Remote customer service jobs are sought-after positions due to their flexible schedule options and stable hourly pay. If you want to work from home but are concerned about social and professional isolation, customer service is an option. Requiring almost constant interpersonal communication, this occupation is among the most social of remote jobs. Customer service positions are also perfect for individuals who enjoy helping others but are tired of working in a noisy call center.
The typical activities of work from home customer service representatives include:
- Answering inbound calls, text, and video chats, and/or emails
- Distributing company information and describing services
- Coordinating services or product replacements
- Troubleshooting problems and deescalating situations
- Making outbound calls to make sales, schedule appointments, and onboard clients
If communicating with people and providing services from the comfort of your home sound like your ideal line of work, secure the perfect work from home job with the following tips on remote customer service jobs.
Everything You Need to Know About Remote Customer Service Jobs
With minimal education and experience requirements, customer service positions are a popular choice among work from home jobs. However, you can face stiff competition for the best positions. In addition, employees may be required to work evenings and overnight shifts if the company offers 24/7 service, or your customers are located in a different time zone.
Education & Skill Set
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the basic educational requirement for a customer service representative (CSR) is a high school diploma or GED. In addition, previous experience is unnecessary for many virtual customer service jobs as most employers provide virtual or onsite on-the-job training.
However, if you want to work as a remote customer care specialist in the insurance or finance industries, you may need to secure specific licenses or certifications depending on where you are located. Most employers will look for these skills when hiring remote customer service representatives:
- Computer proficient, able to use a headset and associated software including customer relationship management systems and remote collaboration tools
- Skilled verbal and written communicator, comfortable with both synchronous and asynchronous communication channels
- Active, attentive listener focused on solving problems, resolving conflict, and retaining customers
- Emotional intelligence, able to empathize with customers and stay calm and patient during escalated situations
Salary Information
The mean hourly wage for customer service representatives was $18.51 in May 2020. Companies that provide business support services are responsible for hiring 36.94% of customer service employees and pay an average $15.85 per hour. Other major employers include agencies and brokerages paying an average of $19.60 per hour, credit intermediation companies at $19.27 per hour, insurance carriers paying $20.44 an hour, and management companies offering the highest average rate of $19.96 per hour.
Job Outlook
Just a few years ago, this occupation was projected to have 15% growth. Today, this has turned into an expected decline of 1% through 2030. This decline is attributed primarily to voice automation and self-service websites taking over basic customer service tasks. However, although the long-term job outlook indicates fewer jobs, these positions will continue to be in demand due primarily to employee turnover.
Home Office Setup
As a remote customer service agent, you will need a fully equipped home office to complete work assignments. Having a dedicated office space with a door is necessary if you will be talking on the phone while others are in the house. In addition, while many employers will provide you with the computer equipment and software required, or a stipend for you to purchase, you may want to establish a home office with standard features ahead of time.
Examples of the equipment you may want to invest in include a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date operating system, a landline phone, and a reliable high-speed internet connection. You should also have a headset with a microphone or be willing to purchase one once hired. Some companies may require you to install a second landline or use an ethernet cable to connect to the internet as opposed to Wi-Fi for quality and security reasons.
Job Search Advice and Common Titles for Work from Home Customer Service Jobs
While business support services hire the majority of customer service representatives, there are jobs available jobs in almost all industries. This provides an endless variety of positions to choose from. If you have any industry-specific training or experience, you may want to explore opportunities in that area to gain an advantage over other applicants.
Entry-Level Remote Customer Service Jobs
As with most occupations, ads for entry level positions may ask for one year of experience. Also, applicants need to demonstrate their skill with interpersonal interactions when applying for positions. Below are a few ways to gain customer service experience so you can secure the best position.
- Foodservice and retail positions count. If you have any experience waiting tables or as a salesclerk in a retail store, this experience counts as customer service experience.
- Continue your education. You have more opportunities to be hired while also improving your prospects for advancement if you continue your education. There are many flexible, and low cost options for online skills training from associate and bachelor degrees, to a wide variety of certificate and vocational programs.
- Volunteer. Nonprofits, community organizations, and hospitals frequently need the services of event staff and fundraising volunteers. Utilize these volunteer opportunities to gain experience useful in your work from home customer service career while giving back to your community.
- Contract positions. A full time, remote customer service position may be your goal, but a great way to get experience is to sign up with a staffing firm. These temporary opportunities will help you build the self-discipline and flexibility to work from home while getting your foot in the door of the customer service industry.
Part-Time Remote Customer Service Jobs
Although most customer service jobs are full time, there are some part time options available. You are more likely to score a part time position if you can work during a business’s busy periods. This may mean working more than part time at certain times of the year, for example, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Part time opportunities are also a great way to break into the occupation if you have no prior experience. This is because the requirements for part time remote customer services jobs are less likely to request prior experience.
Remote Call Center Jobs
Call center agents respond to incoming calls from customers regarding questions and concerns about a product or service offered by a company. There is no functional difference between customer service representatives and call center agents. The difference arises because call center agents work out of a call or contact center. This center can be operated by the company itself, or it can be an outsourced service. Outsource service companies are included in the business support services industry.
At one time many call center jobs were outsourced to offshore service providers in places like India and the Philippines. However, in the past 7 years or so, that trend has been reversing. Companies such as Amazon realize that dissatisfied customers are more expensive than the money saved by hiring offshore workers. The pandemic has also contributed to reversing the trend as there were service interruptions in offshore facilities due to differences in infrastructure and government regulations. This resulted in many companies scrambling to hire onshore resources and rethinking offshore call centers.
Common Titles
Titles vary by company, industry, and specialty. Below are a few examples:
- Telecommute Care Center Representative
- Remote Senior Client Support Associate
- Work from Home Financial Technology Customer Support Representative
- Remote Consumer Safety Customer Service Representative
Check out the button below for a comprehensive listing of every customer service job on Virtual Vocations.
Companies that Frequently Hire for Remote Customer Service Jobs
As mentioned above, the biggest employer of customer service representatives are companies that provide outsourced call center services. Other employers include large financial, logistical, and technology companies. Here are a few examples of companies that frequently hire customer service representatives.
Capgemini
Capgemini is a technology service and digital transformation consulting firm that delivers a wide variety of business support services.
Cornerstone Building Brands
Cornerstone Building Brands sells a variety of building products including windows, siding, and roofing to residential builders, remodelers, and architects.
Frontline Group
Frontline Group delivers customer support outsourcing solutions using inbound and outbound communication channels including phone, live chat, and email.
Humana
Humana Inc. is a for-profit health insurance and wellness company. The organization offers Medicare, Medicaid, health, dental, vision, and pharmaceutical policies.
Regions Bank
Regions Bank is a large provider of commercial and consumer banking, mortgage and wealth management services.
Tips for Catching an Employer’s Attention
Because of its less stringent educational and professional requirements, to get the top customer service positions, an applicant needs to stand out. As hiring managers sort through a sea of applicants, you can catch their eye by following the tips below:
- Pull key phrases and buzz words from the job ad to use in your resume and cover letter
- Develop accomplishments that highlight your interpersonal and communication skills
- Double-check your employment documents for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
- Prove you are remote-ready by listing your home office eqiupment and software you have experience with on your resume
- Research your potential employer and incorporate company facts, achievements, and product knowledge into your cover letter
You may also want to utilize Virtual Vocations career services, job coaching, and cover letter and resume services to give your job profile an impressive upgrade.
Find Your Next Remote Customer Service Job
Whether you are new to customer service or are an experienced CSR looking for a quiet place to work, there are many remote customer service jobs available. If you are ready to start applying, search the Virtual Vocations jobs database for Customer Service positions and find thousands to choose from. If you need help preparing for your search, visit our Career Services page for coaching and resume writing assistance.
What excites you about remote customer service jobs? Is there a particular aspect you find attractive? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!
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