Customer Service Associate
Customer service associates directly interact with customers to provide information on products and/or services, resolve problems, and offer general assistance. Associates handle complaints, document incidents, and report requests for further assistance to superiors.
Other common duties include: following up with customers to ensure their issue has been sufficiently resolved, meeting with customers either in person or by telephone to provide further information about products or services if the matter has not been adequately resolved, taking orders, opening or closing accounts, and gathering all necessary information regarding complaints or matters that need further attention.
Customer service associates keep records of all customer interactions and all transactions that take place. These records provide detailed information regarding action taken, personal customer information, unresolved matters, and any applicable comments or notes. The associate also makes decisions as to the authenticity of complaints, the probability it can be resolved, and determines possible reasons behind each complaint.
Customer service associates require no specific education. On the job training, and previous work experience is preferred. General consulting skills are highly recommended. Data entry skills, conflict training, problem solving skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills are also recommended. This industry has a current growth rate of about 24.8%.
The typical average salary of an experienced customer service associate is about $38,000 per year. Starting salaries pay an average of about $26,680 per year.
