Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives perform a wide variety of tasks such as taking telephone calls, fulfilling customer orders, handling daily business transactions, answering questions via fax, phone, or email, and following up with customer communications. He or she may be in charge of dealing with customer complaints, taking care of order or product problems, basic clerical work, and working with other customer service staff. Customer service representatives may also be responsible for basic administrative duties such as filing, taking and updating customer information, data entry, billing, and payments.
Other typical duties include: following up with customer complaints, issuing customer refunds, collecting past due payments, forwarding customer issues to upper management, and reconciling data.
No specific education is required to become a customer service representative. A high school diploma is preferred as is previous work related experience. Some employers may require representatives to hold a two-year post secondary degree or a Bachelor’s degree. Other necessary skills include: computer skills, typing skills, professional phone etiquette, scheduling skills, multi-tasking ability, time management skills, and communication skills.
Some individuals may choose to specialize in a particular area such as medical customer service, financial customer service, or technology. These areas may require more specific training. This field is currently expanding with a projected growth rate of approximately twenty-five percent.
Customer service representatives are typically paid by the hour and earn an average of about $13.50 per hour.
