Customer Service Résumé Reminders

If you are looking to step into new territory by entering the customer service community, there are many key issues you need to be aware of in order to be a better candidate. With the increase in unemployment, there is more competition for positions of any kind. Becoming a CSR is seen by some as a quick-and-easy position with a less-strict skill set to meet, but it is not for everyone. You should only consider a move into this field “if you enjoy working with people, are a great problem-solver, and have the ability to diffuse seemingly unpleasant situations,” states Anita Clew on her blog posting on CSR tips.

Companies have more and more applications coming in these days, and though some companies still may hire the first warm body to walk through the door for a CSR position, they usually can (and should) afford to be a bit more selective as to the type of person they fill the slot with. Chicago Tribune writer Matt Ferguson recently stated that when it comes to the job forecast for 2013, “the U.S. will focus hiring on sales, information technology and customer service positions.” So the CSR field is projected to continue growth this year, but it is still important that you put in a little additional effort when seeking that desired position.

One key thing to do is to customize your résumé for the position. The days of photo-copying a stack of generic, carbon-copy résumés is long gone. To stand out in today’s market you must customize your résumé/application in such a way that it will be eye catching and seek to use the specific keywords that are directly related to the specific position desired. Know the company, know the needs, know the language they speak and want to hear, and use it to draw attention to your skills.

Make sure your experience points match their needs. Focus and highlight your experiences with their top needs, and the rest can be organized following those points. Of course, having the people skills and being able to show it in your demeanor is a key factor for any direct customer-related position. For those positions that do not require face-to-face customer relations, additional skills and training will probably be required.

Clean up your social networks too, they are becoming more important in today’s job market. In a recent USA Today article, Bruce Horovitz reveals a startling game-changer quote from one company. Vala Afshar, the chief marketing officer at the tenth firm Enterasys Networks states, “The paper résumé is dead. The Web is your résumé. Social networks are your mass references." Now, do not start trashing your paper résumés yet, but do take that as a wakeup call to the changing of the times that may be on the horizon, and begin preparing for them now.

When you are doing a job search, pay close attention to the desired skills from a variety of different positions, and when speaking to hiring representatives, ask what types of skills they consider necessary for advancement at their company. This information can help you begin working towards acquiring new skills even while still job hunting. Obtaining additional and more current training is an obvious solution to making yourself more hirable and assist in finding a better position.

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