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Customer service assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Customer service adviser

Customer service assistants deal with customers' enquiries, purchases and complaints.

Average salary (a year)

£16,000 Starter

to

£28,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a customer service assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You can take a college course before applying for a job. Courses are widely available and include:

  • Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
  • Level 2 Certificate in Contact Centre Operations

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can do a customer service intermediate apprenticeship or an advanced apprenticeship as a customer service specialist.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You can apply for jobs if you have customer service experience, for example from working in a shop, hotel or contact centre.

Employers may expect you to have some GCSEs, or equivalent qualifications, but also good communication skills and a friendly personality.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

On a typical day, you might:

  • answer customers' questions by phone, email or webchat, on social media, or face to face
  • give quotations and check product availability
  • sell products or services and take payments
  • handle complaints or pass them to a supervisor
  • add customer information onto a computer system
  • track orders and arrange deliveries

Working environment

You could work at a store, in a contact centre or in an office.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a team leader, training officer or customer services manager.

You could also move into sales or account handling.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Team Assistance (Customer Service Practitioner Level2)

  • Wage: £146.25 Weekly
  • Location:

Receptionist Apprentice

  • Wage: £14,000.00 Annually
  • Location: EPSOM
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Customer Service Level 2

  • Provider: GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 August 2021
  • Location: CHELTENHAM

NVQ Certificate in Customer Service Level 1

  • Provider: BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: Bedford
Find courses near you

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