So, you’re out of college or have a semester break, and haven’t figured out what career path to take? Getting a Customer Support Job is the easiest answer! Job opportunities in customer care may seem daunting and outright dull for some people, but in reality, a job in customer service industry can be an exciting and rewarding first step for almost anyone and can help fulfill many of the skills you need to develop. In order to get ahead in the game, a customer support job helps open doors to numerous opportunities, increases your networking skills, allows for more professional growth and helps you learn the art of developing great PR. Here are a few starting benefits that you can earn while working in Customer Support:

1. Master the Art of Digital Communication

Customer support can involve a wide array of platforms, be it phone calls, live chats, emails, or handling a social media handle – each comes with its own unique way of getting the conversation going. Initially, it may seem a little overwhelming to bounce from one platform to another, but switching it up can be a really fun and progressive way of developing your sense of responsibility, and can definitely help you develop your communication skills without ever having met the customers.

2. Learn a Skill and Use it To Build Your Resume

If you show interest in a particular subject matter regarding a product you are servicing, not only will you be the go-to person in your team (and increase your chances for a promotion), but you can easily apply your interest and get a foot in the door for other opportunities to branch out into other departments such as sales, marketing, or even product development.

3. Develop Team Relations

As a customer support representative, you will always be part of a big team that will support you wherever you need. Building a good relationship with your team members is vital not only to have the ship running smoothly, but also so that you can always have someone to turn to in case you find yourself stuck. In the long run, having a good relationship with the team can open up new networks for you in regards to professional growth.

4. Work Under Pressure

When you work in a fast-paced service industry, you learn quickly how to work efficiently under pressure without losing your cool. You learn to enjoy the different challenges that you get on a day-to-day basis from a wide variety of customers and it is extremely rewarding to help them on time. Being under pressure helps you become less anxious, allows you to manage things in a timely manner and reminds you that you are the boss of your situation.

5. The Ability to Multi-Task

When working as a customer support representative, you develop proficient multi-tasking skills while handling customers on a daily basis. Learning how to engage with customers while simultaneously handling their respective queries online really helps you learn how to work productively and save you time.

6. Develop Analytical Skills

The ability to deconstruct a problem into digestible pieces and draw perfect solutions is one of the setting stones that make up an excellent customer support representative. Allowing yourself to think logically and combining that with critical thinking and creativity allows for the customer experience to run smoothly every time. When a problem starts to become overwhelming and tough to resolve, always remember it is a good idea to divide and conquer – that way, you won’t be stuck or come under pressure.

7. Resolve Conflict

As a customer support representative, you’ll have to sometimes deal with angry customers who are seeking to quickly get the job done. In moments where you’re short on time or under pressure, your conflict management skills play a vital role to bring the tension down and, in the end, produce a happy customer. Whether it’s a problem that could be fixed within minutes or take multiple steps to resolve, each problem requires some level of creative thinking, efficiency, and of course, conflict management.

8. Quality Control

Maintaining a level of service quality in customer support is another very vital skill to possess. Through practice and dedication, this skill starts to develop and does wonders for not only the company’s livelihood, but also your own. It sets you apart from the rest of the crowd and showcases your ability to offer equal and just support to all customers.

9. Improves Emotional Intelligence

People often forget just how important it is to build a good rapport with customers. People don’t seek robot-sounding customer care, but rather an emotionally intelligent person who can not only solve your problem for you, but also keep you satisfied with the company as a whole through excellent and effective communication. Offering customers your patience and understanding, acknowledging their problems, and showing empathy goes a long way. It is great to solve the customer’s issue when they contact you, but being able to make them feel cared for and showing empathy can boost customer satisfaction and overall experience. Perhaps even showing a bit of humor can brighten up their day, but remember, jokes are either a hit or a miss, so having the sense of correct judgment is vital. Conclusion This is just the tip of the iceberg as to what you can achieve in a short span of time while you work as a customer support representative – there’s a lot more that can be achieved, so why not apply for a customer support job here at ibex! We hope to see you soon!   Javeria Shoaib Officer, Employer Branding ibex. Pakistan