How to write a customer service resume
There are many different types of customer service job roles that will require a customer service resume. Before you start writing your professional resume, read the job description and see what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Then, think about your work experience and skills, and consider what information you want to include in the resume sections below.
Header and contact information
Your customer service resume begins with the header at the top of the page.
Include the following:
- Full name
Phone number
Email address
Social media profile links, such as LinkedIn
Key tip for customer service resume header and contact information
Confirm that your contact information is current so the hiring manager can easily contact you for a job interview if selected.
Resume summary or objective
The next section is your resume summary or resume objective. If you have ample customer service work experience, you will write a customer service resume summary; a two-to-three-sentence paragraph that provides a brief overview of your best skills and work history. In customer service, you would typically feature how you’ve performed your responsibilities, the number of customers you dealt with daily and your proven customer satisfaction in the industry.
Customer service resume summary example
Customer service professional with four years of experience combines energy and empathy with a solid history of achievement in retail. Areas of expertise include communication, problem-solving skills and reading physical and emotional cues.
If you have less work experience, are an entry-level job seeker or are changing careers, a resume objective is better suited for your resume. An objective is similar to a summary but also includes a statement on your career goals. In customer service, mention your most relevant skills used on a daily basis in handling customers (communication, empathy and dependability) and include future career goals, such as gaining a leadership position in managing customer issues quickly and patiently. For example:
Customer service resume objective example
Former retail manager with eight years of direct customer experience and technical expertise seeks opportunity to transfer well-developed communication skills to customer service position.
Resume summary example for customer service representatives resume:
Dependable customer service representative professional with five years of experience assisting customers with problem solving and issue resolution. Known as a high energy team player relied on for providing customer service to 16 clients hourly in a high volume work environment.
Resume summary example for a customer service staff resume:
Bilingual English/Spanish customer service staff professional with 10+ years of experience has a proven track record of 5-star customer experience rating. Friendly, patient and helpful team member willing to cross train to assist in all aspects of customer service from in-person communication, phones and text chat messaging.
Key tip for customer service resume summary or objective
Call out a critical skill or previous work achievement that will make you stand out from the competition and force the hiring manager to say, “Wow, this candidate is perfect for the job.”
Skills section
When hiring managers or recruiters look at your customer service resume, they’ll be looking for a few key resume skills that a customer service professional should have. Skills for customer service resume are made up of soft skills and hard skills.
Here are some top soft skills you may want to include:
Here are some hard skills and technical skills you may include:
- Product expertise
- Writing skills
- Familiarity with CRM systems
- Google Suite
- Microsoft Office/Excel
Customer Service resume skills examples for a customer service specialist resume:
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Strong organizational skills
- High energy, friendly
- Patient multitasker
- Good listener
Customer Service resume skills examples for a customer service manager resume.
- Supervising and coaching
- Expert product knowledge
- High level interpersonal skills
- Sales maximization
- Safety and compliance proficiency
Remember to include your most relevant skills that are directly tailored to the job you are applying for. The employer will be looking for the most qualified customer service job candidate so include the right skills on your resume.
Key tip for customer service resume skills section
Tailor your customer service resume skills for each job role that you’re applying for so that the skills you list will match both the employer’s job requirements (and thus match what the applicant tracking system (ATS) is looking for).
Work experience section
This resume section is where you can show off your customer service experience. Start with your most recent position and work backwards to previous jobs. Include your position title, dates of employment and a brief description of your job duties performed in that role. Whether you list experience as a customer service rep, customer service manager, customer service assistant or customer service specialist, use powerful action verbs, quantify your achievements and highlight your accomplishments rather than simply list daily job tasks. You want the employer to see that you can handle the specific responsibilities that match the new job that you are applying for.
Here are a few examples of work experience section bullet points to consider for your customer service resume:
- Managed 50+ incoming phone calls daily to meet calls handled quota.
- Evaluated the needs of 15 customers daily with “A” rating satisfaction scores.
- Answered questions to provide accurate information to customers.
- Directed customers/staff to locate wanted products.
- Handled escalated customer complaints and provided solutions.
- Generated 20 car sales leads weekly to the sales team.
Resume work experience example for a customer service associate resume:
- Greeted patients, answered telephones and guided clients to exam rooms.
- Scheduled and confirmed medical appointments.
- Explained fees, processed payments and answered questions regarding services.
Resume work experience example for a customer service agent resume:
- Greeted and assisted customers patiently in a prompt and courteous manner.
- Provided accurate customer service adhering to company guidelines and policies.
- Resolved customer concerns, issues and complaints to avoid escalation to management.
Key tip for customer service resume work experience section
Try to summarize the key accomplishments of your work experience with at least three bullet points per job (five bullet points at most).
Education section
Your education section on a customer service resume will depend on the level of the position that you are applying for. Entry level positions may not require a college degree. Customer service managers may require a bachelor degree in business administration, communications or another major. Either way, list your top academic achievement whether it is a college degree or high school diploma. Include the name of the school you attended, graduation year, academic honors, awards and licenses. Unless requested, don’t include your GPA.
Here is an example of a college graduate’s resume education section:
Rollins College
BBA – Bachelor of Business Administrations, May 2019
- Magna cum laude
- Dean’s list
- Marketing Student of the Year, May 2018
- 2nd place, Business Plan Contest, December 2019
Here is an example of a high school graduate’s resume education section:
Winter Park High School
High School Diploma, June 2019
- Honor roll
- Manager, Young Business Leaders Club
- Business Achievement Award presented at graduation, June 2019
Key tip for customer service resume education section
While most job applicants will have similar academic achievements, look to emphasize any honors, scholarships or other noteworthy academic accomplishments that demonstrate special qualities.
Additional sections
If you have additional accomplishments that will make your customer service resume more impressive, you can add additional resume sections. This may include volunteer activities, additional relevant training, awards or certifications. Include the organization name, location and time of involvement. The fact that you performed these extra efforts will show that you have many skills required in the customer service field, in addition to an exemplary work ethic.
If you can speak more than one language, that is usually important to list on a customer service resume. You can list your proficiency in a number of different ways. For example: “Fluent in English; Intermediate proficiency in Spanish.”
Here are some examples of volunteer activities, training certificates and awards:
Volunteer work
- Information Booth, St. Patrick’s Church Spring Fair, 2018 to present – 500+ attendees.
- Raffle ticket fundraising, Wilton Animal Shelter, August 2019 – Raised $750
- Orlando library, Children’s section, June 2019 – Shelf organization of 200+ books
- Online Customer Service Training Certificates
- LinkedIn: Build Your Skills In Customer Service, August 2019
- LinkedIn: Customer Service Foundations, September 2019
- Dale Carnegie: Attitudes for Service
Awards
- Orlando True Value Hardware, Employee of the Month
- Customer Satisfaction “A” rating, December 2021
- Volunteer of the Year, St. Killian’s Church, Farmingdale, NY, December 2018
- Grandville Community Service Award, Grandville, Ohio, June 2019
Make sure to keep your customer service resume sections concise and relevant to the job you are applying for. If you’re not sure where to start with formatting your resume, it’s helpful to look at customer service resume examples such as the samples on these page, or start with a resume template.
Key tip for customer service resume additional sections
Prospective employers and hiring managers appreciate job candidates who possess that little extra something to make them stand out. Volunteer work shows you’re motivated, a team player and willing to help in your community or for a good cause.
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