Working in the customer service industry is a one-of-a-kind experience. Some people try it once and never look back, while others stay in it for a long time. Either way, working in customer service teaches you some important life skills and lessons.
1. A fake, over-exaggerated smile is a necessity.
We've all had to go to work when we're having an already horrible day. Anyone who has worked customer service knows the consequences that come with being grumpy with a customer. After a month or two in this not-so-delightful industry, an ingenuine, forced smile becomes part of your work uniform.
2. How to apologize for someone else's mistake.
This one applies particularly to servers. Mistakes happen, and in the customer service position, you will end up having to take the fall for someone else's slip-up. Many, many times. As much as you would like to blame it on the actual culprit, you just have to grin and bear it and apologize as sincerely as possible.
3. The customer is always "right."
Every manager you ever have in the customer service industry will tell you that the customer is always right. This does not mean that the customer is correct. It means that you have to agree with the customer no matter how ridiculously incorrect they may be.
4. How to control your temper.
Whether it is because of your coworkers or a particularly high-maintainance customer, a shift rarely goes by without some sort of frustration. If you're going to be successful in a customer service job, it is an absolute must that you can keep your cool when the going gets rough.
5. Gel shoe inserts aren't just for the elderly.
It is fairly rare for a customer service employee to be able to sit down on the job. Those eight-hour shifts multiple times a week take a horrible toll on your feet. Even your comfiest shoes might not get you through this one. Dr. Scholl will be your new best friend.
6. Tips are actually the best thing ever invented.
Even working for minimum wage, you can make bank from tips. Most customers would rather leave their change than carry it in their wallet, and some are just generous. Either way, it can really add up.
7. Impatient people are the worst.
Not everyone you encounter in customer service is rude or crabby. But nobody is meaner or grumpier than an impatient person who had to wait in line for more than five minutes. They will always blame you for the hold up, and your chances of receiving a tip plummet to almost zero whether it was your fault or not.
8. How to pretend to be interested.
On the other end of the spectrum, some customers will be overly chatty and tell you their whole life story while standing in line. Everyone who has worked in customer service has repeated the "I-don't-know-who-you're-talking-about-but-i'll-act-like-I-do-anyway" head nod and corresponding "uh-huh."
9. How to multitask like no other.
It doesn't matter if you're already in the middle of something, or you're helping another customer. People will always come up to you and ask for a refill or where the bathroom is or if you have a minute to help them instead. In order to keep every guest happy, you have to quickly learn to juggle multiple tasks at once.
10. Customer service workers are horribly under-appreciated.
Nothing will open your eyes more than working in this industry yourself. After working two years in customer service, I know how rude people can be and how one rude comment can be the straw that breaks a back. I now go out of my way to treat every customer service employee with overwhelming respect. You never know how much one polite person can brighten their day.
