Most people go on holiday to forget about work but, if you’re in the business of customer service, switching off completely is not an option.
How can you set aside all your professional know-how and experience just because you’ve swapped your work clothes for beachwear? It can’t be done.
“I get really critical in restaurants,” says Patricia Watson, who in her day job is a cabin services director with a major airline.
“If the staff are clumsy with the cutlery or don’t anticipate the needs of the customers, I find myself mentally marking them down as not fit to work in first class.”
On s1jobs there all kinds of customer service vacancies, some online and at the end of the telephone and others that involve dealing directly with the public.
All of them, however, require people who are focused and attentive, able to listen and respond, but not be drawn into making promises they can’t keep.
So what do you do if you find your own hotel has double-booked your room? Can you keep your cool when it’s your holiday on the line?
“I’ve developed a technique for staying calm,” says Joan Clark, who works in housing, dealing with calls from tenants.
“I remain reasonable yet firm and, instead of blowing my top I say, very steadily: ‘What you have just said has made me very angry.’.
“There’s something about stating strong emotions, without actually displaying them, that firmly cements power in your hands and demonstrates you are not going to give up on the issue until it is sorted to your satisfaction.”
If you deliver exceptional customer service, it seems only fair you should get some in return, but don’t think you have to pay high end prices to get the best.
From the beach bar that serves up the perfect plate of fried squid rings to the campsite that stays open late because your flight was delayed, you can find great service in all sorts of out-of-the-way places at no extra cost.
“I found a bar in a small town in France that served the best glass of rose I’ve ever tasted,” says Neil Alexander, who trains hospitality staff.
“The wine was perfectly chilled and the glass placed on a fresh napkin and accompanied by a small dish of olives. It was perfect and it proves that in customer service it’s always the small details that matter most.”
Once the holiday season is over, why not refresh your own career with a look at the latest Customer Service vacancies on s1jobs?