Work-At-Home Customer Service Jobs

There are character traits you cannot teach in Customer Service. If we could, we would because it makes the whole world a better place, not just Customer Service.

We can’t, and therefore we work with people whom we believe to most exemplify these traits.
Here are 5 you cannot teach.

1. Enthusiasm. We see it, we feel it and boy, do we wish everyone had it.

Many people don’t though. It is often reflected in their faces when a request is made and reinforced with a sullen “just a moment” that does nothing to help us believe that we are about to receive a Service which we so desperately hope is better than what Mr. or Ms. Sullenface has just prefaced us with.

Enthusiasm is infectious, contagious and outright fun. It seems the Enthusiast is everywhere, ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that we have a fantastic Customer Service experience. It is reflected by the pride they take in doing the job right, the care they take making sure everything is just so and the delivery of “Is there anything else I can do for YOU Mr. or Ms. Customer?”

The Enthusiast is nearly extinct these days. The victim of “Faster, More, Cheaper” Customer Service.

Are you exemplifying “Faster, More, Cheaper” or are you trying to grow Customer Service Enthusiasts?

2. Happiness. A feeling of pleasure. I have come to believe that Happiness is sometimes misused for the word Enlightened.

I know, now you think I am really off my meds. Let me ask you something. Have you ever met a person who was Happy? I mean really, really Happy? Really, when? Where do you think “Happy Hour” comes from? My point is that when people feel Happy, it leads to the ending of Happiness, or a state of Unhappiness. In other words, there is a limit.

I don’t think there can be a limit to Enlightenment. Either way you think about it, it is not something you can teach. You can feel it. You can see it when another person really has it. You just can’t teach someone to be Happy or Enlightened. They have to find it themselves.

3. Commitment. The feeling one has when one decides to do something no matter the cost or the journey. The ability to see it to the end. People who have commitment are not easily swayed. They keep putting one foot in front of the other, keeping their eye on the prize, the goal, the end.

Oh, they have trials and tribulations, and when you ask them about it, they shrug and say things like “That’s the way we do it” or “It needed to be done.” They have little concern or care for the thoughts of others who can’t see the world through their eyes. They shrug and say “It’s got to get done, and I’m the person to do it.” You can’t teach that.

4. Belief. The thought that someone feels completely, through and through that resonates deep inside them and tells them that they are on the right path. They don’t need your beliefs, and are quite content to let you have yours.

Once it is felt between a group of people, it sings to everyone’s heart in that group. A drumbeat that is felt by and played by all. It brings a natural power to a person that is unquenchable and unwavering. When all else is in doubt it is Belief that carries a person through.

I have experienced total Belief and a loss of Belief and I can tell you that when there is a loss of Belief, it literally can crush a soul. It’s at these times that a person has to find that small spark, that ignites and starts the fire anew. You can’t teach that.

5. Attitude. Among all, I really want to have the ability to teach Attitude. You could point out to someone what Attitude looks like and say things like “He/She has a great Attitude, you would do well to be like this” and the person would say “Oh, I see. No problem. Attitude is adjusted to maximum. Thanks.” And it would be.

Or say something like “Study this book, read chapters 3 and 4, answer the questions at the end of the chapters and you will have the Attitude you need to make it through life.” Right. The world would be a much more interesting place if all of our Attitudes where in sync and working towards a common goal.

” Imagine,” as someone once said. You can’t teach Attitude in Customer Service.

If you are trying to teach one of these to your personnel in the hope that they will morph in Customer Service Professionals, forget it. You have a better chance of seeing Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy and The Easter Bunny playing bocce ball on your front lawn one morning.

Concentrate on finding those people who best demonstrate these traits.

Help them grow their own Enthusiasm, Happiness, Commitment, Belief and Attitude. You will be much happier with the results. (Or Enlightened)

Leonard Buchholz leads seminars and writes articles.

This article is written with the hope that you do something with the thoughts and ideas presented here. Take action and make a difference.

leonard@bizprotraining.com

760-529-5635

Leading Seminars Leadership, Management and Customer Service since 2006.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leonard_Buchholz

Not only is customer service is one of the fastest growing work-at-home jobs, but it also has one of the brightest outlooks. Companies looking to save money are setting up home-based employees to help with order taking and support services in record numbers. These companies range in size and scope including airlines, mail order businesses, and technology companies.

The advantage to customer service jobs is that they don’t necessarily require experience. That doesn’t mean that they don’t require skills or equipment. It also doesn’t mean you can simply sign up and answer phone calls. But you don’t need an advanced degree or years of corporate experience to get hired in customer service.

The hours in a customer service job can vary. Some will require full-time work during regular work hours. Most offer part-time hours and some need people to work late shifts and/or weekends. Many will allow a flexible schedule, but most will want its agents to have a set schedule.

The pay can vary as well. Some pay as little as $8 an hour while some pay more. If you have experience in customer support you’re likely to get paid more. Further, few companies will provide benefits and in fact most will categorize you as an independent contractor. This has some advantages as an independent contractor is able to deduct work-related expenses such as a new phone headset as well as portions of your home expenses for having a home office.

To get a customer service job, you’re going to need to meet some requirements:

1. While some customer support jobs require previous experience, most simply require a pleasant voice and a calm temperament (customer service also means handling complaints).
2. You’ll likely need a second phone line and/or high-speed internet access. Satellite may or may not be accepted. Dial-up is almost always not considered.
3. A headset for your phone is highly recommended.
4. A quiet place to work. Customer service work may not be ideal if you have small children or noisy pets unless you can make arrangements for them.
5. Some require on-site training while others can train you vie phone and Internet.
6. Quality application or resume is needed to set yourself apart from other applicants. You can do this by doing background research on the company and industry, and include the information you gather in your resume. If the company is a national flower delivery chain and you used to work in a floral shop, mention it in your application and use the same terms that flower people use.

Customer service jobs can be found on the major job search engines and many telecommuting job databases. But like any other work-at-home job, you need to do your due diligence to weed out the scams. Any company that asks you for money to get hired is a scam. The only exception is that some companies will pass on the expense of a background check to the potential hire. However, they don’t usually ask for this unless you’ve made it through the initial screening and are being considered for hire.

Customer service work from home is expanding making it a great option for pursuing a home-based job. But before you start submitting your application, make sure you meet the requirements and have a quality resume that will get you the job.

Leslie Truex has been helping people find work-at-home jobs since 1998. She is the owner of Work-At-Home Success and author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible. You can learn more about finding work-at-home jobs online including a list of over 300 companies that frequently hire at http://www.jobsonlinetoolkit.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leslie_Truex