Find Trade Colleges

Study Area & Zipcode

Customer Service Representative

Find Schools Near

What Does it Take to Be a Customer Service Representative?

Example of Customer Service Representative Job Interact with customers to provide information in response to inquiries about products and services and to handle and resolve complaints.

List of Customer Service Representative Job Duties

  • Review claims adjustments with dealers, examining parts claimed to be defective, and approving or disapproving dealers’ claims.
  • Keep records of customer interactions or transactions, recording details of inquiries, complaints, or comments, as well as actions taken.
  • Refer unresolved customer grievances to designated departments for further investigation.
  • Resolve customers’ service or billing complaints by performing activities such as exchanging merchandise, refunding money, or adjusting bills.
  • Determine charges for services requested, collect deposits or payments, or arrange for billing.
  • Check to ensure that appropriate changes were made to resolve customers’ problems.

Customer Service Representative Needed Skills

When polled, Customer Service Representatives say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Types of Customer Service Representative Jobs

  • Claim Approver
  • Claim Processor
  • Customer Contact Specialist
  • Return Clerk
  • Account Representative

Job Outlook for Customer Service Representatives

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 2,784,500 jobs in the United States for Customer Service Representative. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 136,300 new jobs for Customer Service Representative by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 373,500 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Customer Service Representative are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Minnesota, or Massachusetts. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Customer Service Representative

Customer Service Representatives make between $22,140 and $55,310 a year.

undefined

Customer Service Representatives who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

How much do Customer Service Representatives make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $33,580
Alaska $39,300
Arizona $34,570
Arkansas $32,350
California $41,850
Colorado $37,390
Connecticut $41,160
Delaware $38,060
District of Columbia $46,880
Florida $33,730
Georgia $35,130
Hawaii $38,670
Idaho $32,390
Illinois $37,840
Indiana $36,200
Iowa $37,400
Kansas $35,330
Kentucky $32,230
Louisiana $32,440
Maine $34,950
Maryland $37,720
Massachusetts $43,620
Michigan $36,650
Minnesota $39,690
Mississippi $28,210
Missouri $35,020
Montana $34,910
Nebraska $35,730
Nevada $33,690
New Hampshire $38,930
New Jersey $40,330
New Mexico $31,380
New York $40,830
North Carolina $34,690
North Dakota $37,910
Ohio $35,980
Oklahoma $32,790
Oregon $37,570
Pennsylvania $37,000
Rhode Island $38,970
South Carolina $32,320
South Dakota $31,150
Tennessee $34,420
Texas $33,770
Utah $33,790
Vermont $37,760
Virginia $35,030
Washington $40,820
West Virginia $31,730
Wisconsin $37,850
Wyoming $36,400

What Tools do Customer Service Representatives Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Customer Service Representatives:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Facebook
  • IBM Notes
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Google Docs
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Intuit QuickBooks

How do I Become a Customer Service Representative?

What kind of Customer Service Representative requirements are there?

undefined

What work experience do I need to become a Customer Service Representative?

undefined

Where Customer Service Representatives Work

undefined

Customer Service Representatives work in the following industries:

undefined

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being a Customer Service Representative may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Customer Service Representative sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.