relevant experience in customer service, mention your internship, the positions you held, and activities you spearheaded in school organizations, or that one summer you spent volunteering. While these do not count as formal employment, recruiters will still be able to glean information from these experiences and mark your positive qualities.
An Ideal Work History Example for Beginners or Juniors
Volunteer Usher
Manhattan Theatre Club
Broadway, New York City
December 2020-February 2020 (Winter Season)
Ushered for a major Broadway theatre with a 299-seat capacity
Followed the seating chart to a tee
Answered inquiries about the show enthusiastically
Appropriately called the attention of audience members in violation of theatre rules
Monitored the safe exiting of patrons from the theatre
Front Desk Receptionist Intern
Marriott International, Inc.
New York City, New York
February 2019 to May 2019
Handled approximately over 50 guest inquiries in person, over the phone, and email daily
Maintained the hotel’s high standards and followed correct protocol when addressing customer concerns
Attended to customers’ needs by promptly patching their calls through to the correct channels and departments
Coordinated with different departments to ensure that customers have a great check-in to check-out experience
A Winning Customer Work Experience Section for Seniors
If you lead a team and need a good customer service resume example to land you a customer service manager job, your work experience section should look like this.
Store Leader
Apple, Inc.
Miami, Florida
October 2017 – November 2020
Managed and trained a sales force with fifty members and successfully drove sales numbers up by 20% within the first six months of assuming the position
Helmed customer loyalty programs that addressed customer retention roadblocks and successfully brought down attrition by 12%
Identified parts of the customer experience process that needed reinforcement and realignment to company values
Apple Product Specialist
Apple, Inc.
Miami, Florida
May 2015 – October 2017
Directly contributed to the 5% decrease in customer dissatisfaction ratings after only three months in the role
Accurately matched customers' specific technological needs with Apple products' selling points
Handled in-store customer complaints concerning, but not limited to, inaccurate orders, returns, packaging, payment, and after-sales support.
Use keywords from the job listing when editing the work experience section.
Education in the Customer Service Resume
Most customer service resume templates put experience at the forefront. However, if you do not have any experience as a customer service professional, emphasize your educational background instead. On the other hand, if you are considered a veteran among customer service professionals, you can choose not to elaborate on your education.
Which should come first: education or work experience for a Customer Service Resume?
If you have had your fair share of customer service roles, your work experience section should be the first thing recruiters see. If you are just trying to land your first customer service position and have no technical skills to speak of yet, the education section should go first.
If you have a bit of relevant experience but cannot reasonably consider yourself a full-fledged customer service professional just yet, choose whichever of the two you deem will land you your dream job.
How To Properly List Your Education in the Customer Service Representative Resume
Make sure your education section includes the following details:
What degree program you took or completed
What university, college, or educational institution you attended
Where the school is located
When you attended
You don’t need to include your high school education in the resume format unless it is your highest educational attainment.
Example of the Education Section of a Customer Service Resume
College seniors exploring a career in customer care may refer to the following format when highlighting their education.
Business Administration, B.S. - Management
New York Institute of Technology
Long Island, New York
March 2017- June 2021
GPA 3.6
If you are a high school graduate without experience, you may use the template below.
High School Diploma
Locust Valley High School
Nassau County, New York
September 2011- June 2016
Customer Service Resume Skills
Your work history and your education might be the first things the hiring manager will look at, but they will also be interested in your skills, too.
While you may boast of a wide variety of skills, zero in only on the relevant skills to avoid distracting them from your customer service capabilities.
What are the Most Sought-After Skills for a Customer Service Resume?
To succeed in customer service, you must have both technical or hard skills and soft skills. Both are important, and it is best to have a balanced mix of both in your customer service resume.
The hard skills of a customer service professional include hard skills that are distinct to this specific job - those you learn through study and are not intrinsic to you. Look at these examples:
Product knowledge
Basic computer skills
Knowledge of operating systems
Microsoft Office proficiency
Tension de-escalation techniques
Computer troubleshooting skills
Typing skills
Report management skills
Schedule mastery
Database management
Spreadsheets
Presentation skills
These are some strong customer service skills that any hiring decision-maker will want to see in a great customer service resume skills section.
While a hiring manager will most likely account for your technical skills first, your soft skills hold just as much weight. A customer service representative with great interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, mastery of conflict resolution, and an unlimited source of empathy will fare better in the field of customer care than a resource with only hard skills to show for.
Check the list below for some impressive skills that you might want to use in your customer service resume:
Written and verbal communication skills
Excellent communication skills
Problem-solving
Stress management
Teamwork
Confidence
Empathy
Interpersonal skills
Conflict resolution skills
Cultural awareness
Attention to detail
Active listening
Resourcefulness
Whether you are a junior or a senior applicant, you can beef up your customer service resume with a comprehensive list of skills. List down only those skills you possess and expect the hiring leaders to ask about them. Always refer to the job description for skills you need to highlight.
Skills a Junior Customer Service Applicant Should Include
If you are just about to try out your first customer service job, here is a list of skills to get yourself started.
Hard Skills:
Familiarity with operating systems (Mac, Windows, etc.)
Knowledge of basic computer programs (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, etc.)
Data organization and management skills
Basic computer hardware troubleshooting skills
Soft Skills:
Time management
Strong interpersonal skills
Problem-solving skills
Active listening skills
Skills a Senior Customer Service Should Highlight
When applying as a senior customer service representative, recruiters expect you to have more relevant skills than the average newcomer.
The customer service manager will most likely keep an eye out for the following advanced skills when going through your customer service resume.
Advanced Technical Skills:
Quality assurance
Business development understanding
Client relations
Advanced spreadsheets
Data analysis
Management skills
Competency-based interviewing
Advanced Soft Skills:
Enterprise thinking
Creative problem solving
Critical thinking
Conflict resolution
Organizational skills
Emotional Intelligence
Adaptability
Not sure what skills to mention? Always go back to the job description.
Write the Ideal Resume Hook for a Customer Service Representative Resume
Songs are catchy, and headlines make history for the same reason: excellent recall. Attach an unforgettable hook or tagline at the very top of your customer service resume. Be that one candidate they think about even while they are at brunch.
Reel in HR managers by coming up with a unique and eye-catching tagline that neatly sums up your professional profile.
Start with your job title, then follow with what you do best. Lastly, write two to three adjectives that will make your profile pop. Try not to go beyond ten words.
A Junior Customer Service Representative Resume Employee Tagline That Zaps
Juniors and total beginners can start with a hook that will showcase strong soft skills while their technical skills are still developing.
Customer Service Rockstar – Making Customers Happy – Positive and Solution-Driven
A Customer Service Manager Resume Tagline That Makes a Mark
If you are writing a customer service manager resume, choose your adjectives wisely and keep your tagline professional. The example below reflects the professional experience of a customer service manager.
Customer Service Leader – Managing Top-Performing Teams – Innovative and Energetic
Additional Headings for Your Customer Service Resume
Your resume objective, detailed work history, education, and skills are ready for the hiring customer service manager's scrutiny. Make their professional interest in you grow even more - pepper your profile with additional headings.
See the following suggestions and add them to your profile if it applies.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Technical skills are invaluable, especially for a tech company looking for customer service representatives. A formal certification will prove your technical aptitude.
LIst all the relevant technical certifications you have acquired in your career
Interests for a Customer Service Representative
Talking about what interests you outside of work will help the HR Manager determine whether you fit into the company culture or not.
Customer Service Languages on your resume
If you speak a second (or third) language other than English fluently, that means you can assist customers in those languages, too.
Include any language certifications you have acquired over the years. Emphasize your speaking level as well as your writing level.
Customer Service Resumes: Key Points to Consider
Check your customer service resume if it has all the critical elements:
Write an easy-to-read resume.
Stick to the format that works best for your customer service level.
List down a balanced mix of your relevant technical and soft skills.
Include additional headings for foreign languages spoken, technical certifications, and personal interests to make your resume stand out more.
Additional Industry Information About the Customer Service
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 3 million people in the U.S. work as customer service representatives.
According to them, the following industries have the highest demand for customer service representatives:
Business Support Services
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
Insurance Carriers
Management of Companies and Enterprises
A Great Cover Letter Goes A Long Way
Managers are more likely to nod to the customer service applicant who took time to write a cover letter than to the one who did not.
Attaching a cover letter to your resume indicates how serious you are with your application.
Your cover letter is their first introduction to you and, therefore, must immediately pique the company's interest.
Start with a pleasant but professional greeting. Then say something about yourself, what exactly you do professionally, how you found out about the job opening, and why you are pursuing it.
The body of your cover letter should be all about why you are the perfect hire. Play up your significant achievements and support them with numbers and stats. This section is the meat of your cover letter, so pack it with why you are the best hire.
In your last paragraph, maintain your enthusiasm by mentioning the possible next step. Thank the manager for taking the time to read your cover letter and say how much you are looking forward to the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Customer Service Representative Resume
What skills should I put on my customer service resume?
Since the job requires you to be great at customer interactions, highlight your communication and interpersonal skills in your customer service resume. Apart from these, point out your problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, plus your positive attitude and immeasurable patience.
Some skills are industry-specific, so if you lack professional experience and are uncertain, always go back to the job description.
How do you describe customer service on a resume?
It depends on the nature of the company you are targeting and their traditional values. The most important thing for most companies is overall customer satisfaction, but others might include profit-driven tasks such as selling or technical tasks like analyzing data. Get to know the company first, including what their customers say about them.
How do I make my customer service resume stand out?
Build an exceptional customer service resume by detailing your major and minor accomplishments first. Make sure to highlight all your key achievements. Any career blog worth its salt will tell you that it is a numbers game. The more impressive statistics you highlight, the more inclined the employer will be towards making a hiring decision in your favor.
How do I describe my customer service skills?
Highlight your ability to anticipate customer needs, probe to confirm the customer’s need, listen actively to ensure details - spoken or unspoken - are captured, and provide the need or solve the problem. Mention any commendation or stat proving your customer service achievements.
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