15 Customer Service Skills Recruiters Want to See on Your Resume

Great customer service can make or break any business. In fact, in one survey, 80% of companies plan to increase their investment in customer experience. That’s why recruiters actively look for candidates with strong customer service skills on their resumes. 

To get noticed by prospective employers, you need to showcase your customer service skills on your resume the right way.

In this article, you’ll learn important customer service skills recruiters look for and how to list them effectively on your resume. Additionally, you will see examples of customer service resume skills to help guide you as you build a standout resume.

Why you need to put customer service skills on your resume

Customer service is about helping customers when they have questions or problems before, during, or after buying a product or using a service.

Highlighting key customer service skills on your resume is crucial because it shows recruiters and hiring managers that you can:

15 customer service skills examples to add to your resume

Customer service roles may vary depending on the industry. But there are certain resume skills that are universally valued by employers.

Here are the top 15 customer service skills recruiters are looking for and practical examples of how to list them on your resume.

1. Communication

Effective communication is critical in customer service.

You need to be able to speak clearly and concisely, understand customer inquiries, and provide helpful responses. You also need to be able to effectively communicate with other members of your team to help resolve customer issues.

Communication skills are used in customer service in several ways, such as:

You can provide resume accomplishments to show recruiters that you can communicate effectively. Here is an example of how to show communication skills on a customer service representative resume:

2. Active listening

Active listening goes beyond simply hearing the words someone is saying. It involves trying to understand the meaning and intent behind those words. 

Active listening allows you to be fully present with the customer and really listen to what they are saying. It shows that you value your customer and care about their experience.

Some specific examples of how active listening is used in a customer service setting include:

Here’s a resume example of how customer service professionals can highlight active listening skills:

3. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to share another person’s feelings and see things from their point of view. 

Using empathy when dealing with customers can create an emotional connection with them. This builds trust, which leads to increased customer retention.  

Some examples of how empathy in customer service include: 

Here’s a section of a resume for an account manager showcasing empathy:

4. Patience

Patience is a virtue and a skill, and it’s absolutely necessary for customer service success.

Yes, it can be challenging to remain patient when dealing with customers, especially if they are being rude or demanding. But it’s imperative that you remain respectful and professional at all times.

Some examples of how patience can be shown by employees who deal with customers include: 

Here’s an example of how to showcase empathy on your resume:

5. Problem-Solving

Employers increasingly rely on customer service representatives to resolve most complaints. It’s no longer the norm to pass these problems on to the manager. 

Problem-solving is about identifying the exact nature of an issue and resolving it promptly and efficiently. 

Examples of how problem-solving skills are used by customer service representatives include:

Here’s a resume example highlighting problem-solving skills:

6. Product knowledge

Product knowledge is about understanding the company’s products and services. This is important if you want the customer to trust you.

Product knowledge is gained through training provided by the company, self-study, or experience.

Examples of how product knowledge is used by workers who deal with customers include:

Here’s a sample of how to showcase product knowledge on a resume:

7. Time management

Time management is the process of planning and organizing how to spend your time to achieve specific goals. Good time-management skills can help you keep track of multiple tasks, deadlines, and customer requests.

Examples of how time-management skills are used by workers who deal with customers include:

Here’s a resume example that lists time management skills:

8. Adaptability

In today’s fast-paced workplace, it’s crucial to adapt to new situations and people quickly and easily.

This is especially important for customer service representatives, who often have to change their approach based on the customer’s needs or moods. This can be both challenging and exciting, as no two customers are alike.

Examples of how to demonstrate adaptability skills in customer service include:

Here’s a sample of how to highlight adaptability on your resume:

9. Persuasion

Persuasion is the ability to influence people. Although this skill seems better suited to sales jobs, it’s also highly useful in customer service. 

When an angry customer calls with a complaint, you need to be able to diffuse the situation and persuade the customer to accept a resolution that is beneficial to the company.

Examples of how persuasion skills are used by workers who deal with customers include:

Here’s an example of how to highlight persuasion on a resume:

10. Positive language

Positive language is a way of communicating that focuses on the good instead of the negative. 

For example, instead of telling customers, “That product is not in stock and won’t be available for another two weeks,” you could say, “That product is not in stock, but I can go ahead and pre-order it, and you’ll have it in two weeks.”

When you use positive language, you send the message to the customer that you are open to communication and willing to work together. 

Examples of how positive language can be shown by workers in customer service include:

Here’s an example of how to showcase positive language on your resume:

11. Conflict resolution

In customer service, you must be able to resolve disputes and handle tough situations. And you must do so calmly and professionally. This ability is essential. You must also listen to concerns, find common ground, and propose solutions. They must satisfy both the customer and the company.

Examples of how conflict resolution skills are used by workers to deal with customers include:

You can highlight your conflict resolution skills by including measurable accomplishments in the work experience section of your resume. Here’s an example:

12. Attention to detail

Noticing and addressing specific customer needs and preferences improves overall service quality. This skill ensures that customer inquiries are met with precision, enhancing their experience.

Examples of how attention to detail skills are used to notice customers include:

Here’s an example of how to highlight attention to detail on your resume:

13. Sales skills

It’s vital to identify upselling or cross-selling opportunities while keeping customers satisfied. This skill helps drive revenue while ensuring customers feel valued and informed.

Examples of how sales skills are used by workers to sell to customers include:

Here’s an example of a resume listing measurable achievements that showcase sales skills on a resume:

14. Technical skills

Skill in using various technologies and tools enhances customer interactions and streamlines processes. Being tech-savvy makes it easy for you to use resources to improve service.

Examples of how technical skills are used by workers to interact with customers include:

Here’s an example of how to showcase technical skills on your resume:

15. Networking skills

Building rapport with customers and leveraging relationships enhances service and fosters loyalty. Networking skills are key to a great customer experience. They drive repeat business.

Examples of how networking skills are used by workers to communicate with customers include:

Here’s an example of how to showcase networking skills on your resume:

What are customer service skills?

Customer service skills are the abilities that allow you to interact with customers in a friendly and effective way. They also help you ensure customers have a positive experience when they ask for help with a product or service.

Customer service skills are divided into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. 

How to highlight customer service skills on your resume

If you’re looking for a job in customer service, your resume should highlight your key experiences and areas of expertise. 

Here are three ways to show that you’re the right candidate for the job: 

1. Be specific and provide measurable results

When describing your customer service experience on your resume, use numbers and metrics whenever possible. This demonstrates the specific, measurable results you achieved and shows your skill level to recruiters.

For example, instead of saying that you handled customer complaints, state how many complaints you handled daily or weekly. Then, say what percentage of those complaints you successfully resolved.

2. Highlight any awards you’ve received

Customer service is a competitive field, so standing out from the crowd is important. 

Awards are a great way to separate yourself from the competition. They show potential employers that you have a proven track record of providing excellent customer service.

If you have won multiple awards, it’s best to create a separate section on your resume titled “Customer Service Awards.” Otherwise, just list your awards in your work experience section. 

When listing awards, be sure to include the name of the award, the date you received it, and, if necessary, a brief description of what it was for.

3. Match your customer service skills to the specific job

Tailoring your customer service skills to match the specific job description is key to landing a customer service role, especially in this competitive job market. Recruiters want candidates who not only list relevant customer service skills but also demonstrate how those skills align with the employer’s needs.

You can start by carefully studying the job description. Look for the key skills and responsibilities required for the job. Then, incorporate those customer service skills on your resume. You can weave them into your resume summary, work experience, and skills section.

For instance, if the job requires strong problem-solving skills, you can showcase how you resolved customer issues in your past roles.

Here’s a sample job description for a telemedicine company:

The relevant customer service skills required for the job are emphasized in this example. Showcasing communication, problem-solving, and time-management skills, as well as proficiency in CRM tools, demonstrates that you have what it takes for the role. Here’s what a tailored resume work experience looks like:

4. Use keywords from the job description

It’s also important that you include keywords. Keywords can be job titles or skills mentioned in the job description.

When you submit your resume, it usually goes into a computer database called an application tracking system, or ATS. 

Hiring managers then use the ATS to find suitable job candidates. They do this by typing certain keywords into the search bar (usually the same keywords found in the job description). If your resume contains those keywords, it will appear before the hiring manager. 

In other words, you need to also incorporate these keywords when writing your resume. However, avoid keyword stuffing, where you repeat the same terms excessively to get past the ATS.

Using a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner takes the guesswork out of this process. It will tell you the exact keywords to use for every job you apply to.

Create a tailored customer service resume with Jobscan

Tailoring your skills to the job description can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially when you’re still building your resume.

That’s where Jobscan’s resume builder makes things easier and faster. The tool simplifies the process by using AI and suggesting the relevant and most in-demand skills based on your job title. This saves time and ensures your resume aligns perfectly with the job you’re applying for.

Here’s what that looks like. You can just click on the suggested skills or add more ones in the box.

Jobscan will then weave these skills into your resume to increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

Additionally, our resume builder lets you choose from a variety of ATS-compatible resume templates. This is important because it makes sure that your resume can be seen by recruiters who use applicant tracking systems (ATS). Jobscan will then weave these skills into your resume to increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

Once you’ve created your resume, you can scan it using Jobscan’s resume scanner. It analyzes and compares your resume to the job description to ensure it has the right keywords and skills.

Using the tool is simple. All you have to do is:

Here’s a video to walk you through the process:

Start creating your resume today with Jobscan’s resume builder!

Example of a resume focusing on customer service

Here is a resume sample of a customer service representative:

How to highlight customer service skills in a job interview

Congratulations! You’ve landed an interview. Now, you need to talk about the customer service skills you listed on your resume. 

Here’s an example of how you might do it:

Here are six specific ways to discuss your customer service skills in a job interview:

1. Emphasize your people skills

Customer service is about interacting with people. So it’s important to show the interviewer that you have strong people skills.

For example, you might say something like, “I had a customer who was very unhappy with the product and difficult to deal with. I listened very carefully to their concerns and found a solution that satisfied them.” 

Another example would be if you can effectively communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures. This shows that you are able to adapt your communication style to meet the needs of others.

Whatever the example, be ready to talk about it in detail.

2. Show that you’re willing to go the extra mile

Another way to highlight your customer service skills in a job interview is to talk about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer. 

This could be something as simple as going out of your way to help them find the right product or troubleshooting an issue they were having. 

Whatever the scenario, be sure to emphasize how your actions made the customer’s experience better. 

3. Show that you can stay calm under pressure

Customer service can be challenging, so employers want to know that you can remain calm and collected even when things get tough. 

Share a story about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or situation and explain how you handled it.

4. Show that you’re a problem-solver

Employers want customer service representatives who can quickly and efficiently solve problems, preferably on their own. 

In your job interview, try to give an example of a time when you were able to resolve a tricky issue for a customer without asking for help. 

First, explain what steps you took to solve the problem. Then, discuss the positive results of your efforts. 

5. Explain how you earned any customer service awards or promotions

If you received a customer service award, be sure to mention this in your job interview. And don’t forget to explain what you did to deserve praise. If you received a promotion because of your customer service skills, even better! Highlight those promotions on your resume to really stand out.

For example, if you received an award because you increased customer satisfaction scores by 20%, then mention that accomplishment. 

This will give the interviewer a clearer picture of what you are capable of, and how you can help the company.

6. Discuss any training you received to develop customer service skills

If you’ve received any customer service training or certificates, you should mention it in your job interview.

First, emphasize how the training helped you develop strong customer service skills. Then, show how you used those skills in your previous work experience. Finally, highlight any specific customer service techniques you learned during your training. Explain how you would use those techniques in the role you are interviewing for. 

For example, maybe you received training on how to actively listen to customers, or how to use positive language. Discuss how those specific skills made you a better customer service representative.

How to develop your customer service skills

Like any kind of skill set, customer service skills are developed through practice, practice, practice. 

Here are the four things you can do to improve your customer service skills:

1. Always be polite and friendly

This may seem obvious, but your attitude will set the tone for your interactions with customers. 

If you’re rude or impatient, the customer will likely respond in kind. However, if you’re calm and professional, they’ll be more likely to follow your lead.

2. Try to see things from the customer’s perspective

The customer is contacting you because they’re experiencing a problem, so it’s important to empathize with their situation. 

Try to put yourself in their shoes and understand how they’re feeling. This will help you respond in a way that meets their needs.

3. Stay calm under pressure

Customer service can be challenging. It’s crucial to maintain a positive attitude even when things get tough. 

If you can stay calm and collected, you’ll be better able to handle difficult situations.

4. Follow up with the customer after the interaction is over

This shows that you care about their experience. A simple phone call or email can make all the difference in creating a lasting impression.

Key takeaways

Here are the key pointers to remember:

Frequently asked questions