If you are interviewing for a job that requires you to interact with customers, the hiring manager will probably be interested in gauging the quality of your customer service skills. How good are you at dealing with people and helping customers?
You will want to show the interviewer your skills at adapting to changing situations, your attention to detail, how you handle problems, and how you deal with stress. The best way to display these skills is to give examples from past experience that address these issues. Before the interview, you want to think about times when you dealt with customers and were able to overcome challenges to provide the customer with superior service. When you are thinking of past experiences, don’t just compile success stories but also include a time that you were unsuccessful and what you learned from it.
How should you respond when asked what good customer service is? Good customer service begins with the right attitude – viewing each customer as valuable. Good customer service means having a polite and courteous demeanor, helping the person with information when needed, and working to solve problems.
In order to provide good customer service, you also need to have a thorough knowledge of your company’s products, how they operate and what is available. You also need a thorough knowledge of the company sales policies – when the company provides delivery, warranties, and similar information.
Another question you most likely will be asked is how you would handle an unhappy customer. In answering this question, you would emphasize being patient and courteous, informing the customer that you are on their side, and that you will do everything possible to rectify the situation.
This involves listening carefully to the customer’s complaints to find out what really is the problem. Then, you work patiently and calmly to gather information and find a solution. If your company allows it, then you should also offer the person something extra to help retain them as a customer in the future, such as a discount on future purchases.
You need to keep in mind that the person is not upset at you personally, but at the situation that has not met their expectations.
Arrow Staffing is among the most well-respected recruiting firms in the Inland Empire. If you are looking for employment, Arrow will work with you every step of the way to match you with a job that fits your skills and experience. Give Arrow a call today.
