Interview with Customer Service Expert, Part II

By sarajean on 8/31/10 6:26pm
Add Comment

What advice would you give other people who wish to work in retail?

The number one rule to live by: Short term pain= long term gain. Most people are content to "skate by" doing the minimum to keep their paycheck. If you are motivated to excel, you are probably more motivated than most of your co-workers.

Be very careful in regards to what company you choose to work for. Many care for the work/life balance of their employees and follow labor laws (such as being able to clock out for lunch) and others do not have double coverage leaving you lucky to go to the bathroom.

Read more >

Interview with Customer Service Expert

By sarajean on 8/31/10 6:23pm
Add Comment

Cody is a friend of mine from high school. Kind, spunky, and spirited, she knows how to handle customers and coworkers, and is always willing to go above and beyond the basics. Here she gives a few tips on working with customers and the retail industry in general.

What led you to this job?

I saw a post on Monster.com.  I had been working at Radio Shack while going to college and the assistant manager position was about $4.50 an hour more than I was making then.

What are the hardest parts about working in retail?

The way the public often treats you. A good number of customers are ok, a few are great/fun to help, but when they are jerks THEY ARE JERKS! I think the whole "The customer is always right" has ruined the public! What do you enjoy most about working in retail?

Read more >

Interview with Customer Service Associate

By sarajean on 8/30/10 12:56am
Add Comment

Though I’ve worked in the fast food world as well as a small town convenience store, I’ve never handled customers in a department store or other retail setting. What is it like in this type of job? Maria*, a Customer Service Associate for a large nationwide store, shares some insights.

How long have you worked at your store?

Since high school, so about six years.

That’s a long time—did you plan to stay at this job?

No, it’s actually my first job. I went to college while I worked, but nothing really ever opened up in my area. As I worked, I just kept moving up, so it made sense to stay here, at least for now.

Do you enjoy working here?

Read more >

How to Make it in Customer Service

By colormejosh on 8/13/10 7:41pm
1 Comment

Some people are just really likeable. They have wonderful personalities and genuinely enjoy the company of people - and helping them. These are the people that are the most successful in customer service. That is not to say that these are not skills that can be obtained through training, as they definitely can be, but if you love people then customer service is where you should be!

A lot of customer service jobs are becoming more about dealing with people over the phone or through email. In these positions you have to figure out ways to engage the customer and personalize the experience for them when you are nothing but a computer screen or a voice. This can be a great challenge for some people who love being in service but do not know the best way to approach customers in this manner. It's hard to be charming in an email without coming off as cheesy.

Read more >

10 Benefits of Working in Customer Service

By sarajean on 6/15/10 10:49am
Add Comment

I’m one of those people who hates to work with the public. Give me my solitude and I am quite happy; make me deal with people and I turn into a monster. I should say that I turn into an inner monster with an outward, plastered-on stupid grin and glazed expression, that is; I’m much to shy to really tell people off. But put me in a customer service job and I am not a happy camper.

That said, I’ve always said that everyone should have to work in customer service for at least three months, for the following reasons…

10. Skills

Working in customer service helps you develop all kinds of skills—from patience to multitasking, cooking to cleaning, math to diplomacy… Actually, it’s like an education, isn’t it?

9. Empathy

Read more >

Retail and Service Jobs Hit Hard by Recession

By dubayns on 10/15/09 11:55pm
Add Comment

Excellent Customer ServiceExcellent Customer Service

If you’ve even worked retail you know that salespeople can go a long way in influencing a purchase or even in helping customers decide how much money to spend on a product or service.  Since the beginning of the recession, people have been more and more reluctant to spend their money on products and services that are not completely necessary.  This behavior is natural, and to be expected of a population that has been flung head first into the largest economic hiccup since the Great Depression.  There is little wonder why economic microcosms like Las Vegas have seen some of the highest unemployment levels ever.  Nevada’s unemployment rate ranks second in the nation, at over 13%.  Both Reno and Las Vegas have been hit hard by these tough times.

Read more >