A long time ago, Kermit the Frog sang it is that it was not easy being green. These days, the same tune can be sung by Customer Service Representatives who deal with irate callers, odd hours and, at times, relatively boring jobs.
Customer service representatives are low men and women on the totem pole, and as a result they usually have the hardest job, yet get paid the least.
On average, a customer service representative gets paid $20,000, while a customer service trainer gets twice that, and a customer service executive get ten times that amount.
So, the first challenge is the low pay. However, by working hard and being determined, it is not uncommon for a stellar customer service representative to make their way out of the customer service representative role and into something bigger.
However, this begs the other challenge of working with irate customers who need someone to vent to. One of the easiest ways of making it through that challenge is to simply understand that the customer is actually not mad at you, it is not personal, but they are just tired of the runaround and want to get to someone who can help them properly. If that someone turns out to be you, then they will be very happy with your surface. You have to challenge yourself not to let it bother you and, even when they are rude, keep yourself calm and relaxed. Remember, it is only a job.
Another job is dealing with the hours that many have to work. On average, and especially in the environment that will have customers calling in 24 hours a day, customer service representatives are going to deal with having to work 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. one day, and 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. the next. It is not the best pattern to be in, but it is something that every customer service representative has to deal with.
Think of it this way. When someone goes into the army, they start out at the bottom and they do all the horrible jobs like latrine duty, cleaning the kitchen and more. That is what it is to be a grunt. However, through hard work and determination, those recruits can rise through the ranks and eventually be the ones shelling out the orders. The same is true in the customer service representative world. You have to work the crap jobs and shifts until you can make yourself stand out enough to rise above the pack and eventually start giving out the orders.
So, there are challenges to be faced when working as a customer service representative, but that should not be a cause for worry, it is simply part of working in that field. Instead, treat it like something to be conquered and before anyone knows it, that customers service representative will be the one handing out the orders. It is all about hard work, determination and being the best in the customer service industry.
