Whether it’s all you’ve ever done or you’ve only ever worked once, customer service is a right of passage into the working world that we all must enter whether we like it or not. As gruesome or boring as they may be, it’s safe to say the lessons you quickly learn through customer service jobs will stick with you forever and be of use in your future endeavors.
First Impressions
Aka mastering the art of charming someone in the first 60 seconds of interaction. When you’re the employee you are expected to start nearly everything you say with a smile and the offer of your assistance. So why wouldn’t this be universally applied to real interactions? Working in general can increase your sociability and friendliness but it should still be natural instinct to greet the people around you, regardless of their working status, with a smile and the chance of conversation.
Respect
Another thing often overlooked as a customer service employee. Unfortunate but true, there are plenty of people out there who believe their presence as a customer trumps your presence as an equal human being. Customer service teaches you early to not only bite your tongue at people like this but also to be respectful of the fact that they are a paying guest and it really is your job to help them.
Humor
Following immediately after respect is the ability to make light of every crazy thing that happens at work. As previously mentioned you will get insane customers who make the Hall of Fame in your workplace and will live on as a legend through the retelling by your coworkers forever. If you can learn to bite your tongue long enough to let out a little quip after the scene is safe, you can pretty much master any task or character that walks through the door next.
Plus, everybody loves a funny coworker.
Organization
Shout out to the retail workers who spend their shifts reorganizing a single table countless times over because of that single person who plows through neatly folded items and leaves a disheveled mess without a thought. Learning to accept this inevitable cycle not only teaches you to organize like a beast but also to appreciate how much more attractive and professional things look when they’re well presented well. You learn to go the extra mile and make sure you’re representing something that you would be proud of. It may consume your entire shift or be the most frustrating task on the planet, but it will be worth it for you and your customers in the end.
Hospitality
People enjoy being cared about!! Who would have thought? Going the extra mile and paying attention to detail will always pay off. Even when customers, friends, teachers, or your boss don’t seem to notice or pay you the appreciation you were expecting, it’s still the best habit to get into. Because nine times out of ten the receiving end will notice your hospitality and truly appreciate your extra attention and consideration. And when this happens not only do you feel successful and appreciated but your generosity will usually be met with a reciprocating smile or at the least, super good karma. Bonus points.
Teamwork
The fun part! Sometimes you get those awful customers or those legendary wackos that walk into your store, and you become immediately bonded with the workforce around you because you are now all on the same side. Whether it be with the staff in your workplace or with all customer service employees everywhere, you are officially on a team. Welcome aboard, take a seat. Being on a team like the ones found in retail or restaurants will teach you lifelong lessons. You learn to do your job fully, without cutting corners because you know someone else will ultimately have to pick up your slack and the success of the business will also suffer from your laziness. You also learn to cooperate with the needs and habits of those around you. What you excel in and where you can best help out the people around you will be immediately be called upon and utilized to best operate as a team and satisfy you as an employee.
Also who doesn’t love good old-fashioned family-style bonding that comes with joining a new staff and experiencing all kinds of crazy together at work??
Patience
Pretty much the biggest sum up of every lesson you will ever be taught in life. If you can remain calm and put up with a lot of annoying or unfortunate stuff that comes your way, you will go far in life. Working customer service may be the first step to learning patience as completing this preliminary job will lead you to higher positions of authority and much, much less frustration to put up with.
And thus you have it. Some of the lessons that I’ve told myself make an annoying summer job worth it in the end. And if you don’t agree, oh well. At least these jobs pay and that’s something we all can walk away happy about.
