I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably keep saying it each time I write a post on CVs: aside from cover letters, a professionally crafted CV is the online equivalent of making a strong first impression in person. There’s almost no difference between “business” relationships and personal ones. All the same, psychologically driven rules apply. If you come across as likable, smart, savvy at what you’re doing, etc., then hiring you will be your employer’s next no-brainer task.
That being said, the hard part isn’t necessarily finding the right employer to handpick you from a list of dozens of qualified candidates. As you can tell from the title, it’s writing a… uh, professionally crafted CV. And it’s no different if you're looking for a customer service representative role. So, below are 6 rules to follow if you want to make your CV shine. Play by the book, and customer service glory shall be yours.
Don’t shy away from brandishing your skillset
Here’s the thing; when it comes to finding employees, employers are always on the lookout for a very specific package. If you show that you have said package, using real-life examples and anecdotes from your professional career, then it’s only a matter of time before you receive that oh-so-sweet invitation for an interview. The skills you’ll be needing are many, and I recommend you do further research than just this post, but the two most important are:
Use proper formatting
As far as I’m aware, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to “proper” formatting, but there are some unwritten guidelines that you’re better off following than not. Needless to say, formatting is not the best place to try and stand out, if you ask me. So, here are some dos and don'ts:
Include all relevant past experience
If you have a few years or even months' worth of experience under your belt, where you helped solve customers’ problems, hiring managers will want to know. In fact, they’ll be keen on knowing how many customers you used to interact with on a daily basis, the number of transactions you usually completed per day, the type of training you received, etc. Include anything that you deem as relevant to the industry and be explicit about it.
In case you don’t have any experience, it’s time to get creative. Where in your professional history have you dealt with customers in any fashion? You don’t have to be a customer service representative to deal with people in-person, so if there are any roles you filled that had you interacting with a customer directly, make sure to mention them.
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Get crystal clear about what you’re looking for
All that being said, a “customer service representative” is quite a broad term, and there are a handful of sub-roles that you can fill. The more precise you are with what you’re looking for, the better. Whether you want to work at a call center, or like interacting with live human beings on the job, creating your CV to reflect your career preferences will go a long way to landing the job you specifically want.
Find the right keywords and sprinkle them in
Since we’re well into the third decade of the 21st century, you’ll most likely be applying to jobs through an online job site or directly through a company’s website. In other words, there are “screening” processes that your application passes through before it lands on the hiring manager’s (virtual) desk. The trick here is getting through said screening process smoothly, and ensuring you’ve dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s to ensure your success.
Certain keywords are among the checklist of these processes, i.e., the presence of these keywords will determine whether you’re a good fit for the opening you’re applying to. If there are not enough of these keywords, your application’s chances of “landing on the hiring manager’s desk” will be significantly decreased. While I always advocate going beyond these posts to do your own research, here’s a brief list I’ve curated during my forays into the vast and remote areas of the internet:
Change how you approach writing bullet points
While it’s a matter of personal preference, the way I see bullet points has always been like a signal to my brain that it’s time to skim. And assuming my brain is functioning correctly, I’d go out on a limb and say that the same pretty much happens to you.
That said, there's an antidote. It's this: write like a copywriter. For the uninitiated, copywriting is the act of using words to persuade someone to buy something; technically, it’s also considered persuasive if it's a love letter, a cover letter, or even an email asking you to renew your subscription. But what concerns us here is the persuasive aspect. Ask yourself: How can I make achievement-listing bullet points more persuasive?
Here's a quick example:
The above is your typical, ho-hum bullet point. We want less of that in your CV.
Looks much better now, doesn't it? Specific, uses concrete numbers, and happens to list an actual achievement. More of this in your CV, please!
Alas, size limitations prevent me from going further in-depth on how to craft a compelling CV as a customer service representative. This is why, as usual, I must advocate that you continue perusing our blog archive for more tips on writing professional CVs and other advice to help you boost your career! Who knows, the next piece of actionable advice you come across might just be the deciding factor in your winning a new job!
