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11 Best Customer Service Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

10 min read · Updated on February 16, 2024

The right customer service skills on your resume can lead to promotions

All companies worldwide have one thing in common – they all have customers. This means all companies need to hire people with great customer service skills. 

Some roles will require you to work with internal customers. For example, if you're working in IT, you'll likely have to interact with employees to help them fix computer issues. Those employees are internal customers. Other roles will require you to work with external customers – the people who are buying goods and services from the company. 

A well-crafted resume that highlights your relevant skills for a customer service position will help your resume to beat the applicant tracking system, or ATS , which is the first step to getting your application noticed. 

When you use these 11 best customer service skills in your resume, you'll stand out from the crowd as someone who can work well with others, anticipate needs, and solve problems. 

Use these skills and examples to produce an interview-winning resume. 

11 customer service skills and proficiencies for your resume

It's important to note that there's a difference between hard skills and soft skills . Some of these 11 customer service skills that you can use on your resume fall into the hard skill category, and some of them are soft skills. 

You can tell them apart by identifying which are job-specific skills that allow you to get things done and which are more interpersonal-type skills that allow you to get along well with others. It's important to have a good balance of both skill types. 

Of course, these customer service skills will be in addition to your experience and education, but you can weave the keywords into your these sections. You should also quantify your skills whenever possible, mentioning specific instances and using concrete examples to prove you have experience with each customer service skill on your resume.

Hard skills for a customer service resume 

Since every company has customers who require assistance, modern employers are always seeking people with customer service skills. Here are the four most important hard skills hiring managers want to see on your resume:

1. Product knowledge 

You can't help customers if you know nothing about the product or service being offered by the company. It's critical that you take the time to learn about what's available and how to answer questions about the company's offerings. You may also need to troubleshoot problems with products and offer recommendations to improve the customer journey. 

Here's what that looks like on your resume:

“Increased revenue by 15% by recommending product offering add-ons.”

2. Technical proficiency 

Have you ever heard the acronym CRM? It stands for customer relationship management, and most companies use some type of CRM software to track customer interactions and follow up on leads. This is one of the many ways you can demonstrate technical proficiency in customer service skills on your resume. 

Here's an example of how to include this customer service skill on your resume:

“Used Salesforce to update and maintain a customer database of 200 leads and mapped the customer journey from initiation to close.”

3. Communication technology 

This may seem similar to the technical customer service skills for a resume above; however, it goes a step beyond simply using tools to track customer journeys. This has to do with directly interacting with customers. It could be as simple as using email and multi-line telephones, or more complex, such as using Slack to collaborate with people across the globe. 

Here's how to include communication technology customer service skills on your resume:

“Answered as many as 75 incoming client calls per day using a 6-line telephone system.”

4. Data analysis

One of the best ways to support successful customer interactions is through data analysis . You have to know what's going on in the customer's journey to be able to adequately answer their questions, determine customer trends, and improve customer satisfaction. 

Here's how to write a data analysis customer service skill bullet point on your resume:

“Analyzed and dissected data from disparate sources to identify trends and solve problems, improving customer satisfaction scores by 12%.”

Soft skills for a customer service resume 

Now that you know what hiring managers want to see insomuch as you getting the job done, let's learn what they are looking for regarding interpersonal skills. 

5. Active listening 

Are you the type of person who knows what you want to say in response to someone speaking before they ever finish a sentence? Or do you take the extra initiative to pay attention to nonverbal cues and follow up with clarifying questions to gain a genuine understanding of what someone is saying? If you fall into the latter category, then you practice active listening . That's definitely a customer service skill for your resume!

Here's how to demonstrate active listening on your resume:

“Improved customer service issue resolution time by 15% by actively listening to and paraphrasing customer concerns to get to the root of the problem.”

6. Emotional intelligence 

When you work with customers – whether they are internal or external customers – chances are you're going to come across a situation that requires you to demonstrate empathy and emotional intelligence. It's easy, after all, to let our emotions get the best of us, but being that person who can exude compassion in the most challenging situations is something most hiring managers need and want. 

Here's an example of how you can prove you have a high EQ on your resume:

“Built a reputation for de-escalating customer situations by leveraging a high EQ, resulting in a 30% reduction in calls being transferred to supervisors.”

7. Problem-solving 

You can pair problem-solving skills with data analysis skills to showcase your well-roundedness as a job seeker. It's even better if you're able to add the ability to make autonomous decisions after you solve a problem. Either way, hiring managers value people who take the initiative to fix issues rather than someone who passes problems off to others to figure out.

Here's a fantastic example of a way to show off analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making customer service skills in one bullet:

“Turned around lackluster sales by analyzing 3 months' worth of trends to identify problem areas and recommending improvements to closing processes.”

8. Communication 

This is the one that most people get wrong on their resume. It's easy to simply write that you have “good written and verbal communication skills,” but how do you prove it? You write an action-based resume bullet that shows off your ability to communicate clearly and with different types of people.

Here's what that could look like:

“Respected by leaders for being able to clearly articulate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences, which reduced the number of errors on orders by 30%.”

9. Collaboration 

In today's ever-shrinking world, there will likely come a time when you'll need to talk to someone in a different department, a different company, or even in a different country. If you're capable of working cross-functionally to share knowledge and achieve goals, then you can add collaboration as a customer service skill on your resume.

Here's an example of a resume bullet that shows you know how to collaborate:

“Engaged in regular team meetings to share best practices and worked in a team of 12 people to increase overall efficiency by 10%.”

10. Positivity 

One of the main ways you can make customers happy is by being optimistic, even when pressure is being applied to a situation. If you're able to create positive customer experiences, then they'll likely be more than happy to continue doing business with you and your company.

Here's an example of a positive attitude bullet you can use on your resume:

“Demonstrated a can-do attitude by taking on additional responsibilities and assisting team members during peak times to reduce customer hold times.”

11.  Flexibility 

If there's one constant in life, it's that things will change. Sometimes those changes are things you instigate yourself. Other times, change will be thrust upon you. No matter how changes come up, if you're able to remain flexible, go with the flow, and adjust to change without any major problems, you should consider adding your ability to be flexible to your resume.

“Overcame changing management regimes and adapted to new procedures by adjusting priorities in alignment with new SOPs without sacrificing service delivery to customers.”

Where to put customer service skills on your resume

Most of the customer service skill examples in this article have been related to bullet points. So, you may be assuming that the best place to highlight your customer service skills is in the Professional Experience section of your resume . In fact, you can weave customer service skills into any section of your resume. The key is to find the place where the skill makes the most sense – contextually and grammatically – and add it in. 

Profile section

The Profile part of your resume is at the very top of your resume and includes the title or headline and summary paragraph. You can obviously add the phrase “customer service” into the title or headline, but you can also insert some of the example sentences in this article into your profile paragraph. Use them as inspiration for your own sentences, too - the ones in this article are simply meant to help get your brain juices flowing. 

Skills section

While your Skills section (or Core Competencies) won't contain actual sentences, you can still put some of your customer service skills here. Instead of writing out bullets, though, you'll simply list up to 15 keywords and phrases that make you a good match for a customer service job. 

Professional experience section

Since you are likely using the reverse-chronological format for your resume, you'll want to focus your efforts on writing out the last 10-15 years of experience using action-based bullets, like the ones in the examples in this article. It's also pretty critical that you add numbers every chance you get, so that you show what type of work you've done in the past, as that will give the hiring manager a clue as to what you'll bring to the table for their customers. 

Education and credentials section

If you have little to no experience, you can inject some of your customer service skills into the education section of your resume. You'd do this by including courses you took and by talking about any major projects you may have worked on while in school that allowed you to overcome challenges or work collaboratively with others. 

Chart your path to success

Adding customer service skills to your resume truly can help you to stand out from the crowd. Almost everyone can say that they know how to handle customers, but the actual proof they can do so is often lacking in resumes. When you use these 11 best customer service skills for your resume, you'll create something that will have hiring managers and recruiters blowing up your email with interview offers. 

If you want to make sure that your customer service skills are properly coming through on your resume, let us take a look at it for you. Upload your resume for a free review , where an expert resume writer will go over it and let you know what you need to do.

Recommended reading:

How to Describe Yourself on a Resume (With Examples)

27 Great Resume Headline Examples to Stand Out

Call Center Resume Sample

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See how your resume stacks up.

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20+ Key Customer Service Skills to List on Your Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

To land a job in customer service, you need to showcase your best skills to employers. Customer service involves both technical and interpersonal skills. This makes a diverse skillset all the more important! In this guide, we will uncover the best customer service skills to include on a resume. Plus, we will provide you with tips and tricks for formatting.

What is Customer Service?

Customer service is a vast industry spanning many different forms of business.

From answering customer calls to building customer relationships, there are many responsibilities involved.

Aside from the general Customer Service Representative, other common examples of jobs within customer service include:

• Call Center Representatives
• Administrative Assistants
• Restaurant Workers
• Salespeople

Essentially, any job that deals with working directly with customers falls under the customer service umbrella.

Why Should I Include Customer Service Skills on My Resume?           

When applying for a job in customer service, showing your ability to work well with people is key.

Including skills on a resume allows you to showcase your best strengths to employers.

By adding specifically customer service skills, you can demonstrate your most relevant abilities according to the job you are applying to.

You never want to include skills just for the sake of it.

It is imperative to always tailor your skills to match the requirements listed in the job description.

Moreover, you should always be honest in what skills you include.

Never list a skill you don’t actually have!

Need help brainstorming skills? We have a free guide with 100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2024 (with Examples for Any Job) to help you out.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

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:

• ‍ Interpersonal (Soft) Skills: These skills are based on emotion and human interaction. Much of customer service relies upon interpersonal skills such as communication and problem-solving. ‍
• Technical (Hard) Skills: Hards skills have to do with your technical abilities, such as writing or working with software.

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.

By making a large list you can then narrow it down to the most relevant and best ones.

10 Soft Skills for Customer Service

Here are our top 10 soft skills for customer service to consider adding to your resume:

• ‍ Conflict Management: Being a customer service representative means dealing with conflict. The ability to calmly and effectively manage customer conflicts is essential.
• ‍ Communication: Communication skills are arguably the most important soft skill for customer service. You need to be able to communicate clearly and easily with all types of customers. ‍
• Empathy: Customers want to feel like you relate to them. A strong sense of empathy comes in handy when working in the customer service realm.
• ‍ Compassion: You never know what’s going on in a customer’s head or life. Treating each situation with compassion towards the customer is highly necessary.
• ‍ Problem Solving: During customer conflicts, being able to think of a solution quickly is key.
• ‍ Patience: Miscommunications can occur when interactions are rushed or not given proper attention. Having patience is crucial when working in customer service.
• ‍ Attention to Detail: Many technicalities can affect customer service. The ability to pay close attention to a customer’s issues and the solutions given is a core component of good customer service.
• ‍ Intuitive: Making customers feel as though all their problems have been solved is very beneficial. Acting intuitively and proactively to address potential customer issues makes for great customer service.
• ‍ Goal-Oriented: When working with customers, it is essential to set clear goals and boundaries. This helps to ensure everyone understands the expectations and standard of work being provided.
• ‍ Persuasion: In sales positions especially, having the ability to persuade a customer’s emotions and viewpoints is highly necessary. You should be able to position yourself as the guide that can offer the best solutions to them.

10 Hard Skills for Customer Service

Here is a list of 10 hard skills for customer service to use on a resume:

• ‍ Microsoft Office & Google Suite: Microsoft and Google programs are widely used across all industries. Familiarizing yourself with these programs will give you a competitive edge, as employers won’t need to train you on how to use them.
• ‍ Writing: Writing skills are majorly important in any job related to communication. In customer service, this often translates to writing emails and official company copy.
• ‍ Bi/Multi-Lingual: Speaking multiple languages is always a plus in customer service. If you can fluently speak and translate more than one language, be sure to include this on your resume.
• ‍ Data Entry: Customer service can sometimes involve a huge amount of data. Understanding the basics of data entry is foundational for a successful customer service professional.
• ‍ Performance: Customer service professionals take on a persona used to persuade, empathize, and relate to customers. Having a good ability for performance and acting can be highly useful in this field as a result.
• ‍ Situational Analysis: Every customer and situation is different. An important hard skill for customer service reps to have is the ability to thoroughly analyze each situation. This can involve note-taking, research, gathering feedback, and many more essential tasks.
• ‍ Telecommunication: In an increasingly digital world, good telecommunication has become crucial for customer service. This can refer to any interaction happening digitally, including phone calls and online services.
• ‍ Bookkeeping: A fundamental component of customer service is keeping thorough records. Transactions, contracts, and more can all fall under the umbrella of bookkeeping. Honing these skills is good for any professionals seeking employment in customer service.
• ‍ Closing Ability: A customer service professional must develop a specific skill known as their “closing ability.” This is their ability to finalize a deal or transaction with a customer. It combines many soft skills, such as negotiation and persuasion, to create a more technical skill.
• ‍ Product Memorization: The ability to memorize large quantities of information is highly important in customer service.

No matter whether they are hard or soft skills, all your skills should be selected according to the job.

In fact, tailoring your resume for the job is crucial for impressing employers!

Read our career advice article on how to Tailor Your Resume to Any Job in 4 Easy Steps to learn more.  

How Do I Describe My Customer Service Skill Levels?

When describing your customer service skills on a resume, it is important to indicate your level of proficiency.

Generally, there are three levels commonly used on resumes:

• ‍ Expert: At an expert level, you can employ a skill according to your own assessment of a situation. Little to no outside direction is required. ‍
• Intermediate: Intermediate skill levels indicate that you are proficient but may still need some supervision. ‍
• Novice: A novice skill level lets employers know you understand the basics but do not consider the skill one of the best proficiencies.

We recommend only including your very best skills on a resume.

As such, you should aim to mainly include skills that fall into either the expert or intermediate categories.

How Do I List My Customer Service Skills on a Resume?

To include customer service skills on a resume, there are two main formatting options:

• Listing the skills in the work experience section
• Creating a dedicated skills section

Oftentimes, the best approach is to combine these two formatting options.

Including soft skills in your work experience section allows you to include greater context and explanation.

Comparatively, hard skills need less explanation and can benefit from being place in a separate section.

Here are two quick breakdowns for these formatting options:

Method 1: Listing Customer Service Skills in Your Work Experience Section

Work Experience Customer Service Representative, Whole Foods April 2018 – May 2020 · Good communication skills · Worked closely with customers · Learned better closing tactics

Why It’s Wrong: In this example, the bullet points are too vague and provide little information about the person’s responsibilities.

Adding in skills to your work experience section should add extra value, not detract from the descriptive nature of the section.

Work Experience Customer Service Representative, Whole Foods April 2018 – May 2020 · Communicated daily with customers through the call center · Fostered loyal customer relationships through an empathetic approach · Developed a strong closing ability and increased sales by 15 percent

In this corrected example, the skills clearly tie into the person’s qualifications.

The information given is much more insightful into the applicant’s work ethic and skill set.

ProTip: When describing skills in your work experience section, make sure to use active language. For help in doing so, take a look at our list of 350+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Effective in 2024 .

Method 2: Creating a Dedicated Customer Service Skills Section

Customer Service Skills · Caring for customers · Answering the phone · Helping customers with returns · Using Microsoft Excel and other programs

Why It’s Wrong: This example fails to use strong skill keywords.

Additionally, it is not inherently bad to include extra words in a skills section.

However, these extra words should add value, not just take up space in your word count.

Customer Service Skills · Empathizing with Customers’ Specific Needs · Call Center Telecommunication · Conflict Resolution for Customer Returns · Microsoft Office Suite

In this corrected example, the extra words being used give the skill greater detail and specificity.

Do you need more help writing your ideal resume? Check out our guide on the 20 Best Resume Writing Tips and Tricks for 2024 (with a Free Checklist) !

Final Takeaways

Customer service is a massive industry with many employment opportunities.

To heighten your chances of landing a job in this field, focusing on your related skills is key.

Here are our 5 main takeaways for listing customer service skills on a resume:

• Include both your hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) customer service skills.
• Relate your skills to the job you are applying for.
• Use skills in both your work experience section and a dedicated skills section.
• Provide context around interpersonal skills.
• Aim to include your best – or “expert-level” – skills first.

To learn more about creating the perfect resume, check out our many free resume guides and career advice articles !

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

Ed is a co-founder of Easy Resume. His background in scaling teams at tech startups over the last decade has given him extensive experience and knowledge around how to hire top talent and build successful teams. He enjoys mentoring, coaching, and helping others reach their career goals. When he's not writing about career-related advice, he's playing with his dog, Lilo, or going on long hikes in upstate New York.

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28 Customer Service Resume Examples for 2024

Customer Service Resume

• Customer Service Resumes by Experience
• Customer Service Resumes by Role
• Writing Your Customer Service Resume

As the face of the organization, the customer service team is instrumental in building and maintaining a business’s reputation.

To be a successful customer service professional, you must have a wide-ranging skillset—patience, empathy, critical thinking, and detailed knowledge of your company’s products or services.

With such a tall order, you shouldn’t also have to be an expert at  building a resume . Our easy  resume tips  are available at your fingertips!

We’ve analyzed countless resumes and  chosen the 28 best customer service resume samples to help you land your next job in 2024 .

Furthermore, we’ll share our recommendations and advice so you can put your best foot forward on your resume; before you know it, you’ll also be ready to tackle your  customer service cover letter !

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• The best way to do this is by making your points concise and highly relevant to the job to which you’re applying. If you include a  resume summary , tailor it to the business to which you apply. As a rule of thumb, the more you customize and  fine-tune your resume  for each job application, the more likely you are to get an interview. 

Entry-Level Customer Service Resume

• Choose two tastefully contrasting fonts: one for your section headers, and one for your body text. 
• Leverage white space throughout your resume to give it a clean, easy-on-the-eye, professional feel.
• We suggest bold (but not garish) colors in the header and titles to draw attention.
• Say goodbye to excess white space by adding some relevant projects you’ve worked on.
• Just make sure they relate to the  customer service job description  and emphasize your most relevant skills.

Customer Service Associate Resume

• Something very impressive on a  customer service associate resume  is when you’ve gone the extra mile to be certified. Definitely include any licenses or certifications you have in a dedicated “Certifications” section.
• Our  user-friendly resume templates  and  Google Docs resume templates  allow you to quickly add a section just for certificates and licenses.
• For example, “Handled an average of 40+ customer complaints per day with a 93% customer satisfaction rate.”

Customer Service Manager Resume

• Don’t worry though! You can easily tailor it by mentioning the specific job title you’re seeking, the company’s name, and any position-specific skills you’ve learned. If these kinds of details paralyze you, take a breath; now, make a resume with one of our  free resume templates  or  Google Docs interactive resumes  that already have sections laid out for your objective.
• Though including a  resume objective  is optional, we recommend one if you’ve had a career change, are entry-level, or simply need to effectively fill a little space on your resume.
• If you choose to add it, make sure it’s unique and personalized for every application you submit. That’s right. Every single one.

Customer Service Lead Resume

• Also, a technical support specialist position might have refined your problem-solving skills and technical knowledge, essential for resolving issues beyond the first line of support. A moment or two when your leadership stance shone brightly is a welcome addition to your customer service lead resume.

Senior Customer Success Manager Resume

• Here’s the inside scoop: dig into the job ad to get a grasp of what hiring managers are after, whether killer communications skills , a track record of success in customer handling, or knowing your way around the latest industry software (think Salesforce, Slack, and Zendesk). Then, spotlight these proficiencies in your showpiece. See? A piece of cake!

Customer Care Resume

• Think along the lines of “Spearheaded the integration of Freshdesk to streamline client communications, reducing response time by 37%” and “Negotiated service agreements with high-value clients, bringing in $576,987 in new business”. These should be your highlights—front and center of your resume’s work experience section. After all, wouldn’t you notice a candidate with figures to prove they’re a mover and shaker?

Airline Customer Service Resume

• In the same line, use larger fonts to draw the hiring manager’s attention to different essential parts of your resume. For example, role titles should be in a larger font and title case format, while terms accentuating your skills, hobbies, contact information, and education should be in uppercase.

Customer Service Call Center Resume

• It’s fine even if you mention them in other unrelated job roles. Just ensure that you clearly state how your assistance helped customers in a particular scenario.
• If you run out of room in your resume, remember that a cover letter generator can help you expound quickly on the details you care about sharing.

Customer Service Bank Resume

• Even if it’s only a short stint, mention how you went beyond resolving technical issues at a desk by adding your ability to make personalized follow-ups, maintain high-data accuracy rates, and implement any customer feedback provided.

Insurance Customer Service Resume

• Remember that expertise in communication efficiency, accurate responses align well with the requirements of the role since you will be handling customers.

Client Service Manager Resume

• And if you may, add your metrics on improving customer satisfaction to further prove your potential.

Customer Service Specialist Resume

• Luckily, customer service is typically a metric-heavy role. From sales to customer reviews to retention, there’s a lot of numbers you can draw upon, such as customer satisfaction scores, how many customers you helped, and sales targets you exceeded.
• Metrics draw the eye of the resume reader and increase the length of time they’ll review your  customer service specialist resume , which increases your likelihood of getting an interview. Since a hiring manager will, on average, spend six seconds reviewing your resume, hooking their attention quickly is key.

Retail Customer Service Clerk Resume

• The structure of your  retail customer service resume  can either help or hurt the flow of the employer’s reading experience and affect whether or not you get that interview.
• We suggest you experiment with an array of  resume templates  and go for the one that zooms in on your greatest selling points.
• Sprinkle in impressive numerical metrics such as team headcounts, sales targets met, and payment processing accuracy percentages whenever possible.

Customer Success Manager Resume

• Challenge yourself to prove your impact with metrics.
• For example, how much time did you save in labor hours? How much did you increase profits for the company? Provide any details that show how quickly you could boost numbers at the next business that’s smart enough to hire you. 
• Striking a good balance between hard and soft skills is tricky, but doable—the  skills section on your resume  can emphasize the soft skills that made those impressive numbers happen in the first place.

Bilingual Customer Support Resume

• For example, you can mention the number of reward program members you signed on, the number of customers you helped per shift, the number of performance-based awards you earned, and the percentage of bilingual clients who specifically returned to you for assistance.
• Pass the automated tracking system filter by peppering your skills section with relevant keywords you’ve taken the time to mine from the  job description .
• Just be sure the keywords you glean from the job description truly match the skills you possess! Better to be a master of a few talents than have a surface knowledge of many.

Customer Service Consultant Resume

• Having trouble breaking up with the roles you had in high school? You can save old positions in a separate document, just in case. Just reassure yourself that you can discuss this expertise during an interview.
• Rather than cramming your work experience down to microscopic font size, try honing in on your most relevant work history. 
• Since you probably have plenty of experience, you may want to consider including a  resume summary , which can give a valuable overview of your skills and how they’ve driven results over the course of your lengthy (10+ years for a summary) career. 

Customer Service Agent Resume

• As long as you’re not distracting from the content of your resume, go ahead and get a little creative. 
• Do this by  organizing your resume  into distinct sections (subheadings are your friend), and use an unexpected pop of color to draw on your personality. Who said your resume has to be boring? 
• Focus on adding hard skills, like Zendesk, Salesforce, and Microsoft Word.

Customer Service Success Specialist Resume

• Hiring managers in the customer service field often have less than a minute to review your resume, so it’s important that you place the most relevant information where they’ll see it! 
• Emphasize growth in your career by ordering your work experience in a  reverse-chronological resume format , meaning that your most recent experience will be listed at the top of the page. 
• Including numbers in your work experience bullet points shows the employer that you’re great at your job! Ultimately, they’re looking for specialists who can perform the job well, and numbers prove that you can. 

Customer Service Coordinator Resume

• That’s right. Your resume doesn’t need to look computer-generated to command respect. In fact, using a sprinkle of color can demonstrate your confidence and individuality, making you an even more appealing candidate. 
• A word of caution: While more companies are valuing the individuality and flair of applicants, there are times when toned-down colors (like deep navy, slate gray, or hunter green) may be more appropriate. This can be especially true if you’re applying to a larger corporate business. Determine what’s best by investigating the  customer service job description’s  work culture.

Customer Service Advisor Resume

• Now, that doesn’t mean you need to bring the entire color wheel to your resume. Instead, focus on grabbing recruiters’ attention by using one or two colors for your section titles. You can start from scratch to find a visually-appealing color, or use a  resume template  if you’re not artistically inclined. 
• Take your resume personalization to the next step by adding a  career summary  section if you’re a total pro in the field with more than a decade of experience. Use this section for some humble bragging and tell hiring managers about your biggest accomplishments over the course of your career. Because if there’s any good time to brag, it’s on your resume, right?

Customer Service Technician Resume

• It’s surprisingly easy! Using hard numbers throughout your resume makes hiring managers slow down and read more carefully, plus using metrics supercharges your resume clout and indicates that you know your value (literally). 
• Don’t be afraid to highlight your  hobbies and interests on your resume .
• But, please, please ensure you can relate them to the job. If you’re including a super interesting hobby, a hiring manager is almost certainly going to ask you all about it. You better 1.) actually do that hobby, and 2.) be able to relate that hobby to relevant customer service tech job skills. 

Customer Service Representative Resume

• So, instead of simply adding ‘Sales’ as a skill in your customer service representative resume , use an example of where and how you used said skillset. Try, “Boosted high-end electronic sales by 34% through deep product knowledge and personalized demonstrations.”

Call Center Customer Service Resume

• Format your resume so that your most recent experience and achievements are at the top of your call center customer service resume . By doing this, you’re presenting those highlights in a way that they’re the very first thing a recruiter will probably look at.

Professional Customer Service Resume

• Let’s say you have a Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP) certification on your professional customer service resume—it immediately lets a potential employer know you’re well-equipped and ready to provide exceptional customer service.

Customer Service Supervisor Resume

• If you know your way around a specific CRM or management software, don’t miss the opportunity to add it to your customer service supervisor resume and show an employer you’re a well-rounded candidate.

Remote Customer Service Resume

• By using a remote customer service resume template that’s clutter-free and spotlights what’s really important, you can show a recruiter what they need to see to form a positive opinion of you.

Customer Service Sales Resume

• Let’s take the poetry writing, portrait sketching, and vector illustration mentioned in this customer service sales resume . They convey that you have a knack for being creative, understanding design, and paying attention to detail—all of which will come in handy in your professional role.

Related resume guides

• Receptionist
• Sales Associate
• Front Desk Receptionist

4 Tips to Improve Your Customer Service Resume Today

Customer service resumes have gone beyond a simple list of experiences and education that prove your worth. Now, they’re as varied as the candidates themselves. Before writing a resignation letter and applying for your next job, check out BeamJobs’ list of recommendations to make your resume sound professional, look neat, and prove without a doubt that you’re the best candidate. We’ll cover:

• Customer service skills
• Formatting your customer service resume
• Quantifying your previous impact
• Customizing your resume for each job

Tip 1: Confidently choose your customer service skills

The  skills section of a resume  might be short, but it packs a punch. This is where you sell what you’re capable of and what you can do. This section is especially important for ATS to keep you in the running, so it’s crucial to pay attention to what skills you possess.

You should list both hard skills (like Microsoft Office Suite, HubSpot, or HelpDesk) and soft skills (like organization, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication). The best place to find applicable skills would be the job description itself—see what’s required for the tasks listed, and then use those tasks to steer you in the right direction.

Let’s say you run across a  customer service job description  requesting bilingual support like this:

• Answer telephone calls and emails promptly in Spanish and English
• Maintain and extend client base through positive customer interaction
• Excellent verbal and written skills in both Spanish and English
• Strong organizational and analytical skills 
• Flexible—must be able to work independently AND with a team daily

Based on the job description, it’s clear this company values a bilingual, organized individual who is an effective communicator. These skills (as long as they accurately define you) should serve as the foundation of your skills section. And a word to the wise—don’t apply for a job if you can’t honestly say you own the skill set required. 

Now, it’s time to tailor your skills section to the job description, which could look like this:

• Bilingual (Spanish and English)
• Organized 
• Strong verbal and written communication 
• Proven customer success 
• Empathetic 
• Methodical and thorough documentation 
• CRM (HubSpot)

Not every customer service job description will look like the one above, so your skills section should reflect the role for which you’re applying.

The following skills would be great additions to other customer service positions:

• Data analysis
• Metrics-driven
• Customer service reporting
• Self-motivated
• Social media
• Creative problem-solver
• Inquisitive

Tip 2: Format your resume for the ATS and recruiters 

When you open the pages of a book, what’s more inviting: dense blocks of text with little color or short paragraphs with headings, indents, and plenty of white space? The latter is easier to read and, thus, more inviting. Your customer service resume needs to follow the same principle since it’s your first impression. Make the recruiter’s job as easy as possible by being neat, easy to read, and understandable. 

There are multiple ways to achieve this, but one of the easiest is to put things in  reverse-chronological format . This helps recruiters know immediately where you’re coming from. (For example, if you recently worked as a customer service representative, you’ll have a shorter adjustment period. And even if you were a customer service rep a few years ago, the reverse-chronological order will help recruiters quickly assess your qualifications.)

Further suggestions for keeping your resume easy to read: 

• Bullet points rely on keywords, essential for making your resume ATS-friendly. The condensed structure and repetitive points also relieve eye strain when reading.
• Place the customer service title beneath your name to make it easier for the recruiter to keep that specific job in mind as they scan your resume. This is especially crucial when a company is hiring for multiple positions.
• The average time a recruiter spends looking at a resume is six to seven seconds, which means you should only include necessities. Anything else that’s relevant can be brought up in the job interview.
• Some companies see them as antiquated, but others like knowing exactly what you’re aiming for. Scan resumes in the job field to see if others include them, and consider reaching out to current employees on LinkedIn for advice.
• Primarily, fancy icons or images may confuse the ATS. Beyond that, leaving them off your resume looks more professional; plus, it leaves room for more important things, like skills or awards.

Objective or summary for your customer service resume?

Objectives and summaries  are a hot topic for resumes. It’s up to you to decide if an objective or summary is needed for your customer service resume. Typically, objectives/summaries are a good idea if you’re changing careers, you’re an entry-level applicant, or if you want to customize them for each application. Otherwise, it would be best to leave space for other things.

The difference between objectives and summaries rests in their purpose and your level of experience. Both are roughly two to three sentences, but  an objective describes your interest and qualifications for the job while a summary highlights your past work . If you have limited experience, you should choose an objective to sell why you’re the best candidate, but if you’re years into customer service, you could include a summary to describe your unique background.

No matter if it’s a summary or an objective, it should always be concise, informative, and personal ; this is your chance to show your personality and skills before the interview, so make it count.

When you write your objective, communicate your reason for applying and why you’d make a great candidate. Avoid making it generic, flat, or too casual: 

• College graduate looking for work in the customer service industry to start a life-long career. I’m hardworking, great with people, and skilled with computers.

Instead, your objective should be specific, detailed, and unique to both you and the job description. Try something that highlights your skills regardless of your experience level:

For those who have 10+ years of experience, a summary is the best way to go. Poor summaries have limited and vague information:

• I’m a manager who is seeking further professional growth. I’m good at resolving conflicts, handling money, and writing reports; looking for a job that will give me experience and career options.

Rather, a summary should be a highlight reel of your accomplishments and expertise. To further showcase your talent, add metrics here, too:

This summary is tailored to the position and outlines the candidate’s experience and skills while being personable and not too formal. By carefully crafting your objective or summary, you can rise above the competition in just two to three sentences.

Tip 3: Leverage metrics on your customer service resume 

Leveraging metrics is all about avoiding generality and demonstrating success. Most job description bullets don’t describe how successful, friendly, or efficient you were. However, saying, “Assisted 200+ customers weekly with technical questions with a 98% customer satisfaction rate,” tells the recruiter the specifics of your talents and abilities. 

Writing metrics for every single bullet point isn’t necessary, but including an estimate when you can is better than staying vague.

Some customer service metrics to add to your resume include:

• Customer satisfaction (CSAT) score: The core aspect of customer service is keeping customers happy, so providing high CSAT scores based on your interaction with customers is bound to get recruiters noticing.
• Net promoter score: Just like the CSAT, this gives an insight into how happy customers are with the company. 
• Employee retention rate: This statistic works well if you’re in a management position with a tight-knit group. That means your leadership has a direct effect on how many customer service reps leave or stay.
• Resolution rate: By showing a percentage of solved cases, you demonstrate your effective problem-solving skills and care for the customer.
• Customer effort score: This shows how much effort it took to get an issue resolved. Less effort means you’re easier to work with and more effective, which is why a low CES score is useful to add to your resume.
• Customer/employee numbers: Providing the number of teammates, employees, or customers you’ve helped or served is a great way to show your capability in helping large volumes of people.

Now that you know what kind of metrics to include, below are some examples of how you can use them in practice. If you have trouble calculating some of the aforementioned metrics,  HelpCrunch  or  Kustomer  have some helpful formulas. 

• Assisted over 250 patrons with technological questions monthly with a consistent 86 CSAT score based on interactions
• Extended the client base through positive, empathetic communication, resulting in a net promoter score of over 50
• Led a group of 20 employees through conflict resolution training, and updated onboarding processes that improved employee retention by 23%

Tip 4: Customize your customer service resume for the job 

Just as every company is different, no customer service position is identical. So, why would you submit the same resume for multiple customer service job applications? Tailoring your resume shows you have researched the job and helps corroborate your candidacy.

Check the following list for advice on how to customize sections of your resume:

• Mention the company by name and what you hope to accomplish. Check the “job details” section of the job description to see what the company hopes to achieve, whether it’s boosting customer loyalty or increasing customer satisfaction.
• Many customer service jobs require similar skills, but that doesn’t mean your skills should stay stale. Check the job description’s qualifications to scan for skill keywords to use. Keep it under 10 to avoid being excessive.
• Include the job description requirements in your resume as much as you can. If the job description says they’re looking for someone who will “standardize quality customer service through positive customer interactions,” mimic that wording on your resume to describe your past achievements. This helps make your resume ATS-friendly while highlighting your skills.
• No matter the customer service role you’re seeking, there are many ways to  write your resume  so that it’s relevant and unique to every application:

Customer service resume

• All of these are good ways to customize your job description points.
• Include a concise objective that mentions the company by name, and highlight why you’re qualified for the job.
• Have you assisted large volumes of customers or boosted overall customer numbers? Have you increased efficiency or used specific software discussed in the job description? 

Customer service rep resume

• Outcomes like increased sales or error reductions are great metrics to include.
• Highlight skills like empathy, friendliness, and negotiation in your skills section and job description bullets.
• Include your goals for your interactions with customers, like “established lasting relationships” to draw attention to your interpersonal skills.

Customer service manager resume 

• Use verbs like “directed,” “led,” or “modeled” to demonstrate productive leadership.
• Include a summary to showcase the success of your career so far and what you can bring to your new job.

Entry-level customer service resume

• For example, if you were a lab assistant, you had to be highly organized and a great problem-solver, which would work well in a customer service resume.
• Stress your ability to work well with people—include any courses,  extracurricular projects , or volunteer efforts where you interacted with people consistently. 

Retail customer service resume

• Include past experience where you solved problems, troubleshot issues, or resolved disagreements.
• Anything relating to product management would be an excellent addition—think of past jobs that dealt with marketing or sales, especially if you can provide metrics like increased revenue or reaching sales targets.

Customer success manager resume

• CSMs must be able to see trouble coming and steer clear, so include responsibilities where you proactively and positively improved the customer’s experience.
• Resilience and tenacity are two core elements of the customer success journey, so long-term projects and goals are solid additions to prove you’re willing to spend the time to get something done right. 

Bilingual customer support resume

• Include all languages in which you’re fluent in the skills section. Also, make sure to highlight your bilingual (or multilingual) abilities in your objective or summary.
• Mention how you improved your customer service strategies or practices as this will show you actively make customer experiences better for everyone.

Customer service consultant resume

• CSCs are also great advocates for both the customer and the company. They see things from both the customer’s perspective and the company’s, so keep your resume balanced between your advancements for the company and your success with customers.

The keys to your customer service resume

Resumes are your first impression, so it’s important you make a good one. By taking the extra time to customize and adjust your customer service resume, you’ll catch the eye of hiring managers. With your list of relevant skills, professional formatting, specific job metrics, and customized additions, your resume is sure to stand out from the competition.

Upload your resume to our  resume checker  to see if your resume meets our AI-powered recommendations. If you’re starting from scratch, use the  best free resume builder , which allows you to create resumes from the ground up with helpful hints and tools from BeamJobs. If you’ve made it this far, it’s safe to say you’re well on your way to crushing your customer service resume!

Customer Service Representative Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples

How To Write a Customer Service Representative Resume

• Resume Text Examples

To craft an impactful resume for customer service representative positions, focus on accomplishments that highlight the strongest aspects of your professional career. Hiring managers value candidates who can communicate effectively with a diverse range of people, so it’s important to feature your communication skills prominently throughout the document. Showcasing quality metrics, such as customer satisfaction scores, will also go a long way in differentiating you from the competition during your job search.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your customer service representative qualifications

Before crafting your summary, you should analyze the descriptions of the jobs you’re interested in applying for. You’ll likely notice repetitive key terms and qualifications when evaluating the postings. Your first sentence should include your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job description. This information will show hiring managers that you’re a highly qualified candidate immediately upon opening your document.

Senior-Level Profile Example

A Senior Customer Service Professional with 10+ years of experience specializing in continuous improvement, client relations, and cross-functional leadership. A proven track record of building strong client relationships and identifying opportunities to enhance the customer experience and improve satisfaction ratings.

Entry-Level Profile Example

A Customer Service Representative with four years of experience specializing in sales, communication, and client relations. Adept at delivering quality service to diverse customers and managing high call volumes efficiently to ensure satisfaction.

2. Add your customer service representative experience with compelling examples

Your professional experience section should focus primarily on your career achievements rather than simply mentioning generic job responsibilities. Hiring managers want candidates with a history of contributing to their teams and organizations. As you write your bullet points, think about your positive impact on average customer satisfaction metrics. Ask yourself if you made a process more efficient or helped improve the performance of your team members through training. These types of details make all the difference in whether or not your application makes it to the next phase of the hiring process.

Example 1 - Senior-Level

Professional experience.

Customer Service Manager, Roland Financial, New York, NY August 2017 – Present

• Interface effectively with a diverse customer base, utilize de-escalation techniques, communicate with patience and understanding, and propose ideal solutions for customer issues, resulting in a 20% reduction in cancellation rates
• Identify opportunities to improve the customer experience, deliver training to new hires on service standards, and achieve customer satisfaction scores of 91%-98% 
• Serve as the escalation point for 5-10 major customer issues per week

Example 2 - Entry-Level

Customer Service Representative, West Light Florists, San Francisco, CA October 2021 – Present

• Field in-person and telephone inquiries from more than 100 customers daily and identify solutions to resolve conflicts and ensure a high-quality customer experience
• Perform regular assessments regarding customer complaints and provide suggestions to improve customer satisfaction and retention by 15%
• Meet or exceed customer satisfaction goals month over month

3. Include customer service representative-related education and certifications

Although your hands-on customer service experience will always be the focal point of your resume, acquiring additional certifications online can help strengthen your job application. These additional credentials show hiring managers that you’re committed to improving your ability to deliver outstanding customer service, which may help set you apart from other candidates during the job search.

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• Help Desk Certification, HubSpot, 2018
• Customer Service Certification, Service Strategies, 2017
• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
• TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA September 2012 – June 2016

4. List key skills and proficiencies for customer service representatives

When applying for a position, the right combination of keywords is critical for getting past any applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS may only highlight a resume with enough keywords and the right action verbs, so a hiring manager may never see a resume that lacks the necessary phrases.

An ATS crawls through your resume, looking for specific keywords and phrases. Your resume goes to the bottom of the pile if it doesn’t find them. If it does have a good selection of keywords, it goes right to the hiring manager for consideration. Because your resume must pass both automated systems and excite the person behind the firewall, designing a resume that naturally includes these phrases is important. The more keywords you work into your resume text, the more likely you will land an interview.

How to Pick the Best Customer Service Representative Resume Template

When selecting a resume template, you should prioritize organization and readability over style.

Although many modern templates may be tempting, colors and graphics can often distract hiring managers from your work experience and professional achievements. In most instances, it’s better to choose a straightforward template, as the strength of your content will always be the determining factor in whether or not you receive an interview.

Customer Service Representative Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Raymond Ortiz (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn 123 Santa Maria, San Francisco, CA 12345

A Customer Service Representative with three years of experience specializing in sales, communication, and client relations. Adept at delivering quality service to diverse customers and managing high call volumes efficiently to ensure satisfaction.

• Call Center Operations
• Communication and Client Relations
• Customer Service
• De-Escalation & Conflict Resolution

Customer Service Representative, West Light Florists, San Francisco, CA   October 2021 – Present

Store Associate, Kohl’s Department Store, San Francisco, CA September 2020 – October 2021

• Supported 20-40 customers daily, assisted in locating products, and finalized sales transactions
• Delivered support for regular and monthly inventory processes and reconciled stock levels to ensure accurate counts
• Managed customer returns and complaints with patience and understanding

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2017 – May 2021

Meera Patel (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn 123 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 12345

A Customer Service Representative with six years of experience supporting sales teams and turning cancellations into satisfied customers. Recognized for exceptional communication and interpersonal skills while interfacing with diverse clientele. Proven ability to deliver high customer satisfaction ratings.

Customer Service Representative, TUV Firm, Nashville, TN August 2019 – Present

• Manage and resolve 50+ escalated customer complaints per day, processing returns, exchanges, and changes to service levels
• Train new employees on CRM software to deliver high-quality customer service
• Achieve average customer service ratings of 87%, 13% higher than the company’s average

Customer Service Representative, Dolan Call Center, Nashville, TN May 2017 – August 2019

• Provided quality customer service in a high-volume call center, processing transactions, resolving issues, and assisting with service sign-ups
• Resolved an average of nearly 500 inquiries on a weekly basis while meeting all performance milestones for speed and accuracy
• Achieved a 92%-95% customer satisfaction rating month over month
• Client Relations
• Communication
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN September 2013 – May 2017

Aliya Jackson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn 123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345

Customer Service Manager, Roland Financial, New York, NY August 2017 – Present

• Identify opportunities to improve the customer experience, deliver training to new hires on service standards, and achieve customer satisfaction scores of 91%-98%

Customer Service Representative, Alliance Insurance, New York, NY May 2013 – August 2017

• Managed inquiries, calls, and complaints from up to 50 customers per day and achieved a top 10% customer service ranking out of 400+ representatives
• Trained 15+ call center employees on conflict resolution, active listening, de-escalation, and consultative sales techniques
• Customer Success
• Process Improvement
• Team Leadership

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing University of Syracuse, New York, NY September 2009 – May 2013

Anna Berentson - Manager of Talent Acquisition at Trupanion, Linkedin

Meet our Expert: Anna has over six years of experience as an in-house recruiting professional, specializing in roles from customer service and sales to finance and technology.

What are the most in-demand skills for a customer service representative that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? -

First, empathy is crucial. Candidates must be able to relate to the customer and make them feel like they’re truly being heard. When someone calls in, they want to know that their questions or concerns matter. Another important skill is resilience. Dealing with difficult or escalated customer conversations can be tough, but a good representative won’t let it affect how they interact with the next customer. They can brush it off and move forward professionally. Quick thinking is also essential. Sometimes you won’t have all the answers, but being able to problem-solve on the spot is a must. And if you’re stuck, knowing when to bring in others for help is key.

What type of work experience and/or other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in a customer service representative? -

Hiring managers want to know about your past call center experience. Have you used a multi-line phone system? Have you worked in a call center or from home? How long have you spent in a customer service role, and are you looking to do this type of work long-term?

If you don’t have any call center experience, determine what cross-functional experience you have that could be applicable, and be prepared to speak to moments where you went above and beyond to help a customer. Hiring managers want to see examples of exceptional customer service and how you’ve made a difference.

What else in addition to a resume should a customer service representative candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers? -

Some companies require customer service assessments as a part of their interview process, usually the exercise entails speaking with a hypothetical customer and helping them through specific scenarios. Also, a cover letter is likely unnecessary for customer service roles unless you don’t have the specific experience they’re looking for or the job posting asks for one specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions: Customer Service Representative Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for customer service representative resumes -.

Getting stuck on what action verbs to use during the resume-building process is easy. Sometimes only certain verbs can be used to convey your professional experience accurately. Using the same words repeatedly might cause your content to appear stale or monotonous to the reader. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list to aid you in differentiating your usage of action verbs throughout your bullet points:

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

Customer service positions may be more competitive over the next decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts these jobs will shrink by 4% over the next ten years. Automation technology plays a significant role in the expected change. More companies allow customers to handle frequent tasks like returns or exchanges through a bot or web portal. With less need for human oversight on standard procedures, companies may be adding fewer customer service jobs.

You’ll want to carefully tailor your resume to the job description to differentiate yourself from the applicant pool. In addition to including appropriate keywords, you should show hiring managers examples of you using these specific skill sets throughout your career. Instead of simply saying you’re familiar with de-escalation techniques, consider using an example that showed you employing this skill to retain an at-risk account. These insights will make a much more lasting impression on the reader and increase your chances of landing the interview.

What is the best customer service representative resume format? -

Use a reverse chronological format when crafting your customer service representative resume. This format will feature your most recent achievements at the top of your document. It’s best to avoid using a functional resume format in most instances, as this approach highlights skill sets without providing context or specific accomplishments for the hiring manager.

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While not every company will require a cover letter, keeping one on hand for those that do is good. The most significant benefit of submitting a cover letter is that it allows you to mention something about the company you’re applying to and why their reputation excites you for the role. Show hiring managers that you’ve researched beforehand, demonstrating that you’re genuinely interested in the position. customer service and call center representative cover letter guides for more insights.

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check Out Related Examples

Call Center Representative Resume Examples and Templates

Customer Service Supervisor Resume Examples and Templates

Retail Customer Service Representative Resume Examples and Templates

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• Resignation Letter Examples Learn More

Customer Service Resume [2024] - Examples & Guide

Looks great, right?! Follow the steps below to create a resume that’ll have employers in a frenzy to hire you.

You’re a customer service representative.

You keep customers satisfied by providing solutions to their concerns.

But now it’s time to ease your future employer’s concerns by providing a resume that shows your value as a customer service employee.

This involves highlighting your most notable skills and experiences.

Not sure how to do this?

Well, just follow the simple steps in this guide.

• An example of a finished customer service resume that works
• How to write a customer service resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make a customer service resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we get into the details, you can check the customer service resume example at the top, created with our very own resume builder .

Looking fore more specific resume examples? Check out this list of customer service resume examples:

• Barista Resume
• Bartender Resume
• Server Resume
• Waiter Resume
• Receptionist Resume
• Cashier Resume
• Event Planner Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Bar and Restaurant Manager Resume

How to Format a Customer Service Resume

Before you can serve the hiring manager, you need to organize your work station!

But what do we mean by this?

Well, just like your work station, your resume needs to be arranged in a way that doesn’t lead to confusion and delays.

Choosing the correct resume format allows the hiring manager to instantly see your most notable achievements, instead of having to hunt for them. 

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, and it is one that we always recommend to customer service representatives. 

The following two resume formats also get our approval…

• Functional Resume – If you’ve got the natural talent to help customers, but lack the hands-on experience, this resume format is recommended. A functional resume focuses on skills, which makes it ideal for those who lack experience or who have gaps in their employment history.
• Combination Resume – Have previous experience in the customer service industry? Then you may want to use this format. Specifically, the format combines both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”.

Use a Customer Service Resume Template

Right, time to fire-up your text editor and get typing!

But wait there.

Although great for creating simple files, there are better alternatives when creating a customer service resume. 

You see, text editors don’t hold its structure, which can result in layout breakages.

Want to avoid an afternoon of headache? Use a customer service resume template. You can tailor any of the following resume templates for a customer service specialist resume.

What to Include in a Customer Service Resume

The main sections in a customer service resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

To really make an impression, you can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification
• Volunteer Experience

Interests & Hobbies

So those are the customer service resume sections , but what do you write for each of them? 

Let’s find out!

Want to know more about the different sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

You should treat your contact section with the same care that you treat your customers.

Failure to do so could result in misspellings and wrong numbers, which makes it impossible for the recruiter to offer you an interview! 

The contact information section on your resume must include:

• Professional Title – Align this to the role you’re applying for, so “Customer Service Assistant”
• Phone Number – Check each number carefully
• Email Address – Keep your email professional ([email protected]), unlike that one from your childhood ([email protected]).
• Location – City+Country
• Optional - relevant social media
• Joe Blogs - Customer Service Assistant. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Joe Blogs - Customer Service Hero. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

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 shouldn’t 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.

• 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.

• Passionate and hard-working student working towards graduating with a BA in History from UT Austin. Relevant experience includes serving customers in a campus bar. Eager to become the new customer service representative role at XYZ Tech to leverage interpersonal skills for the highest quality of service.

Got relevant work experience? Use a resume summary. 

Got the skills, but can’t back it up with experience? Use a resume objective.  

How to Make Your Customer Service Work Experience Stand Out

Recruiters hate nothing more than risk.

You see, their job is on the line if they hire the wrong person.

As such, you need to prove you have what it takes, and your work experience section is the easiest way to do that

Here’s the best way for customer service representatives to structure the work experience section:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Customer Service Representative 

YXZ Convenience Store

03/2017 - 04/2021

• Achieved highest up-sell rates in both 2017 (2.8%) and 2019 (3.2%)
• Worked at the customer information desk for 10+ hour shifts
• Welcomed 1000+ customers during store opening event
• Won “Employee of the Month” three months in a row by engaging with customers in personal, yet professional manner

The key here is to showcase how valuable you were to your previous employer. Doing so will have companies competing against each other for your skills.

Instead of saying…

“Spoke to all customers”

“Won “Employee of the Month” three months in a row by engaging with customers in personal, yet professional manner”

Simply put, the first sentence states that you spoke with customers, but it doesn’t say whether you were successful in doing so.  

The second statement goes into more detail and backs-up your claims with awards.

What if You Don’t Have Any Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a student looking for their first customer service job?

Or maybe, you have experience in the field, but never in a retail environment?

Don’t worry, as there are ways to get around this.

All you need are the core job skills and a willingness to learn.

And you can showcase this with related job experience or school projects. 

For example, if you’ve ever worked as a cashier, you can talk about any crossover skills and experiences. Just like a customer service representative, you were friendly, dealt with customers concerns, and operated a POS/computer. 

Use Action Words to Make Your Customer Service Resume POP!

Let’s image that you’re a job recruiter.

Sitting down to read the same generic resumes, one after another.

No one stands out. In fact, all resumes are blending into one.

This exercise highlights the importance of making your resume different from the other applicants. 

One of the best ways to do this is to use power words :

How to Correctly List your Education

After showcasing your experiences, you should delve into your education to date. 

There’s no magic tricks with this section, just enter your education history in this format:

• Degree Type & Major
• University/School Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

High School Diploma

Lynbrook High School, California

Graduated 2018

Still concerned about your education section?

The answers below may help you:

What if I haven’t finished my current education yet?

• No problem. Just mention your education to date

Should I include my high school education?

• It’s recommended to only include your highest form of education. If that’s your high school diploma, then list it

What do I put first, my education or experience?

• For a bartender role, your experiences always come first 

Need more advice? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Customer Service Resume

Whether you’re 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 can’t list every skill you own.

So, which skills don’t 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:

Hard Skills for Customer Service Professionals:

• Computer Skills
• Mathematical Skills
• Product Knowledge
• Point of Sale (POS) Systems

Soft Skills for Customer Service Professionals:

• Personable and friendly 
• Endurance (long hours)
• Conflict resolution 
• Time management 
• Team player
• The hiring manager will typically ask interviewees for examples of when they have shown the skill listed. As such, only include skills that you actually posses.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 100+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

Ask yourself one question..

Is your resume the BEST it can be?

Although we have completed every essential resume section, we have to do everything it takes to win that interview.

Adding the following sections could be the deciding factor in whether you’re interviewed for the customer service representative role or not.

Awards & Certifications

Have you ever won an employee of the year (or month) award?

Have you completed any additional courses to expand your knowledge?

Whether it’s an award or certification, make space for this section if you have something that you’re proud of.

Here are some quick example:

• Employee of the Year 2019 – XYZ Convenience 
• Learning How to Learn – Coursera Certificate

Applying to an establishment in China Town?

Then being fluent in Mandarin is a good way to shortcut your resume to the top of the pile.

Whether the job description requires it or not, being able to speak multiple languages is impressive – and no one can argue with that!

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you may be wondering, “how does my love of animals affect my customer service skills?”

Well, it doesn’t.

But employers want customer service representatives who will fit in with the rest of the staff.

Your hobbies allow the hiring manager to see behind your qualifications and learn more about who you REALLY are.

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

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.

Here’s how to create a structure that works.

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Include your full name, profession, phone number, email, and address 

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Include their full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

To hook the hiring manager, the start of your resume needs to pack a punch. Use concise language to mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

Once you’ve sparked the hiring manager’s interest, you can delve further into the following specifics:

• Why you chose this specific establishment
• What you know about the establishment’s culture
• How your skills will be beneficial to the establishment
• If you have worked in similar industries or positions before

Closing Paragraph

Avoid ending the conversation abruptly, you should:

• Conclude the main points of your letter
• Thank the hiring manager for their time and the opportunity
• End with a call to action. This is a good way to continue the conversation further. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help XYZ with...” will work.

Formal Salutations

Although this letter shows your personal side, the letter should end professionally. Use something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely.”

For extra advice and inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

You know your customer service skills are good enough to get the job.

And if you follow the above advice, the recruiter will know that too!

Let’s conclude what we’ve learnt:

• The resume format needs to suit your specific situation. Prioritize the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the content layout tips
• Use an attention-grabbing resume summary or objective
• In your work experience section, show your value by highlighting your most relevant and best achievements, rather than day-to-day duties
• Attach a convincing cover letter for a personable application

That was a lot of information, but now you’re all set to make a Customer Service resume of your own!

Suggested Reading:

• Resume Keywords and How to Use Them
• Should You Include a Photo on Your Resume in 2024?
• The Best Strategy for Getting a Raise [+Examples]

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Resume Worded   |  Resume Skills

Skill profile, customer service representative, improve your resume's success rate by using these customer service representative skills and keywords ..

• Hard Skills and Keywords for your Customer Service Representative Resume
• ATS Scan : Compare Your Resume To These Skills
• Sample Resume Templates
• How To Add Skills
• Soft Skills for Customer Service Representative Roles
• Customer Service Representative More Resume Templates

Browse Skills from Similar Jobs

Frequently asked questions.

• 3. Effective Action Verbs for your Resume

Get a Free Resume Review

Looking for keywords for a specific job search for your job title here., © 2024 resume worded. all rights reserved., customer service representative resume keywords and skills (hard skills).

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Customer Service Representative job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Go to Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume. Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all keywords on your resume, identify those that are most relevant to the job you're applying to. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.

• Customer Service
• Customer Experience
• Microsoft Access
• Sales Management
• Human Resources (HR)
•  Find out what your resume's missing
• Customer Support
• Social Media
• Customer Service Management
• Back Office Operations
• HR Consulting
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Front Office
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• SAP Products
• Project Management
• Logistics Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Data Analysis

Resume Skills: Customer Service Tools

• MS Dynamics
• HubSpot CRM
• Salesforce Service Cloud
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• RingCentral
•  Match your resume to these skills

Resume Skills: Software

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Google Workspace
• Microsoft Teams
• Google Meet

Resume Skills: Techniques

• Conflict Resolution
• Complaint Resolution
• Up-selling/Cross-selling
• Product Knowledge
• Procedure Adherence
• Crisis Management
• Multichannel Support
• Customer Retention
• Feedback Analysis

Resume Skills: Technical

• CRM Software (Salesforce, Zendesk)
• Telecommunication Systems
• MS Office Suite
• CRM software
• Point of Sales systems

Resume Skills: Communication Tools

Resume skills: languages.

• Spanish (Fluent)
• Spanish (Professional Proficiency)

Resume Skills: CRM Tools

Resume skills: erp systems.

• Oracle ERP Cloud

Resume Skills: Customer Service

• Problem solving
• Phone Etiquette
• Client Relations
• Customer Relationship Management
• Complaint Handling
• Customer Advocacy
• Multichannel Communication
• Service Recovery

Resume Skills: Additional

• Time Management
• CRM Software
• Negotiation skills

Resume Skills: Technology

• CRM Softwares
• Google Workspace (formerly G Suite)

Resume Skills: Cash Handling

• POS System Operation
• Cash Management
• Sales Transactions
• Returns & Refunds
• Cash wrap operations
• Inventory Assistance

Resume Skills: Research

• Data Collection
• Interviewing
• Coding and Analysis
• Literature Review
• Report Writing
• Citations and References

Resume Skills: General Computing

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Information Management Systems
• Email Communication (Outlook)
• Computer Troubleshooting

Resume Skills: Other

• Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Multitasking

Resume Skills: Communication Technique

• Active Listening
• Non-verbal Communication
• Emotional Intelligence
• Persuasive Speaking

Resume Skills: Document & Data Management

• MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Google Drive

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Alternatively, you can also include a Skills section where you can list your technical skills in order of your proficiency. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

   Does your resume contain all the right skills? Paste in your resume in the AI Resume Scan ↓ section below and get an instant score.

Compare Your Resume To These Customer Service Representative Skills (ATS Scan)

Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.

Sample Customer Service Representative Resume Examples: How To Include These Skills

Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or skills section , like we've shown in the examples below. use the examples below as inspiration..

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

How do I add skills to a Customer Service Representative resume?

Go through the Customer Service Representative posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Microsoft Access, Recruiting and Customer Experience are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Human Resources (HR), Sales Management and Sales - into your resume if they're relevant.

Incorporate skills - like Back Office Operations, Logistics Management and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

Communication is often an important component of the role of a Customer Service Representative, so when writing your resume, include examples of how you communicated with stakeholders, team members or customers, or produced content.

Try to add the exact job title, Customer Service Representative, somewhere into your resume to get past resume screeners. See the infographic for how to do this.

Word Cloud for Customer Service Representative Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Customer Service Representative job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.

Customer Service Representative Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Customer Service Representative job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.

Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.

Get your Resume Instantly Checked, For Free

Upload your resume and we'll spot the issues in it before an actual customer service representative recruiter sees it. for free., customer service representative resume templates.

Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.

Resume Example Customer Service Representative

An effective Description of the templates...

Download this resume template

When applying for a customer service role, it’s important to show the recruiter that you have the required skills and knowledge for the job. You should highlight work experience that is relevant for the role, like in the given resume, which includes three instances of past work experience in a customer service capacity. It’s okay if you don’t have over 8 years of experience in customer service -- you can also highlight your experience in your skills and in your education section.

Tips on why this template works

   strong action verbs and tangible results in customer support.

The first bullet of each section has a strong action verb accompanied by a measurable outcome, i.e. “exceeded sales target by 18%”, “achieved a 100% customer approval”, and “greeted 100+ daily guests”. These bullets clearly communicate that the applicant is not only well-versed in customer service, but that they can deliver results that are beneficial to the company. You should include as many numerical examples like these as you can, since hiring managers often skim resumes for such measures of proof.

   Education and skills related to customer support fields

Customer service representatives must have high EQ, be excellent at communication, and have superb problem solving skills. They must be carefully attuned to the needs of a potential customer, or even an unsatisfied one. Try to list out all the qualities you can think of that a good customer service representative would have and highlight them in your resume. For example, this applicant highlights a very important skill -- communication -- showing that they received an M.S. in Communications and a Minor in Public Speaking. They also highlight their skill in Customer Satisfaction. What other customer service skills can you see that they highlight?

Resume Example Customer Service Manager

When applying for a customer service manager role, keep in mind what differentiates a manager from a representative. A customer service manager must not only be adept at prioritizing customer satisfaction and needs, but also at strategizing and implementing operational improvements to ensure a smooth and painless customer journey. They should be confident in leadership roles and understand how to manage and motivate a team of customer service representatives. This resume highlights the applicant’s experience in exactly those areas.

   Leadership-oriented work experience, essential for customer service managers

Customer service managers aren’t simply managing customers -- they’re also managing a team of representatives and ensuring that they function like a well-oiled machine. If you’re applying for a customer service manager level role, it’s important to call attention to your capacity for leading such a team. This applicant does so in the bullet points of their work experience and also includes quantifiable metrics, noting that they enhanced team performance and increased team efficacy rate by 15%, with higher job satisfaction reported amongst staff.

   Detailed bullet points with measurable results, using metrics core to customer support

When applying to a senior level role such as this one, you should make sure to convey the impact of your contributions in your work experience. This applicant has numeric metrics in practically every line of their work experience, with detailed descriptions of their role and responsibilities in organizing, enhancing, or facilitating customer satisfaction (e.g. providing 7 innovative ideas, 3 of which are implemented and successful; organized meetings...with a 95% success rate on new client projects)

Resume Example Customer Service Supervisor

A customer service supervisor plays a key role in the smooth and successful execution of customer service operations. Typically, a customer service supervisor is one level lower than a customer service manager, and with experience may eventually be promoted to that role. Thus, this job often includes some budding responsibilities that you might expect from a manager, including recruiting, training, and general involvement in the ongoing development of the customer service team.

   Includes management skills, core to customer support teams

Because a customer service supervisor involves a sizable amount of management and supervisory responsibilities, you should call out experiences you’ve had in the workplace where you have utilized such skills. Try to think of times in the past where you’ve demonstrated admirable leadership qualities, whether it’s coaching staff, ensuring employee satisfaction, or juggling multiple stakeholders in tricky situations. In this resume, the applicant highlights that they “coached, motivated and counselled staff of 30+ employees”.

   Promotions and awards demonstrate past success and track record

A great way to stand out from the crowd is to highlight your unique accomplishments and achievements. Perhaps you’ve been promoted ahead of the typical cycle at a role, or you’ve been recognized by your superiors for your superb work ethic and dedication. Any sort of award or outstanding advancement through an organization, even in non-customer service capacities, can communicate to the hiring manager that you’re a fantastic employee. In this template, the applicant notes such promotions and awards (e.g. Awarded ‘Employee of the Year’ consecutively for 2 years; Promoted after 8 months...ahead of schedule by 16 months).

Resume Example Entry Level Customer Service Representative

If you’re still taking classes as a student, or even if you just graduated, the recruiting world can be an intimidating place -- especially if you don’t have much work experience. Don’t worry! You can use this template to show recruiters that you have relevant experience in internships or clubs, and that you’re fully capable and skilled for the role.

   Put your education at the top for entry-level roles

You may notice that this resume template is quite different from the other templates in organization, with the education section found at the top. This is intentional, and quite common in many successful entry-level resumes. Since most students don’t have a wealth of experiences in the workplace, recruiters will look at your education section to understand your interests and your experience. Make sure to include your GPA and any honors you may have, along with relevant coursework that may be applicable to the role. You can also include any relevant certifications to show that you are someone who takes initiative to learn.

   Relevant experience, skills, and projects highlighting transferrable customer support skills

Even though it’s okay to not have experience in customer satisfaction specifically, it’s important to include as many areas where you have engaged in similar capacities. Create detailed bullet points of any internships you might have had, and include responsibilities and achievements that are directly applicable to a customer service role. You can do the same with your experiences in volunteering or with university projects. For example, this applicant calls out that they did an analysis to “understand customer sentiment and purchasing trends”.

Resume Example Director of Customer Service

The Director of Customer Service is a highly ranked position in the customer service team, and commands a large scope of responsibility for the organization’s implementation of customer service initiatives and execution of strategic imperatives. Accordingly, this position requires excellent business judgment, fantastic management skills, and strong decision-making abilities. It is essential to showcase evidence that you have such expertise by including detailed descriptions of your experience in customer service related positions, as well as evidence of your technical skills, specifically those needed to facilitate operational management.

   Strong work experience section, with evidence of management-level customer support experience

A detailed history of work experience in customer service is one of the most important parts of your resume when applying for a Director level role. Notice that the applicant uses strong action verbs as well as quantitative accomplishments throughout the bullet points under each role. Recruiters must be able to quickly skim your resume and obtain a picture of someone who has the expertise required for providing the strategic direction and knowhow to deliver high quality customer service and execute on standard policies and procedures.

   Technical skills, to help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems

As a Director of Customer Service, simply including your experience in working with customers might not showcase the necessary skills you need to qualify for the job. That’s why it’s important to emphasize your technical abilities with specific platforms such as Zendesk / HelpScout or Salesforce, or even with customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This also helps you get past ATS, or resume screeners, which may auto-reject your resume if you don't have the right skills on your resume.

Resume Example Inside Sales Representative

The main role of an inside sales representative is to grow sales either remotely or within an office/business environment. They achieve this task by reaching out to clients over the phone or email. It doesn't just start and end with calling or emailing; they also need to have some skills in identifying their client's needs (not wants). And one productive way to determine their needs is by simply researching. Of course, there are other ways inside sales representatives can identify clients' needs. The most important thing is selling the product and achieving the sales target. Period! The sample resume below shows how an inside sales representative used various skills to sell products at different companies.

   State your achievements and the corresponding sales skillset

You should state how you reached a sales milestone, surpassed a KPI, or recorded an achievement. It's important to show recruiters how that happened because it proves you know your onions. Besides, you're already way ahead of other inside sales representatives who do not do that.

   Itemize relevant previous sales roles, and work experiences

If you have worked in other places, you should let your potential employers know. You can insert this information towards the tail-end of your resume (like in this sample) by stating the relevant roles you occupied and company names.

What skills should you add to a Customer Service Representative resume?

The most common skills and keywords we found on Customer Service Representative resumes and job postings were Customer Service, Sales, Customer Experience, Microsoft Access, Recruiting, Sales Management, Human Resources (HR) and Customer Support. Skills like Back Office Operations, Social Media, Logistics Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and SAP Products also appeared on related job postings.

Target your Resume to a Job Description

While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume. It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters. Start targeting your resume

Most resumes get auto-rejected because of small, simple errors. These errors are easy to miss but can be costly in your job search. If you want to make sure your resume is error-free, upload it to Score My Resume for a free resume review. You'll get a score so you know where your resume stands, as well as actionable feedback to improve it. Get a free resume review

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10 Customer Service Skills You Need on Your Resume in 2024

Customers Interviewed by:

Although it can be challenging at times, being a customer service representative can also be an incredibly rewarding job.

After all, you have the opportunity to help people solve problems and improve their lives in some way.

Customer service is an important part of any business. In one survey , 61% of customers said they would switch to another brand after only one bad experience. This is why businesses are always looking for people with strong customer service skills. 

In this article, we’ll show you the top ten customer service skills employers are looking for. You’ll also learn how to highlight these skills on your resume and in an interview.

Table of Contents

What are the top 10 customer service skills to add to your resume, what are customer service skills, why are customer service skills important, the top 10 customer service skills, how to highlight customer service skills on a resume, how to highlight customer service skills in a job interview, how to develop customer service skills.

Here are the ten customer service skills you should consider adding to your resume to make you a more attractive job candidate:

• Communication
• Active listening
• Problem-solving
• Product knowledge
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Positive language

Hiring managers are always looking for these skills, so if have any of them, make sure to add them to your resume!

Customer service skills allow you to interact with customers in a friendly and helpful way.

Customer service goes beyond just call centers and telephone conversations. It’s a skill needed in many job roles that involve customer interactions. Cashier skills , for example, must include the ability to handle customer queries and transactions with courtesy. Similarly, barista skills need a focus on customer service to provide a pleasant cafe experience. Server skills also require excellent customer service to ensure diners are happy with their meal. Receptionist skills are incomplete without good customer service, as receptionists often provide the first impression of a business. Strong customer service is even a vital part of pharmacy technician skills , helping patients understand their prescriptions and treatments.

Customer service skills are divided into two categories: hard skills and soft skills . 

Hard skills relate to your ability to use customer service software and tools. They also refer to the knowledge you have about your company’s products and services. Soft skills relate to interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and empathy. 

To make sure you include both the hard and soft resume skills required the job, use a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . It uses AI technology to analyze your resume and give it a score.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that customer service skills can make or break a company. After all, if customers are not happy, they won’t come back. 

On the other hand, excellent customer service skills can help you build customer loyalty, satisfaction, and repeat business.

In fact, surveys show that 89% of customers say they are more likely to buy another product after a positive customer service experience. 

Customer service roles may vary depending on the industry. But there are certain skills that are universally valued by employers.

Here are the top 10 customer service skills that employers are looking for: 

1) Communication

Obviously, the ability to communicate with others is critical if you’re a customer service representative.

You need to be able to speak clearly and concisely, understand customer inquiries, and provide helpful responses. You also need to be able to effectively communicate with other members of your team to help resolve customer issues.

Communication skills are used in customer service in a number of ways, such as:

• Explaining product features and benefits to customers.
• Providing instructions on how to use a product or service.
• Answering customer inquiries.
• Resolving customer complaints.
• Upselling and cross-selling products and services.

2) Active Listening

Active listening goes beyond simply hearing the words someone is saying. It involves trying to understand the meaning and intent behind those words. 

Active listening allows you to be fully present with the customer and really listen to what they are saying. It shows that you value your customer and care about their experience.

Some specific examples of how active listening is used in a customer service setting include:

• Asking clarifying questions to ensure that you understand the customer’s request.
• Paraphrasing the customer’s issue back to them to confirm your understanding.
• Using nonverbal cues such as eye contact and body language to show that you are fully engaged in the conversation.

Empathy is the ability to share the feelings of another person and see things from their point of view. 

Using empathy when dealing with customers can create an emotional connection with them. This builds trust, which leads to repeat customers. In fact, 83% of customers say they won’t do business with brands they DON’T trust.

Some examples of how empathy is used by customer service reps include: 

• Showing genuine concern for the customer’s situation.
• Taking the time to really understand the customer’s needs.
• Offering help or advice when it is needed.

4) Patience

Patience is a virtue as well as a skill, and it’s one that is absolutely necessary for customer service success.

Yes, it can be difficult to remain patient when dealing with customers, especially if they are being rude or demanding. But it’s imperative that you remain respectful and professional at all times .

Some examples of how patience can be shown by workers who deal with customers include: 

• Not getting upset when customers are angry and rude. 
• Taking the time to answer customer questions thoroughly.
• Not rushing customers through their interactions.

5) Problem-Solving

Increasingly, employers are relying on customer service representatives to resolve most complaints themselves . It’s no longer the norm to pass these problems on to the manager. 

Problem-solving is about 1) identifying the exact nature of an issue and 2) resolving it in a timely and efficient manner. 

Examples of how problem-solving skills are used by customer service representatives include:

• Giving a customer a discount on their purchase. 
• Exchanging an item for a customer. 
• Refunding a customer’s money. 
• Fixing a broken product. 
• Resolving a dispute between two customers.

6) Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is about understanding the company’s products and services. This is important if you want the customer to trust you.

Product knowledge is gained through training provided by the company, self-study, or experience.

Examples of how product knowledge is used by workers who deal with customers include:

• Answering customer questions about product features and benefits.
• Recommending products to customers based on their needs.
• Helping customers troubleshoot problems with products.
• Providing product demonstrations to customers.

7) Time Management

Time management is the process of planning and organizing how to spend your time to achieve specific goals. Good time-management skills can help you keep track of multiple tasks, deadlines, and customer requests.

Examples of how time-management skills are used by workers who deal with customers include:

• Being punctual and starting work on time.
• Answering the phone within three rings.
• Being efficient in resolving issues.
• Working at a consistent pace.

8) Adaptability

In today’s fast-paced workplace, it’s important to be able to adapt to new situations and people quickly and easily.

This is especially important for customer service representatives, who often have to change their approach based on the customer’s needs or moods. This can be both challenging and exciting, as no two customers are alike .

Examples of how adaptability skills are used by customer service reps include:

• Taking the time to understand a customer’s needs and tailor their approach accordingly.
• Being able to switch between tasks or roles as needed.
• Being willing to change the way things are done in order to meet customer expectations.

9) Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to influence people. Although this skill seems better suited to sales jobs, it’s highly useful in customer service as well. 

When an angry customer calls with a complaint, you need to be able to diffuse the situation and persuade the customer to accept a resolution that is beneficial to the company.

Examples of how persuasion skills are used by workers who deal with customers include:

• Attempting to upsell a customer by showing them additional products or services that they may be interested in.
• Giving a discount to customers who are willing to purchase a larger quantity of items.
• Persuading a customer to buy a more expensive item by explaining its features and benefits.

10) Positive Language

Positive language is a way of communicating that focuses on the good , instead of the negative . 

For example, instead of telling customers “That product is not in stock and won’t be available for another two weeks,” you could say, “That product is not in stock, but I can go ahead and pre-order it and you’ll have it in two weeks.”

When you use positive language, you send the message to the customer that you are open to communication and willing to work together. 

Examples of how positive language can be shown by workers who deal with customers include:

• Saying “Thank you for your patience” instead of “I’m sorry for your wait.”
• Saying “That’s a great question! I’ll find out for you” instead of “I don’t know.”  
• Saying “Certainly!” instead of “No problem.”

If you’re looking for a job in customer service, your resume should highlight your relevant skills and experience. 

Here are three ways to show that you’re the right candidate for the job: 

1) Be specific and provide measurable results

When describing your customer service experience on your resume, use numbers whenever possible. This demonstrates the specific, measurable results you achieved.

For example, instead of simply saying that you handled customer complaints, state how many complaints you handled on a daily or weekly basis. Then say what percentage of those complaints you were able to successfully resolve.

Here are some examples of being specific on your resume:

• Handled an average of 70 customer complaints per day with a 97% customer satisfaction rating. 
• Exceeded sales targets by 21% in 2022 by quickly assessing customer needs and providing them with detailed and accurate product information.
• Suggested a new way to persuade customers to remain with the company, resulting in 7% fewer cancellations.

2) Highlight any awards you’ve received

Customer service is a competitive field, so standing out from the crowd is important. 

Awards are a great way to separate yourself from the competition. They show potential employers that you have a proven track record of providing excellent customer service.

If you have won multiple awards, it’s best to create a separate section on your resume titled “Customer Service Awards.” Otherwise, just list your awards in your work experience section. 

When listing awards, be sure to include the name of the award, the date you received it and, if necessary, a brief description of what it was for. Here are some examples:

• Customer Service Representative of the Year, 2020. This award is given to one individual who demonstrated outstanding customer service representative skills.
• Employee of the Month, April 2021. 
• Customer Service Achievement Award, 2022. This award recognizes individuals or teams who have made a significant contribution to their organization’s customer service success.

3) Use keywords from the job description

Read through the job description and pick out words and phrases that are mentioned repeatedly. These are called keywords . Hiring managers are looking for these keywords. If they find them, they’ll keep reading. 

Keywords help you stand out in other ways. When you submit your resume, it usually goes into a computer database called an application tracking system, or ATS . 

Hiring managers then use the ATS to find suitable job candidates. They do this by typing certain keywords into the search bar (usually the same keywords found in the job description). If your resume contains those keywords, it will appear before the hiring manager.

In other words, try use the same language on your resume that is used in the job description.

Using a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner takes the guesswork out of this process. It will tell you the exact keywords to use for every job you apply to.

Congratulations! You’ve landed an interview. Now you need to talk about the customer service skills you listed on your resume. 

Here are six ways to discuss your customer service skills in a job interview:

1) Emphasize your people skills

Customer service is about interacting with people. So it’s important to show the interviewer that you have strong people skills .

For example, you might say something like, “I had a customer who was very unhappy with the product and difficult to deal with. I listened very carefully to their concerns and found a solution that satisfied them.” 

Another example would be if you can effectively communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures. This shows that you are able to adapt your communication style to meet the needs of others.

Whatever the example, be ready to talk about it in detail .

2) Show that you’re willing to go the extra mile

Another way to highlight your customer service skills in a job interview is to talk about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer. 

This could be something as simple as going out of your way to help them find the right product or troubleshooting an issue they were having. 

Whatever the scenario, be sure to emphasize how your actions made the customer’s experience better. 

3) Show that you can stay calm under pressure

Customer service can be challenging, so employers want to know that you can remain calm and collected even when things get tough. 

Share a story about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or situation, and explain how you handled it.

4) Show that you’re a problem solver

Employers want customer service representatives who can quickly and efficiently solve problems, preferably on their own. 

In your job interview, try to give an example of a time when you were able to resolve a tricky issue for a customer without asking for help. 

First explain what steps you took to solve the problem, then discuss the positive results of your efforts. 

5) Explain how you earned any customer service awards or promotions

If you received a customer service award, be sure to mention this in your job interview. And don’t forget to explain what you did to deserve praise. If you received a promotion because of your customer service skills, even better! Highlight those promotions on your resume to really stand out.

For example, if you received an award because you increased customer satisfaction scores by 20%, then mention that accomplishment. 

This will give the interviewer a clearer picture of what you are capable of, and how you can help the company.

6) Discuss any training you received to develop customer service skills

If you’ve received any kind of customer service training or certificates , you should mention it in a job interview.

First, emphasize how the training helped you develop strong customer service skills. Then show how you used those skills in your previous work experience. Finally, highlight any specific customer service techniques that you learned during your training. Explain how you would use those techniques in the role you are interviewing for. 

For example, maybe you received training on how to actively listen to customers, or how to use positive language. Discuss how those specific skills made you a better customer service representative.

Like any kind of skill set, customer service skills are developed through practice, practice, practice. 

Here are the four things you can do to grow your customer service skills:

1) Always be polite and friendly

This may seem obvious, but your attitude will set the tone for your interactions with customers. 

If you’re rude or impatient, the customer is likely to respond in kind. However, if you’re calm and professional, they’ll be more likely to follow your lead.

2) Try to see things from the customer’s perspective

The customer is contacting you because they’re experiencing a problem, so it’s important to empathize with their situation. 

Really try to put yourself in their shoes and understand how they’re feeling. This will help you respond in a way that meets their needs.

3) Stay calm under pressure

Customer service can be challenging. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude even when things get tough. 

If you can stay calm and collected, you’ll be better able to handle difficult situations.

4) Follow up with the customer after the interaction is over

This shows that you care about their experience. A simple phone call or email can make all the difference in creating a lasting impression.

Customer service skills are important because they allow you to understand and meet the needs of your customers. Additionally, good customer service skills can help you resolve customer complaints quickly and effectively. This can improve customer satisfaction levels.

First, always be polite and professional. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to always treat your customers with respect. Second, go the extra mile. Try to do more than what is expected or required. This could mean going above and beyond to solve a problem or taking the time to follow up after an interaction. Third, keep your cool. No matter how challenging the situation, remain calm and collected. This will help you diffuse any tense situations and demonstrate to the customer that you’re in control. Fourth, be a good listener. Really listen to what the customer is saying and try to understand their needs.

Customer service is the process of providing assistance and support to customers or clients, either by telephone, in person, or online. Excellent customer service often results in repeat business and can help to build brand loyalty.

The ability to communicate effectively is perhaps the most important skill required for customer service. You must be able to listen to customers, understand their needs, and then provide them with the information or assistance they require. You must also be able to clearly explain procedures, policies, or product features in a way that is easy for the customer to understand.

Some of the skills that make you an excellent customer service representative are: • The ability to actively listen to customers and understand their needs. • The ability to provide clear and concise information. • The ability to remain calm and professional under pressure. • The ability to build rapport with customers. To fully optimize your resume and get more job interviews, use a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . It uses AI technology to anal

Related articles…

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Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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17 Key Customer Service Skills [List & Resume Examples]

Poor customer service is hard to forget. One mistake and you are out. Businesses understand it better than ever. As a result, skilled customer service representatives are in high demand.

It is clear that you can’t have happy customers without offering amazing support. Period.

But which customer service skills translate into great customer service experiences? Is good service more than solving a customer’s issue?

In this article:

• Customer service hard skills and soft skills
• What personality traits make a good customer support rep
• How to improve customer service skills
• How to list your service skills on a resume

If you want to learn more about delivering excellent customer service, you can also read:

• Do You Know What Customer Service Means at All?
• What is Customer Retention? 8 Best Strategies [+Apps]
• 7 Ways to Deliver Excellent Customer Service [Examples & Tips]
• Customer Success Essentials [Metrics, Stories, & More]
• Customer Support vs. Service [Definition + Software]

What are the best customer service skills and traits?

Here is our list of good customer service soft skills, hard skills, and personality traits.

Soft skills for customer service:

• Emotional intelligence
• Body language
• Clear communication
• Active listening
• Conflict resolution
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Time management

Hard skills for customer service:

• Foreign language fluency
• Technical knowledge
• Typing speed
• Knowledge of CRM software
• Microsoft Office/Google Docs Editors
• Live chat, chatbots, and email software

Personality traits for customer service representatives:

• Determination
• Responsibility

Learn how to improve customer service and recreate in-store experiences

Let’s discuss each of these customer service core competencies in detail.

If you need general training, you may also be interested in joining a training program for agents. Here are some of our recommended courses and useful exercises: 19 Best Customer Service Training Programs & Activities

1. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize and manage emotions. This refers both to your own emotions as well as those of your customers.

High levels of emotional intelligence and empathy are critical for dealing with customers. It has become one of the main criteria for employee development. People with high emotional intelligence outperform employees with high IQ but low EQ .

Many modern organizations use EQ assessments on a regular basis. It is one of the essential customer service skills.

There is a very strong correlation between your emotional intelligence and your results as a support agent. On average, high-performing customer service representatives get better scores on emotional intelligence tests. A report by TalentSmart demonstrates that they score 17% higher than engineering and 3% higher than sales departments.

Empathy is the most important component of EQ for customer service jobs. A good agent should be able to see every problem through the customer’s eyes. Here are some useful resources that will help you develop and improve EQ—especially empathy:

• 13 Best Emotional Intelligence Activities & Exercises
• Useful Phrases That Convey Empathy to Customers

2. Positive body language

The role of body language in retail customer service is invaluable. However, it is difficult to put it into an easily definable framework. Some say that 90% of communication is body language. Others argue that 55% is nonverbal, 38% is the tone of voice, and the remaining 7% are words and their meaning as such.

It is difficult to measure the exact impact of your posture or voice. But controlling your body language is a necessary skill for a customer service agent. Unless you are using live chat or other text-based types of customer service , obviously.

Proper posture might be instinctive for you already. But the ability to communicate through body language is also something you can learn. Make sure to:

• Maintain eye contact with a customer (but do not stare at them)
• Smile and nod to acknowledge customers and what they say
• Try to use a calm, low-pitch voice that is not too dynamic
• Observe the behavior of your customers to read what’s on their minds (e.g., if they are irritated or in a hurry)

If you want to learn more about conveying the right message through your body language or read your customers’ body language like a book, check out:

• How to Read Your Customer: The Body Language of Yes and No
• 6 Tips for Increasing Customer Satisfaction Through Positive Body Language

3. Clear communication

Have you ever tried to make a written transcript of your conversation? Sometimes we may think we are communicating in a clear and effective manner. But in fact, most of our everyday conversations with friends are very chaotic and choppy. Chatting with someone is very different from explaining a complex technical issue.

Cohesive communication is one of the most important items on our customer service skills list. Fortunately, you can communicate with your customers very effectively using fine-tuned canned responses . Today, there is no need to come up with original answers to every question from scratch and write new messages. You can achieve clear communication by crafting and perfecting your regular set of canned replies.

Obviously, troubleshooting unusual issues will still require your full attention. You can always reach a good communication level with customers if you follow a process. For example, you should break down your instructions into several steps. Ask for feedback after each step and rephrase the instructions that were misunderstood. This way you can clear up any issue.

Here are two interesting pieces on improving your communication skills for customer service:

• 15 Tips for Better Customer Service Communication
• 7 Rules for Effective Customer Service Communication

4. Active listening

Active listening is a technique that uses paraphrasing and reading non-verbal conversation cues. It gives you more insights about customers and allows you to follow their train of thought. Active listening is equally essential when interacting through office phone systems or live chat tools, as you have to comprehend customers’ needs and concerns quickly and accurately. By asking follow-up questions you ensure that you are on the same side.

Our recent customer experience survey shows that businesses are very bad at listening to customers . Only 17% of customers believe that online businesses listen to them. It is a little bit surprising since the problem is easy to address. You can instantly improve the quality of customer experience by using proven formulas.

Some of the most powerful phrases that you can ask to steer customer service conversations in the right direction are:

• Could you tell me a little bit more?
• It sounds like you are experiencing [X], am I correct?
• I’m sorry you have to go through that
• It would make me angry too
• Let’s make sure that I’ve got everything right

By using active listening skills you show a customer that you understand them. It allows you to make an instant connection. Active listening helps to convey that their problems are your problems too and you feel responsible for finding a solution.

Further readings to improve your customer service active listening skills:

• How to Listen to Customers Effectively
• 20 Best Practices For Live Chat Etiquette

5. Conflict resolution

In customer service, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques are used every day. To deliver good customer service , an agent should be a good negotiator and know how to calm down a raging bull.

Being able to deal with customer complaints and angry customers can be hard at first. But you can learn some useful statements and tricks to turn those situations around:

• Stay calm and don’t argue, even if you are right
• Withhold your judgment and keep your opinions to yourself
• Use empathy, apologize to your customers, and show that you understand how they feel
• Offer a solution and describe the end result
• Provide different alternatives and empower the customer to make the ultimate decision
• Shift the focus of the conversation on achieving the outcomes described before
• Make sure that the problem has been solved
• Thank your customer for providing feedback and bringing the problem to your attention

If you want to find out more about resolving difficult situations with unhappy clients, read:

• How to Handle Customer Complaints [10+ Response Examples]
• How to Deal With Angry Customers in 5 Easy Steps [Tips & Examples]

6. Decision making

Working as a customer support agent requires thinking on your feet. You don’t have to always make the best decision. But you need to be decisive and display confidence. Customers want to be taken care of—and they won’t trust you if you don’t know what you are doing. You should, at the very least, try to make a good impression.

If you want to make a good impression and make the best decisions, keep the following things in mind:

• Focus on your goal . Think what is the ultimate reason why customers reach out to you.
• Make decisions fast . Try to develop a habit of making decisions quickly. Even if something goes wrong, it will be a valuable lesson for the future.
• When in doubt, dig deeper . If you can’t decide on the right solution, it may mean that you don’t have enough information. It’s a good idea to ask the customer for details.
• Ask for help if you need it . Consult with someone who knows more about the topic if you still can’t decide on your best option.

Be careful! Being decisive does not mean that you can make arbitrary judgments. You should make sure what kind of decisions you are allowed to make and which ones are beyond your competencies. Your future customer success manager should prepare a well-defined policy. Situations such as giving discounts or accepting returns should be spelled out. Just stick to the rules.

7. Problem solving

The primary job of a customer support agent is to solve the problems of customers. And you can’t really do that if you are not willing to experiment, analyze, and try out different approaches. Sometimes you’ll have to be very creative and think outside the box.

You can solve anything if you break down the process into smaller steps. Follow this pattern to deal with any challenge thrown your way:

• Describe the problem in your own words and make sure that you understand it
• Check if someone solved a similar problem already (and how they did it)
• Prepare a list of possible solutions and analyze their pros and cons.
• Eliminate the most difficult, expensive, or otherwise impossible and prohibitive ideas
• Determine your main course of action and a backup plan
• Put the plan into action and see if it works. Try to draw additional conclusions and go back to step 1 if it doesn’t.

The most important part of problem-solving is identifying what the problem actually is. You should always try to dig deeper and understand why a customer wants to achieve something.

For example, people keep asking how to trigger automatic messages with Tidio’s JavaScript API . But when our agents ask some follow-up questions it turns out that those users don’t need the API. They can create chatbots to reach their goals instead.

8. Time management

Multitasking is a myth. People can’t really handle many processes simultaneously. But what they can do is divide their time into smaller chunks and use it more effectively . It is another important customer service skill.

There is a very simple way to help your customers around the clock. Many businesses improve customer experience with AI chatbots. In some situations, you don’t need a customer support team at all. One bot can do the job. Find out  how to start with Tidio chatbots here .

But customer service is usually very hectic in itself, right? Do we need to organize our time and work at all? Isn’t it just about dealing with incoming calls as they pile up?

Well, things get complicated if you handle one “important” case for three hours and try to catch up by speeding up during the rest of the day.

It may be a good idea to start using time and task management techniques. For example, the Eisenhower Matrix can help you decide which tasks to prioritize.

Try to measure how long it takes to provide assistance to an average customer. Then you can determine which cases take more effort and require more time. Once you start measuring it, you can discover many patterns and insights. You’ll learn that:

• You can delegate some cases to other agents
• It’s better to take regular breaks than to do customer service marathons
• Setting benchmarks and allocating time slots improves your efficiency
• It is perfectly fine to be assertive and provide customers with resources instead of direct supervision

Time is a critical factor in customer service. You should know when to devote it to providing help and when it’s better to focus on other tasks.

Read more about time management as a tool in your customer service skillset:

• 6 Time Management Tips for Call Center Agents

9. Foreign language fluency

Customer service outsourcing is extremely popular. There are high chances that you are not a native speaker of the language that you’ll use to chat with customers. Working on your spoken language fluency is the single most important hard skill for customer service.

Interestingly, you don’t need to worry if you have a slight accent. Being able to communicate effectively is more important than perfect pronunciation. Using the right intonation and stressing critical words is something you should really pay attention to.

You shouldn’t obsess about using advanced vocabulary. Instead, try to make your language sound more natural by:

• Using filler words such as well/um/right/let’s see to make your sentences less choppy (just don’t overdo it)
• Speak out loud as you practice and record it on your mobile—listen to the recording to catch your mistakes
• Use a chatbot like Chirpy Cardinal to practice “neverending” conversations online in real-time

If you want to brush up on your English speaking skills, check out this document provided by Maryland Department of Labor:

• English for Speakers of Other Languages: Customer Service Curriculum

10. Technical knowledge

People don’t call customer service for fun. They usually need technical support. This means that you must understand the ins and outs of your product. And—let’s face it—they are more likely to need help with their malfunctioning smartphone than a non-electrical device.

Good customer service agents need to be tech-savvy. There is no way around it, especially if you want to work in a corporate environment. The majority of customer service agents have to look things up on their computers and solve technical problems.

Being able to use a computer doesn’t count as a technical skill. You shouldn’t list it on your resume because it is obvious that you should be able to use it. Focus on enumerating specific software tools and technologies instead.

Understanding how products work is an essential customer service skill for SaaS companies. For example, our customer service representatives need to have extensive knowledge on:

• Ecommerce platforms and technologies
• Chatbots and conversational interfaces
• Marketing automation and email marketing
• Integrating live chat widgets on websites

If you are looking for a customer service job, it may be a good idea to show that you are familiar with the products that the company offers. It shows that you are curious and that learning new things doesn’t scare you. Doing it before your actual product knowledge training sends a good signal.

11. Typing speed

This customer service skill is pretty straightforward. The faster you type, the faster your response time . It has a direct impact on your performance as an agent and makes your life a lot easier. This skill is also quite easy to learn and measure.

Typing speed is usually measured by multiplying your accuracy and the number of words typed per minute. For example, if my typing speed is 70 words per minute but my accuracy is 92% (words without a typo), my adjusted typing speed is 64 WPM (70 WMP x 92%).

Typing speed benchmarks:

• Slow: below 20 WPM
• Average: 20-40 WPM
• Fast: 40-60 WPM
• Professional typist: 60-90 WPM

Some companies make it a formal requirement and may assess your typing speed during an interview. For example, to work at Concentrix your typing speed should be at least 35 words per minute.

Go to this website to check your typing speed:

• Online Typing Speed Test

12. Knowledge of CRM software

Customer service representatives usually use CRM software solutions such as Zendesk or Zoho. The tools are quite similar and getting used to them is only a matter of time. Still, if you have experience with a dedicated customer service app, your chances are brighter.

Some of the best apps that companies use include:

To find out more, check out our ranking of the best customer database software .

Make sure you are not confusing CRM software with project management and team collaboration apps such as Jira, Asana, Trello, or Slack.

13. Microsoft Office/Google Docs Editors

Talking to customers makes up the majority of your work as a customer service rep. But what about the rest? Well, dealing with documents, reports, and presentations is a pretty safe bet. 

Sooner or later, you’ll be asked to prepare some kind of a spreadsheet or a dashboard with your results. Or write a detailed onboarding plan for new junior employees. Or help with presenting your company’s quarterly customer service KPIs .

The majority of businesses collect customer feedback by copy/pasting it into an Excel or Google Sheets file. Organizations tend to prefer Google Docs Editors because they make sharing documents easier.

Make sure to know how to create basic documents in:

• Google Docs (Word alternative)
• Google Sheets (Excel alternative)
• Google Slides (PowerPoint alternative)

14. Live chat, chatbots, and email software

The customer service landscape has changed drastically over the last several years. Today, a live chat customer service agent equipped with quick replies and AI chatbot assistants can do the work of 10 call center agents.

Why is live chat so effective? Think of using a sort of autopilot—controlling and adjusting the exchange of messages rather than writing them from scratch. An agent is supervising the customer service flow and intervenes only if they have to.

It is also the favorite communication channel of about 46% of customers. Tools like Tidio allow you to switch between channels and provide omnichannel service. You can start a conversation through a live chat widget, continue it by exchanging emails, and finish on Facebook messenger. And you can manage everything in one dashboard. Firing up chatbots or canned messages is a matter of two clicks.

15. Determination

Determination is the ultimate personality trait for a customer service agent. You must be able to persevere and get to the bottom of a problem even when customers call you names. And you must constantly work on your customer service skills to increase customer satisfaction levels.

You need empathy to understand customers, but it can also take its toll on your mental balance. At first, the amount of work and stress can be overwhelming.

If you are determined to go the extra mile and deliver amazing experiences to customers, it will give you more motivation. After some practice, you’ll learn to get everything under control.

You can measure if you are a determined person by taking a test designed by Angela Ducksworth. Your Grit Score will help you understand if you need to work on the strength of your character and perseverance. For example, West Point cadets usually score higher than Ivy League undergraduates.

16. Responsibility

This one may sound like a cliche. Responsibility is something that the majority of job applicants declare as their strong side. For pretty much every position imaginable.

But, in customer service, it is really crucial that you handle every case from start to finish and never leave your clients in the dark.

The common tasks and customer service requirements include:

• Managing a high volume of incoming messages (or calls)
• Building relationships with customer
• Providing accurate information and answering customer questions
• Meeting customer problem resolution quotas
• Documenting customer interactions
• Managing customer accounts
• Increasing customer retention

You wouldn’t want an irresponsible person to take care of them all, would you?

17. Patience

Customer service professionals should be patient. They must be able to use positive language even if they are dealing with a frustrated customer.

Or if they are exchanging messages with people who take their time to type their messages in.

Incidentally, you can take a peek at customers’ messages even before they send them!

You can find more about premium features offered by one of the top customer service platforms here.

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 yourself—which skills should I put on my resume for customer service? Surely I can’t put “nice moves and good body language” right next to my Microsoft Excel proficiency!

Skills for customer service resume:

• Active listening skills
• Adaptability
• Attentiveness
• Customer orientation
• Cross-selling and up-selling techniques
• Familiarity with de-escalation strategies
• Great command of the language
• Good communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Positive attitude
• Proactive approach
• Problem-solving skills
• Self-control
• High sense of responsibility
• Team player

Here is an example of a resume that highlights customer service skills and qualifications:

Customer service skills resume

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:

• What Skills to Put on a Resume  

Building a customer support team is extremely difficult. If you meet several of the requirements mentioned in this article, you are already among the top. And you can improve the remaining customer service skills through practice.

Customer service representative skills that you should focus on:

• Voice tone/cohesive writing

If you are looking for a job in customer service, make sure to mention at least some of them on your resume.

Still, you can always enhance the effectiveness of your customer service efforts by using the right tools. Want to try an app that turns mediocre customer service skills into great customer experiences? See what happens if you have great customer service skills already.

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Kazimierz was one of the original authors of Tidio Blog. His primary objective was to deliver high-quality content that was actionable and fun to read. His interests revolved around AI technology and chatbot development.

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