Best Customer Service Representative Skills for Your Resume
The key hard and soft skills required for a customer service representative job in 2025 based on our database of over 10 million real job listings.
Optimize your resume Build your resume
Customer service representative skills include communication, problem-solving, and customer experience management. On a resume, these skills are essential for addressing customer inquiries, managing inbound calls, and providing support with empathy and professionalism. Key abilities like first-call resolution, sales techniques, and a positive attitude make Customer Service Representatives effective in fostering loyalty and enhancing satisfaction. This page covers the core skills and traits needed to excel in customer service roles, along with examples of how to showcase these skills on your resume.
How we got the data
We collected the data for this report from Jobscan’s massive database of over 10 million job descriptions and 17 million resumes. We analyzed the job descriptions to see which skills employers are looking for the most. Then, we analyzed the resumes to see which skills appear most frequently.
By knowing which skills are in high demand, job seekers can tweak their resumes and cover letters to showcase the most important skills for each job they apply for.
top 10 customer service representative Hard Skills
top 10 customer service representative Soft Skills
top 10 customer service representative Skills on Resume with High Match Rate
- Customer service
- Management
- Sales
- Communication
- Microsoft
- Support
- Customer satisfaction
- Time management
- Marketing
- Technical
Top 10 customer service representative skills
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Delivered customer service by addressing 50+ customer inquiries daily, achieving a 98% customer satisfaction rating.
- Provided exceptional customer service by resolving complex account issues, reducing complaint escalations by 30%.
- Enhanced customer service quality by proactively identifying needs, improving first-call resolution rate by 20%.
- Achieved a 90% retention rate by offering consistent customer service across all interactions.
- Improved customer service feedback scores by 25% through efficient, empathetic responses to customer concerns.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Handled 100+ inbound calls daily, maintaining an average call resolution time of under 3 minutes.
- Responded to inbound calls with a focus on customer needs, leading to a 95% satisfaction rate for call handling.
- Processed inbound calls efficiently, reducing average wait times by 15% and increasing call throughput.
- Consistently managed inbound calls for peak hours, supporting team productivity and reducing missed calls by 40%.
- Improved conversion rates by 20% by utilizing effective listening skills on inbound calls to understand and address customer needs.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Utilized clear communication to resolve customer issues on the first call, achieving a 95% first-call resolution rate.
- Enhanced customer loyalty by practicing active communication, leading to a 20% increase in repeat customers.
- Developed communication guidelines that improved team response consistency and raised customer satisfaction by 15%.
- Used effective communication to explain complex billing questions, reducing billing-related inquiries by 25%.
- Increased positive survey feedback by 30% by using clear, empathetic communication in every customer interaction.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Leveraged sales skills to upsell 20% of customer calls, contributing to a monthly revenue increase of $5,000.
- Increased average order value by 15% by identifying customer needs and recommending complementary products.
- Applied sales techniques on support calls to convert 10% of inquiries into new product subscriptions.
- Generated additional revenue by using sales skills to introduce promotions, achieving a 25% upsell rate.
- Used targeted sales approaches to achieve a monthly sales goal of $10,000, exceeding targets by 10%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Provided comprehensive support to 100+ customers daily, achieving a 97% satisfaction rate on support surveys.
- Resolved 90% of technical support requests on the first call, reducing repeat contacts by 20%.
- Enhanced product support quality, reducing average call handling time by 2 minutes per interaction.
- Offered targeted support that led to a 25% reduction in product return rates by resolving issues preemptively.
- Used knowledge of support processes to improve customer outcomes, boosting retention by 15%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Managed high call volumes effectively during peak times, reducing average wait time by 30%.
- Coordinated support team schedules to meet demand, improving service level compliance by 20%.
- Implemented time management techniques, completing daily tasks 15% faster without compromising service quality.
- Utilized management skills to prioritize tasks effectively, increasing call efficiency by 25%.
- Managed daily workflows to improve productivity, reducing overall response time to customer inquiries by 10%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Achieved an 85% first-call resolution rate by analyzing customer needs and addressing issues promptly.
- Reduced repeat call rates by 20% through effective first call handling strategies.
- Improved first call efficiency, solving 95% of inquiries on the initial contact and lowering follow-up rates.
- Implemented first call resolution best practices, raising team’s overall FCR rate by 10%.
- Decreased customer complaints by 25% by achieving first call solutions for common issues.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Maintained a professional demeanor in high-stress situations, contributing to a 98% customer satisfaction rate.
- Upheld professional standards by meeting response time goals, resulting in a 15% improvement in service ratings.
- Demonstrated professionalism in each interaction, fostering customer trust and retention.
- Enhanced brand image by consistently providing professional service, reducing complaint escalation by 30%.
- Maintained a 100% attendance record, reinforcing a professional commitment to team goals and customer service excellence.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Enhanced customer experience by personalizing interactions, leading to a 20% increase in satisfaction scores.
- Implemented customer experience feedback loops, resulting in a 15% reduction in recurring issues.
- Improved customer experience by efficiently handling inquiries, raising positive feedback ratings by 30%.
- Used customer feedback to refine approaches, contributing to a 25% increase in customer loyalty.
- Delivered a seamless customer experience by cross-training on products, improving first-call resolution rates by 15%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Applied problem-solving skills to reduce call escalations by 35%, improving first-contact resolutions.
- Analyzed customer complaints to identify root causes, reducing average resolution time by 25%.
- Solved complex product issues for customers, leading to a 20% improvement in satisfaction rates.
- Improved response accuracy by refining problem-solving workflows, reducing repeated inquiries by 15%.
- Used problem-solving to streamline processes, saving 10 hours per month in customer handling time.
5 Tips for writing customer service representative skills on your resume
Create a bulleted resume skills section
Use a simple, clean format that highlights your skills and experiences. Focus on readability by using bullet points and short phrases to present your skills. Properly organize your resume into education, experience, and skills sections.
“Adding a skills section to your resume is a great way to draw the recruiter’s attention to your most relevant strengths and competencies.”
– Ashley Watkins, NCRW, NCOPE, Job Search Coach
For example, an customer service representative’s bullet points might look like this:
- Applied problem-solving skills to reduce call escalations by 35%, improving first-contact resolutions.
- Enhanced customer experience by personalizing interactions, leading to a 20% increase in satisfaction scores.
- Delivered customer service by addressing 50+ customer inquiries daily, achieving a 98% customer satisfaction rating.
Quantify your accomplishments
Use numbers to quantify your accomplishments wherever possible. This helps potential employers understand your abilities and the impact you can have on their organization.
“Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for relevancy of how and when you applied those skills, so provide examples of this in your experience section. Bonus tip: Don’t just insert the skill like a task–include results.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
Example:
- Provided exceptional customer service by resolving complex account issues, reducing complaint escalations by 30%.
- Consistently managed inbound calls for peak hours, supporting team productivity and reducing missed calls by 40%.
- Implemented first call resolution best practices, raising team’s overall FCR rate by 10%.
Tailor your resume to the job description
Read the description carefully and emphasize the relevant skills and experiences. Highlight the skills that the employer seeks and provide examples of how you’ve used those skills in your previous roles. Doing so can demonstrate that you’re a strong fit for the position and increase your chances of being invited to an interview.
“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work when it comes to your resume. For every job application, tailor your skill set to match the job description. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter candidates based on keywords and skills listed in the job description. So, research the role you’re applying for and distill the skills required.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
In order to do this, “you must first understand what skills are most important for the target role,” says Ashley Watkins.
Here’s an example of how to tailor an customer service representative resume to a job description:
Job Description: Customer Service Representative at a Retail Company
Requirements: Strong customer service skills, experience handling inbound calls, problem-solving abilities, and a focus on enhancing the customer experience.
Tailored Resume Job Description:
- As an experienced customer service representative, I’m dedicated to delivering excellent support and ensuring a positive customer experience.
- I’ve developed strong customer service skills through handling high volumes of inbound calls, consistently maintaining a 95% satisfaction rate.
- In my previous roles, I resolved customer inquiries and complaints efficiently, often achieving first-call resolution and reducing follow-up calls by 30%.
- I’m skilled in problem-solving, using active listening and analytical abilities to quickly address customer concerns, resulting in improved retention and loyalty rates.
- I’ve also contributed to enhancing the customer experience by providing tailored solutions, which led to a 20% increase in positive feedback scores.
- I pride myself on maintaining a professional and empathetic approach, even in challenging situations, and consistently striving to exceed customer expectations.
- My focus on customer service excellence, combined with my expertise in inbound call management and problem-solving, make me a strong candidate for the Customer Service Representative position at your company.
“Focus on the sought-after and in demand skills. A great way to figure out what is currently in demand is by researching current job openings from your preferred companies and reading through the posting. Pay close attention to the preferred requirements section and build your skills section based on this list.”
– Chelsea Jay, Career & Leadership Development Coach – Seasoned and Growing
Break resume skills sections into categories
If you’re applying for a role requiring a broad skillset, categorize your skills.
“If you opt to include a designated skills section on your resume, include up to 10 of your core competencies. Excessive skills lists are overwhelming and sometimes confusing to the reader.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
For example, someone applying for a role as an customer service representative might benefit from segmenting their skill lists as follows:
Customer Interaction Skills
- Customer Service
- Inbound Calls
- Sales
- Support
- Customer Support
- Customer Experience
- Customer Satisfaction
- First Call Resolution
Communication Skills
- Communication
- Written Communication
- Interpersonal
- Empathetic
Technical Skills
- Microsoft Office (Microsoft)
Bonus Tip: Use action verbs
Start each bullet point with an action verb. An action verb expresses an action, such as “create,” “build,” “manage,” “lead,” or “implement.”
Action verbs grab the reader’s attention and paint a vivid picture of what you accomplished at work.
Action verbs make your resume more interesting to read. They also show the kind of can-do attitude that employers are looking for.
FAQs
Key skills for a successful career in customer service include communication, problem-solving, and customer service expertise. Communication skills allow representatives to convey information clearly and listen attentively, ensuring mutual understanding. Problem-solving skills help them resolve issues efficiently, often on the first call, which enhances customer satisfaction. Additionally, strong interpersonal skills and a solid grasp of support tools, like CRM software or Microsoft Office, are invaluable for handling various customer inquiries effectively.
Good traits and skills for a customer service representative include empathy, patience, professionalism, and a positive attitude. Empathy helps representatives connect with customers, making them feel heard and valued. Patience is essential for managing challenging interactions, while professionalism ensures that every customer feels respected. A positive attitude boosts the customer experience, even in tough situations, and helps maintain a calm, constructive approach to problem-solving.
- Empathy: Showing understanding and concern for customers’ needs.
- Patience: Remaining calm and composed, even with frustrated customers.
- Effective Communication: Clearly explaining solutions and actively listening.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Identifying and resolving issues efficiently.
- Professionalism: Providing courteous and respectful service at all times.
These qualities build trust and contribute to a positive customer experience, encouraging customer loyalty and satisfaction.
List skills on your resume in a dedicated “Skills” section or incorporate them into your experience bullet points. For a customer service representative role, relevant skills like customer service, inbound call handling, and problem-solving can be highlighted. To make your skills more impactful, include metrics or results that demonstrate your effectiveness (e.g., “achieved a 95% customer satisfaction rate by resolving inquiries quickly and empathetically”).
To describe your skills effectively, use action-oriented language and include examples or achievements that showcase each skill in action. For instance, instead of simply listing “problem-solving,” describe it as “Resolved customer complaints on the first call, improving customer satisfaction by 20%.” This approach not only demonstrates your skills but also shows how you’ve applied them successfully in past roles.