Customer Service Representative Job Description
Your complete customer service representative job overview
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Customer service representative job highlights
- On average, customer service representatives make around $14.50 per hour
- Job opportunities for customer service representatives are increasing
- Customer service representative positions are great entry-level jobs
What do customer service representatives do?
Good customer service is a rarity – putting up with angry customers is a tough job. You’ve got to be able to keep your cool when the heat is on, and that requires three P’s: patience, professionalism and positivity. If you think you possess those three things, then you can count on one more P: perfect, because that’s what you’ll be as a customer service representative.
Customer service representatives do a variety of tasks, depending upon company and position. You might be handling complaints, processing requests, entering orders and even some sales. Nearly all of these tasks require technology and computers, so knowing your way around a keyboard and having a high level of comfort with different types of technology will be a handy skill.
The great news is that almost every company that has ever existed uses some form of customer service to deal directly with customers, so the experience you acquire in this job will never go to waste.
How much do customer service representatives make?
The average hourly pay for all customer service representatives is about $14.50 per hour, but will vary by experience and location. Experienced customer service representatives who successfully sell high-priced products can expect to earn up to $23 per hour.
What are the education requirements to be a customer service representative?
Education requirements will vary based on the company and product being sold, but many require a minimum of a high school diploma. Some companies may require a bachelor’s degree and extensive training, while others may substitute relevant work experience for education.
Career paths for customer service representatives
Customer service jobs can lead to a variety of different careers. Two of the most popular career choices are product development, where you can use your first-hand customer service knowledge to create and improve products and services and managerial roles, where you oversee less tenured customer service associates.
The future of customer service representatives
The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) expects above average growth for customer service representative positions. Companies have been increasingly less likely to outsource customer service positions overseas over the last few years, which results in additional growth in the field domestically.