Whether you’re interested in healthcare, travel, retail, or another industry, consumer services is an ever-growing field. It’s also one that offers job security and potential for career progression.
With more than 2.9 million jobs, this industry is expected to grow faster than average over the next ten years. If you’re looking for a career that will help you meet people and solve problems, you should consider a consumer service job.
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives often work for different consumer services, such as insurance agencies, banking institutions, and stores. These workers usually sit in a customer contact center with a phone and computer, assisting customers with their questions or concerns.
There are many benefits to working in this field, including the opportunity to build a solid foundation of skills that can be transferred to other jobs. These include strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to understand the feelings of others and respond appropriately.
In addition, customer service positions can be a great place to start if you are new to the workforce or relocating from another industry. These jobs offer a number of training opportunities to help you get up to speed quickly and learn how to deliver great customer service.
Some customer service representatives are also responsible for collecting feedback from customers to improve the overall experience. This helps improve products and services and can be done in a variety of ways, from automated software to one-on-one conversations with customers.
As a result, the number of job openings in this field is expected to continue growing. This is a good career choice for those who want to provide excellent customer service and who are looking for stable employment with the potential to earn a decent salary.
A few of the most common jobs in this field are call center representative, product support specialist, and customer engagement associate. Listings with each of these titles received over 3.5 million clicks on Indeed in 2018. These positions are often found at large corporations and work in call centers to provide customer support via the phone.
Retail Sales Representative
The number of jobs available in other consumer services is expected to grow 2% through 2029. These jobs include customer service representatives, retail salespersons, and a range of other positions.
While these positions may not require a degree, they are more likely to accept candidates who have at least a high school diploma. If you are interested in working as a sales representative, a bachelor’s degree in business or marketing is ideal.
Sales representatives are responsible for promoting and selling products and services to businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Their duties often include demonstrating merchandise, answering questions about new products, and helping customers with their problems.
Many sales representatives work remotely, using email, phone calls and video conferences to conduct business. They also travel outside of the office, meeting with prospects in person.
These representatives work on a quota that is set by the company, and they can use CRM software to help them meet their targets and avoid distractions that don’t contribute to their sales goals. They also have the opportunity to take advantage of the many benefits that come with being an inside sales rep, such as working on a predictable schedule and removing tasks from their job description that don’t add to their sales numbers.
Those who are considering becoming a sales representative should have excellent communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and the ability to work well under pressure. They should also be able to present information in a clear, concise manner and negotiate deals effectively. Having a strong sense of personal responsibility can also be helpful for these types of roles.
Customer Service Manager
Customer service managers work in most sectors of the consumer services industry, including retail, insurance, health care, and banking. They are responsible for a team of customer service representatives and overseeing their training and development to ensure high-quality customer service.
These managers also oversee the collection of customer feedback, which is important for understanding how to improve and respond to customer concerns. According to research, 77% of customers have a more positive opinion of brands that collect feedback.
This role requires strong organizational and communication skills as well as empathy for clients. You will often interact with difficult people who may be feeling depressed or angry, and you need to be able to empathize and resolve their issues as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Depending on the company, you may be required to work irregular shifts or schedules, which can be frustrating for someone used to working under a rigid 9-5 schedule. However, this flexibility can also provide opportunities for you to increase your hours and earn extra income.
The qualifications you need to succeed in this position include a relevant degree, experience working with customer service reps, and the ability to supervise a team. It is also helpful to have a good understanding of how a company’s products and policies affect customers.
The best way to start preparing your CV for customer service manager positions is to go through each job posting and match your qualifications to the requirements. This will make the process easier, and it’ll help you stand out from other candidates. In particular, emphasize any relevant courses you have taken that will enhance your skills for this role. Lastly, be sure to explain why you’re excited about the opportunity to work for the company.
Insurance Agent
If you’re looking for a new career that can offer a fulfilling, high-stakes work environment with plenty of variety and flexibility, you should consider a job in insurance sales. It’s one of the most popular consumer services in America and offers rewards that many types of jobs can only promise, but never deliver on.
Insurance agents typically sell life, health and property insurance policies and are responsible for helping clients understand their coverage options and making sure they meet their needs. They also help clients process claims and meet their financial goals.
Some agents also handle marketing and administrative duties. Some may eventually hire staff to do this work so they can focus on building relationships with existing and potential clients.
Having a flexible schedule is another important benefit of this type of work. People with children, elderly family members or military veterans may find that this job allows them to fit their lifestyles into a more manageable work schedule.
A lot of insurance agent jobs are available in office settings, but you can also travel to meet with clients. This allows you to spend time with people and build personal relationships in your community.
The most successful agents and producers in this industry are motivated, hardworking and disciplined. This goes for all areas of your work, but it’s especially true when it comes to finding new clients and selling policies.
A strong sales approach can also help you maintain a book of business that you can count on. Ideally, your interactions with clients will be so positive that they will recommend you to others. These referrals are one of the most powerful forms of free marketing in this industry and can help you build your book of business quickly.
Health Care Representative
A health care representative is a person that has been named to make medical decisions on someone else’s behalf. This person is often the first point of contact for customers who call in with questions or concerns about their health. They answer calls, identify the information that is necessary to resolve the inquiry, and then communicate that information to the customer.
They are often employed by healthcare companies, insurance companies, and other related businesses. They typically work in a call center and respond to the inquiries and complaints of customers.
The role requires an ability to quickly and accurately survey vast amounts of information and provide the best possible customer service to each individual who calls in with a question. It also requires a warm and friendly personality and the ability to resolve any issues that arise in a timely manner.
To be successful in this career, you will need a health care industry-related degree. This degree program from Bryant & Stratton College will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to begin your career as a patient services representative.
You will learn the fundamentals of health-related terminology, healthcare finance, accounting, and other subjects that are important to success in this role. You will also learn about healthcare data, how to safely protect patient information and more.
Your responsibilities as a healthcare support representative are to explain members’ medical insurance benefits, solve any claims problems, and assist them in finding a doctor by telephone or online. You will also help members find out about the different payment options available to them, as well as grant pre-authorization for medical treatment when appropriate.
It is important to talk with your healthcare agent about your wishes for medical treatments, including the quality of life that is important to you. You should also make sure that you have appointed a backup health care agent in case the first person is unavailable or unable to act on your behalf.
