Are you looking to get into a remote customer service role? It's an exciting field with a lot of potential, and many companies are increasingly hiring remote customer service reps...but how do you find the right job and then land it? This blog post will provide some tips and insights on how to find the best remote customer service roles and how to increase your chances of getting an interview for those roles. We'll also review best practices for interviewing for a remote customer service role so you can make yourself stand out.
Where to Look for Remote Customer Service Jobs
The first step in finding the right remote customer service job is knowing where to look. Here are some of the best places to start:
- Job Boards: Job boards like Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter have dedicated sections for customer service jobs, including remote roles. You can narrow down your search by location and other criteria so you can find the perfect job for you.
- Staffing Firms: Staffing Firms can be a great resource for finding remote customer service jobs. A few of the larger ones to consider are Robert Half, Randstad, Adecco and Kelly Services. You can also google Customer Service Staffing Firms to find companies focused on these sorts of job specifically (one example linked here). There are two ways to engage with a staffing firm: (1) you can search through their job posts to find the right job for you and apply directly (2) you can create a profile or submit your resume to the firm - that way, they can keep you in mind for remote customer service roles in the future.
- Professional Networks: Professional networks like LinkedIn and Glassdoor can be great resources for finding remote customer service jobs. You can connect with recruiters, employers, and other professionals who can help you find the right job. Here are a few tips for LinkedIn: (1) you can use the search bar and type in “remote customer service jobs” or you could experiment with hashtags in the search bar such as #remotejobs or #remotecustomerservicejobs to see recent posts. (2) you can join groups on LinkedIn and learn about jobs - get creative with your search terms! Here is one example of a group to get you started.
- Job Fairs: Job Fairs or Career Fairs are hiring events with multiple companies present in one place. Job Fairs can be a great opportunity to meet with several different hiring managers at once (versus submitting individual applications to jobs online). Companies typically attend Job Fairs when they’re motivated to make hiring decisions so if you have a good conversation, you could walk away with an offer. For more information on Job Fairs and how to find them, you can read this blog post that is specifically focused on Job Fairs.
- Company Websites: Many companies now post their customer service job openings directly on their website. This can be a great way to find out about jobs before they're advertised anywhere else. If you have a list of companies that you’re targeting - you should check their website regularly for updates. Some larger companies that have been hiring for remote customer roles recently: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ozarka, Cigna, CVS and CBRE.
Once you've identified some potential remote customer service jobs, it's time to start applying!
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting an Interview
Getting an interview for a remote customer service role can be challenging, especially in the competitive job market. Here are some tips to increase your chances of getting an interview:
- Tailor Your Resume: Your resume should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for. Highlight any relevant experience and skills you have and make sure to use specific keywords so your resume will stand out.
- Take note of the job post. If a company calls the role a “Customer Care Representative” vs. “Customer Support Representative” vs. “Customer Service Representative” vs. “Call Center Representative”, you’ll want to customize your resume with the terminology they use.
- You’ll want to do the same thing with any skills they list as required for the role. One resume optimization tool recommends having the following skills listed in your resume: Customer Service, Call Center Experience, Communications, Detail Oriented, Microsoft Office, Organization Skills, Problem Solving and Data Entry.
- See this blog post for more information on how to make your resume stand out.
- Customize Your Cover Letter: Similar to your resume, your cover letter should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. Your cover letter should explain two things very well:
- Why are you a good fit for the role? You need to showcase how your skills and experience match what they’re looking for - you are qualified for this job and it’d be silly for them to overlook you.
- Why are you interested in this role?. It’s very important to show your excitement about working in this role at this company - is there something about the mission of the company that interests you? Are you excited about the growth trajectory or learning opportunity? Why are you any different than the next applicant?
- Showcase Your Personality: When applying for a remote customer service role, it's important to showcase your personality. Make sure to include a few sentences about yourself and your interests so the employer can get a better idea of who you are. A good place to incorporate this information would be: (1) in your cover letter and/or (2) in the “objective” or “summary” section of your resume.
- Follow Up: Following up with a potential employer after you've sent in your resume and cover letter is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the job. Your note should be short and sweet - outlining why you’re interested in this role and how excited you would be to discuss the opportunity further in an interview. This can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your commitment.
- Network: Networking is a great way to find out about jobs before they're even posted. A large majority of professionals credit their networks for finding them jobs. Attend industry events, join professional networks, and reach out to recruiters and employers to let them know you're looking for a remote customer service role. If you’re on LinkedIn, make a post and include relevant hashtags (#remotejobs #remotecustomerservice). Draft an email that you can send to 5-10 previous colleagues to see if they have any leads for you. You could be surprised how much people want to help.
Best Practices for Interviewing for a Remote Customer Service Role
Once you've landed an interview for a remote customer service role, it's important to make sure you're prepared. Here are some tips for interviewing for a remote customer service role:
- Dress Professionally: Even though you're interviewing for a remote role, it's important to dress professionally. This will show the employer that you take the job seriously and that you're prepared.
- Be Prepared: Before the interview, make sure to research the company and the job so you can answer questions confidently. Be prepared to answer questions about your experience, your skills, and why you're the right fit for the job. A great tool is the “Interviews'' section on Glassdoor - people post what interviews are like at specific companies and what types of questions to expect. You can even select a specific role - an example would be “Customer Service Representative” at CVS which I’ve linked here.
- Demonstrate Your Customer Service Skills: During the interview, make sure to demonstrate your customer service skills. Talk about any customer service experiences you've had and how you handled difficult situations. Expect to receive situational questions such as “tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer” or “give me an example of resolving an issue for an upset customer”.
- Show Your Enthusiasm: Employers want to hire someone who is enthusiastic and motivated. Make sure to show your enthusiasm for the job and the company during the interview. One good tactic is referencing the Mission or Vision of the company and how much that resonates with you. Another tactic is looking at their website to see if they have any Values listed that you could bring up in the interview. You could also research Reviews from other employees - “I saw on Glassdoor that the company is rated 4.6/5 stars and most employees love their work environment”. This type of research shows that you’re interested in this job, not just any job.
- Follow Up: Following up with a thank-you note after the interview is a great way to show your appreciation and demonstrate your interest in the job. Try to include something personal in your thank you note - pertaining to something you discussed in the interview (“I enjoyed learning more about the problems your customer face and how I could be a part of solving those”).
In Conclusion...
Finding a remote customer service job can be a challenge, but with the right strategies, you can increase your chances of getting one of these jobs. We hope you learned something from this blog post and we’re always interested in hearing any feedback you might have. If you’ve found success with any of these tactics or have a different idea we should consider, just drop us a line at coaches@earnbetter.com. Good luck out there!
