Customer Service Certification: Invest In Your Education
As a job-seeker, customer service certification demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and equips you with in-demand industry skills employers are looking for. Having customer service certification on a resume can be viewed as a distinct advantage in a highly competitive job market.
Most companies deal directly with customers. Having the skills to handle people on a professional manner remains an in-demand skill across all industries. Getting professional training will help you gain strong communication, problem-solving, and people management skills that will set you apart.
We will take a closer look at the benefits of getting a customer service certification and establish why it’s an important objective to pursue.
The Benefits of Obtaining a Customer Service Certification
Gaining new customer service skills has distinct growth and financial advantages. A customer service certification offers job-specific skills designed to improve customer relations within the many different spheres of customer service.
Continuing your education to upgrade your skills can lead to future career growth and training opportunities within the company. These new communication skills may also result in a pay increase or perhaps a transfer to a different department that offers more future career options. Getting an industry-recognized certification can help you get recognized for your efforts and help you climb up the corporate ladder.
Companies value job-seekers and employees who take the time to invest in their education by obtaining a customer service certification. Taking the time to upgrade your skills shows initiative, commitment, and passion for your work. Taking the initiative to invest in your professional growth will help you set yourself apart from the competition and impress your current or future employer.
Types of Customer Service Certifications
Let’s take a look at different types of customer service-related certifications that can be acquired either through online courses or on-the-job training. Both offer job-specific skills; however, in-house training tends to be more product-specific and may not be recognized by other companies.
- Help desk certification
- Call center certification
- Retail skills certification
- Hospitality skills certification
- Cashier training
- Client service manager certification
- Customer service leadership certification
- Phone communication training
- Email communication courses
- And others!
As you can see from the list, customer service is a common theme in each listed certification, where job function and job title are the main differntiators.
In-person communication and interaction with clients or customers can be very different from telephonic or online communications. A trained employee, regardless of their position in the company, must have sufficient knowledge of the company and its products and services in order to assist customers in a uniform and professional manner.
An effective training program should teach learners how to handle customers and professionally resolve challenging situations using various communication channels.
Why Invest in a Customer Service Certification?
An employee or job seeker with an accredited customer service certification is seen as someone with the necessary skill set to deal with customers that will inevitably benefit the company both in the short and long run.
Getting certified helps you demonstrate that you are credible and trustworthy, traits that are always in high demand. When you can provide excellent service, it becomes much easier to attract and retain customers.
Where customer service certification is not mandatory, it can be used to stand out above competitors. When applying for a job in a competitive market, having an industry-recognized certification on your resume will help your application stand out from others. You’ll have in-demand skills you can demonstrate during the interview process and impress potential employers. Your skills will benefit the employer, their customers, and the company as a whole.
Customer service certification is an ever-evolving field of knowledge where new practices and techniques are constantly being introduced into the mix. Applying new best practices and techniques gives you a newfound admiration for the work that you do. Upgrading your customer service skills will lead to you sharing your knowledge with your colleagues and eventually taking on new leadership roles within your organization.
Excellent job performance often results in financial reward incentives or pay increases. Your success will have a positive effect on the growth of your organization and help increase customer satisfaction, revenue, and positive word of mouth. What’s the verdict? Getting a certification directly improves your work ethic, empowers you with on-the-job confidence, results in a more rewarding work experience, and increased job satisfaction.
Other Resources:
CustomersFirst Academy offers comprehensive customer service training designed to help you grow your skills and advance your career.
To keep learning and developing your knowledge of customer service, we highly recommend the additional resources below:
20+ Examples of Probing Questions In Customer Service
How to Create an Inspiring Customer Service Philosophy
Is Outsourcing Customer Service Right for Your Business?
8 Easy Ways to Improve Online Customer Service
