Knowing which jobs and professional possibilities will lead you to your end goal might be challenging when mapping out a career path. It can be challenging to choose what direction you should take when you’re just starting out, but the knowledge and experience you get from employment early in your career can help set you on that path.
Roles in client and customer service can be excellent places to start. Almost every company and industry has customer service positions, and the abilities you develop in these positions will serve you well throughout your career. The duties of the post, however, might vary greatly from firm to company.
Nearly 3 million individuals worked in customer service positions in 2020, dealing with clients to resolve issues, complete orders, and respond to inquiries.
Strong listening, communication, and phone skills, as well as prowess in problem-solving, information documentation, dispute resolution, information analysis, relationship building, and multitasking, are required of a candidate for a job in customer service.
The majority of customer service jobs demand a high school diploma and computer literacy. A lot of businesses offer on-the-job training. Opportunities for work growth and progress frequently exist without the need for further education or training.
Excellent communication skills and a focus on the needs of the client are prerequisites for managerial jobs, which often call for a college degree or relevant experience.
There are many career opportunities available if you have the necessary skill set and the desire to assist others.
You might be able to work remotely for some customer service positions, depending on the position and the firm. The ability to work flexible hours during the day, evenings, and weekends is a bonus for most employment.
Following are a few typical customer service positions and their salaries:
1. Call Center Agent
As a call center agent, you can work at a virtual call center from home or work inside a call center. Regardless of the location, you’ll answer phone or email inquiries from customers. Depending on the job, you’ll place orders, respond to and handle customer issues, or make appointments. Call center staff are expected to handle a high volume of calls and to have excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
According to PayScale, the median annual salary for a call center agent is $27,664.
2. Client Relations Associate
Client relations staff build and maintain relationships with their organization’s most important customers. This is a hands-on position working with assigned clients to make sure that they are satisfied with the company’s services and products. Your job is to ensure client satisfaction and to work with team members, other company departments, and external vendors to make sure customer needs are met.
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a client relations associate is $48,305.
3. Client Services Coordinator
Client services coordinators are responsible for ensuring tasks are completed. They may handle order processing, setting up and coordinating services, tracking deliveries and installations, and resolving customer issues. This job requires solid phone skills and the ability to juggle several tasks simultaneously.
The average annual salary for a client services coordinator is $44,040, according to PayScale.
4. Concierge
If you are interested in assisting customers and are knowledgeable about hotels, restaurants, transportation, and any other information that that can facilitate and enhance the customer experience, you may do well as a concierge. Many hotels have concierges on staff who book reservations, suggest activities, and arrange transportation for guests. Virtual concierges do many of the same tasks, either on the phone or online through a messaging system or email.
Glassdoor reports that the average annual salary for a concierge is $34,023.
5. Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative (CSR) is the catch-all job title for many different roles in customer service. Customer service representatives interact with customers to process orders, provide information about an organization’s products and services, and resolve issues.
Note, however, that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects these jobs to decline in number over the next decade due to increased automation. The BLS forecasts that the occupation will decline 1% between 2020 and 2021.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a customer service representative is $35,830.
6. Front Desk Associate or Receptionist
If you have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to handle in-person and phone communications, a front desk position is a good job option. In a corporate setting, you will likely work a 40-hour week. A position at a hotel, resort, or other hospitality facility will probably require additional hours working nights, weekends, and holidays.
A receptionist earns a median annual salary of $31,110, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
7. Member Services Specialist
Member services specialists provide a high level of customer care to members. For example, you may be serving an elite credit card holder or a client of a bank or an insurance company. This job entails answering questions, providing services, and explaining benefits to members. Work hours and salary vary, depending on your employer.
Base pay for a member service specialist averages $35,185 per year, according to Glassdoor.
8. Patient Care Coordinator
Patient care coordinators work for doctors’ offices, hospitals, medical centers, rehabilitation centers, health care agencies, and insurance companies. They schedule appointments, get preapprovals from insurance companies, and arrange services and procedures. For most positions, you’ll need to be familiar with medical terminology, and the job may require prior experience in a healthcare setting.
A patient care coordinator earn an average annual salary of $43,120, per Glassdoor.
9. Social Media Customer Care Associate
A social media customer care associate handles tweets and Facebook posts from dissatisfied customers. This role involves monitoring an organization’s social media accounts, responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and escalating problems to a manager when necessary.
Glassdoor estimates that the average annual salary for a social media customer care associate is $34,482.
10. Technical Support Representative
If you have solid technical skills; product-specific software, application, or hardware skills; and the ability to troubleshoot, solve problems, and deal well with people, consider a tech support role. This in-demand job may require a college degree, certification, or training. This job may be done remotely. For example, Apple hires At-Home Advisors.
According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a technical support representative is $35,027.
