Customer service is the backbone of modern society, which is why it takes stand-up guys and girls to do the job.
Without professionals with the know-how and wherewithal, we’d simply have no-one to turn to when those little things in life suddenly go wrong.
There are certain roles in this sector, however, where extra-special talents are needed to succeed.
So do you have what it takes to handle the world’s most challenging customer service jobs? Let’s find out.
Airline cabin crew
Uniformed and well informed, the cabin crew are the happy faces of a global brand and, as such, offer the most direct way of increasing company revenues by improving customer service and inspiring repeat custom.
Sadly, not everyone gets this right, as witnessed with several airline incidents recently.
There can be no doubt offering service with a smile at 30,000ft has its own particular challenges – such as sudden air turbulence, from passengers as well as the weather – but crews are well trained and well rehearsed to deal with such situations calmly, politely and with authority.
Also being paid to travel the world has its up-sides.
The holiday rep
That time Davey got his head stuck in a bin after an Ibizan night out? When the entire O’Shaughnessy wedding party was struck down by Montezuma’s Revenge the night before the big day in Cancun? Or when Mrs Nettles fell off her camel and onto a cactus on a stopover in Dubai?
Such prickly situations are all in a day’s work for the holiday rep, who really is on the frontline of a travel company’s customer service.
It takes local knowledge, excellent communication skills and an unflappable nature to thrive here.
Thankfully, on days off it also means factor 30 and a lounger by the pool.
Seasonal retail staff
Arguably the most difficult of all customer service missions is working in retail in the weeks running up to Christmas.
This is the time of year when customers lose their minds to Christmas Fever. Symptoms include aimless wandering, panic buying, uncontrollable use of elbows and queue jumping.
Working on the tills or on the customer help desk when everyone is demanding to know why there are no mince pies left is not for the faint-hearted . . . it takes nerves of steel and saintly patience to make it here.
It is, however, an excellent way to kickstart a great career in customer service.
Enjoy the most demanding, and rewarding roles in Customer Service with s1jobs.