what is a good resume summary for customer service

Customer Service Resume Summary Examples

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #1

I have 15 years of customer service experience. I am conscientious, hardworking, great in a team or as an outgoing individual and always ready for a challenge.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #2

A self-motivated, analytical and ambitious team player having extensive experience in process improvement, performance management, sales, and customer service in the Banking and Retail Industry.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #3

Skilled and dedicated with experience in coordinating, planning, and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Highly focused and results-oriented in supporting complex, deadline-driven operations; able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly competent who can be trusted with even the most confidential projects. Excel in turning disorganized environments into smooth-running operations and overhauling administrative processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #4

Providing outstanding customer service skills, problem solving and well organized. Looking for a fast paced work environment, with many opportunities to improve customer satisfaction.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #5

Dedicated Customer Service Representative backed with more than 5 years experience in customer relations. Motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and to contribute to the success of the organization. Proven ability to establish rapport with clients and exceed targets on the production floor.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #6

I have extensive customer service and technical support experience in a call center for 4 years. To pursue a highly rewarding career, seeking a role in a challenging and healthy work environment where I can utilize my skills and knowledge efficiently for organizational growth.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #7

A Customer Service Assistant with years of experience in a fast-paced corporate environment combining award-winning customer service with the ability to prioritize heavy workload on a daily basis.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #8

Demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and loyalty while utilizing my service mindedness to support both colleagues & clients/guests. Possessing the ability to multi-task and prioritize a complex workload under time constraints.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #9

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. An ability to handle highly confidential material on a regular basis. Flexible and able to learn with ease any personalized computer program/all other equipment, and rules/regulations a new work environment may have.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #10

To work for a progressive firm in a motivating and challenging environment that provides opportunities to grow and utilize my potential, and to achieve the organisationʼs goal while achieving my own. Strong stakeholder management, negotiation skills and problem solving attitude aids in achieving targets and fostering long-term customer relationships.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #11

Hamza is someone who is able to consistently deliver a high level of performance in any job role; He has the ability to understand a customer's needs & wants and start directly to create satisfactory solutions.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #12

A polite, enthusiastic and compassionate Customer Service Officer with over four years of experience in providing exemplary customer support in a busy environment.

Customer Service Resume Summary Example #13

A seasoned team player and high-capacity problem solver with a solid track record in customer service, providing solutions to customers and preparation of accurate documentation.

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How to Write a Customer Service Resume Summary (Examples)

By Status.net Editorial Team on November 15, 2023 — 7 minutes to read

A customer service resume summary is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and strengths in the field. This section helps potential employers quickly grasp your abilities and determine if you’re a good fit for their organization.

Key Components of a Great Customer Service Resume Summary

Start with your title.

Choose a title that accurately represents your professional background in customer service. Some common titles include Customer Service Representative, Call Center Agent, or Front Desk Associate. Your title sets the tone for the rest of your summary, so be concise and clear.

Mention Your Experience

In your first sentence, talk about how many years you have been in the field and the types of industries or companies you have worked for. This will help establish your credibility and show prospective employers that you have experience in their specific industry.

For example, “With over 5 years of customer service experience in the retail and hospitality industries…”

Assert Your Skills

Highlight the most relevant skills for the customer service job you’re pursuing. Focus on a few key hard and soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and detail-oriented. Make sure to use specific examples or scenarios where you have demonstrated these skills.

For example, you could write, “Possess strong communication skills, proven through resolving customer complaints and helping callers find the right products and services.”

State Your Achievements

Finally, share some notable accomplishments from your customer service career. Use quantifiable data when possible to show the impact you have made in your previous roles. This could involve mentioning how you improved customer satisfaction ratings or handled a high volume of customer inquiries daily.

For example, “Increased client satisfaction by 20% in a previous call center position and consistently met performance metrics for handling 80+ calls per day.”

How to Write a Customer Service Resume Summary

To create an effective summary, follow these tips:

• First, highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. Keep your focus on customer service-related positions and tasks. You can mention soft skills such as active listening, empathetic problem solving, and clear communication alongside technical skills such as proficiency in customer relationship management software or specific company tools. For example: “ Seasoned customer service professional with 5 years of experience working in fast-paced call centers. Expertise in resolving complex customer issues, utilizing CRM software, and maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings.”
• Next, emphasize your accomplishments and any quantifiable results from your previous roles. Including concrete numbers, percentages, or any measurable improvement gives a clearer picture of your past success and hint at your potential. For example: “Reduced average call handle time by 20% and consistently achieved a 95% satisfaction rating in a high-volume customer support center.”
• Don’t forget to tailor your summary to the specific job you’re applying for. Carefully read the job description and identify the most important requirements. Adapt your resume summary to showcase how your skills and experiences align with these key points. For example, if a job posting mentions the need for strong teamwork skills, you might add: “ Collaborative customer service expert with a talent for building relationships and fostering teamwork.”

Practical Examples of a Customer Service Resume Summary

When crafting a solid resume summary, focus on your achievements and skills that make you the perfect fit for a customer service role:

Friendly and empathetic customer service professional with 5 years of experience in high-volume retail settings. Proven track record in resolving customer complaints and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 20%. Strong multitasking and problem-solving skills, able to maintain a positive attitude under pressure.

Highly organized customer service specialist with a background in administrative support and 3 years of experience in a fast-paced call center. Proficient in CRM software, data entry, and providing timely responses to customer inquiries. Consistently recognized for excellent phone etiquette and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Energetic customer service representative with extensive experience in hospitality and tourism industries. Known for exceptional communication skills, handling difficult situations calmly, and swiftly resolving issues to enhance the guest experience. Bilingual in English and Spanish, effectively bridging the language gap for international customers.

Carefully tailor your customer service resume summary to the job description and highlight your most relevant qualifications. Using strong action words like “managed,” “assisted,” “coordinated,” or “improved” can give your resume an extra boost.

To make your resume stand out even more, consider adding a few numbers to showcase your achievements. For example, mention how you increased customer satisfaction ratings, reduced wait times, or helped the company generate more revenue.

Adjust your resume summary as needed when applying to different positions or industries, emphasizing the skills and achievements that best match the role you’re seeking. The more specific and tailored your resume summary is, the better your chances of catching the eye of a hiring manager.

Template for a Customer Service Resume Summary

1. Start with an adjective that describes you. Use a positive and descriptive term, such as “friendly” or “efficient.”

2. Mention your years of experience in customer service. If you have a substantial work history, specify the number of years. For example, “5 years of experience.”

3. Highlight your expertise or specialization. If you have an area of expertise within customer service, be sure to include it. For instance, “specializing in technical support” or “expert in retail customer care.”

4. Showcase relevant accomplishments or skills. Pick one or two notable achievements from your career that demonstrate your ability to excel in customer service. For instance, “resolved 95% of customer concerns within 24 hours.”

5. End with a targeted goal. Clearly state what you aim to achieve in your next role. For example, “seeking to provide exceptional support and grow with a fast-paced company.”

Putting it all together, your customer service resume summary might look something like this:

Friendly customer service professional with 5 years of experience specializing in technical support. Resolved 95% of customer concerns within 24 hours. Seeking to provide exceptional support and grow with a fast-paced company.

Now, it’s time to customize the template for your situation. Be true to your strengths and accomplishments, and tweak it to meet the specific requirements of the job you’re applying for. A well-written, tailored resume summary can be a powerful tool in landing that perfect customer service position!

Tips for Writing a High-Impact Summary

Use powerful words.

Choose strong action verbs to demonstrate your customer service skills. Instead of saying “worked with customers,” use “assisted,” “helped,” or “collaborated.” To show problem-solving abilities, use words like “resolved” or “troubleshooted.” This choice of words will create an impressive summary that grabs the reader’s attention.

Keep It Concise

Your summary should be brief and to the point. Aim for 3-4 lines that quickly highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. Avoid lengthy explanations, and instead focus on showcasing key customer service skills, such as communication, problem-solving, empathy, and multitasking.

Tailor It to the Job Description

Customize your resume summary by incorporating keywords and phrases from the job posting. Align your qualifications with the specific role you’re applying for to show that you are the perfect fit. For example, if the job description emphasizes the need for a friendly and patient demeanor, use those exact words in your resume summary. This will make your resume stand out to hiring managers and show that you understand the unique requirements of the position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key elements to include in a customer service resume summary.

When writing a customer service resume summary, focus on showcasing your skills, experience, and achievements. Key elements to include are your experience in customer support, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge of customer service tools and technologies. You should also mention any quantifiable results, such as improved customer satisfaction ratings or reduced response times.

Can you provide some examples of effective customer service resume headlines?

• “Experienced customer service professional with a track record of achieving customer satisfaction.”
• “Customer service expert with exceptional communication skills and proven success in resolving conflicts.”
• “Dedicated customer support specialist with extensive knowledge of CRM systems and call center environments.”
• “Result-driven customer service representative with a passion for creating memorable customer experiences.”

How do you showcase customer service skills without experience on a resume?

You can highlight your customer service skills without experience by focusing on transferable skills from your past jobs or volunteer work. Mention skills like active listening, empathy, and adaptability, which are essential in customer service roles. Don’t forget to include any relevant coursework, certifications, or training programs you’ve completed. Related: How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter [Examples]

What are some alternative phrases for describing customer service in a resume?

• “Client relations”
• “Customer support”
• “Customer experience”
• “Customer success”
• “Client satisfaction”

What makes for a well-written customer service resume description?

A well-written customer service resume description should clearly highlight your skills, experience, and achievements as they relate to the job you’re applying for. Make sure to use strong action verbs, such as “managed,” “improved,” or “resolved,” to show your impact. Quantify your accomplishments where possible by including numerical data, percentages, or other specific indicators of your success.

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26 Customer Service Resume Examples for 2024

Customer Service Resume

• Customer Service Resumes by Experience
• Customer Service Resumes by Role
• Writing Your Customer Service Resume

As the face of the organization, the customer service team is instrumental in building and maintaining a business’s reputation.

To be a successful customer service professional, you must have a wide-ranging skillset—patience, empathy, critical thinking, and detailed knowledge of your company’s products or services.

With such a tall order, you shouldn’t also have to be an expert at  building a resume . Our easy  resume tips  are available at your fingertips!

We’ve analyzed countless resumes and  chosen the 26 best customer service resume samples to help you land your next job in 2024 .

Furthermore, we’ll share our recommendations and advice so you can put your best foot forward on your resume; before you know it, you’ll also be ready to tackle your  customer service cover letter !

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• The best way to do this is by making your points concise and highly relevant to the job to which you’re applying. If you include a  resume summary , tailor it to the business to which you apply. As a rule of thumb, the more you customize and  fine-tune your resume  for each job application, the more likely you are to get an interview. 

Entry-Level Customer Service Resume

• Choose two tastefully contrasting fonts: one for your section headers, and one for your body text. 
• Leverage white space throughout your resume to give it a clean, easy-on-the-eye, professional feel.
• We suggest bold (but not garish) colors in the header and titles to draw attention.
• Say goodbye to excess white space by adding some relevant projects you’ve worked on.
• Just make sure they relate to the  customer service job description  and emphasize your most relevant skills.

Customer Service Associate Resume

• Something very impressive on a  customer service associate resume  is when you’ve gone the extra mile to be certified. Definitely include any licenses or certifications you have in a dedicated “Certifications” section.
• Our  user-friendly resume templates  and  Google Docs resume templates  allow you to quickly add a section just for certificates and licenses.
• For example, “Handled an average of 40+ customer complaints per day with a 93% customer satisfaction rate.”

Customer Service Manager Resume

• Don’t worry though! You can easily tailor it by mentioning the specific job title you’re seeking, the company’s name, and any position-specific skills you’ve learned.If these kinds of details paralyze you, take a breath; now, start off your  resume-building  adventure with one of our  free resume templates  or  Google Docs interactive resumes  that already have sections laid out for your objective.
• Though including a  resume objective  is optional, we recommend one if you’ve had a career change, are entry-level, or simply need to effectively fill a little space on your resume.
• If you choose to add it, make sure it’s unique and personalized for every application you submit. That’s right. Every single one.

Customer Service Lead Resume

• Also, a technical support specialist position might have refined your problem-solving skills and technical knowledge, essential for resolving issues beyond the first line of support. A moment or two when your leadership stance shone brightly is a welcome addition to your customer service lead resume.

Airline Customer Service Resume

• In the same line, use larger fonts to draw the hiring manager’s attention to different essential parts of your resume. For example, role titles should be in a larger font and title case format, while terms accentuating your skills, hobbies, contact information, and education should be in uppercase.

Customer Service Call Center Resume

• It’s fine even if you mention them in other unrelated job roles. Just ensure that you clearly state how your assistance helped customers in a particular scenario.
• If you run out of room in your resume, remember that a cover letter generator can help you expound quickly on the details you care about sharing.

Customer Service Bank Resume

• Even if it’s only a short stint, mention how you went beyond resolving technical issues at a desk by adding your ability to make personalized follow-ups, maintain high-data accuracy rates, and implement any customer feedback provided.

Insurance Customer Service Resume

• Remember that expertise in communication efficiency, accurate responses align well with the requirements of the role since you will be handling customers.

Client Service Manager Resume

• And if you may, add your metrics on improving customer satisfaction to further prove your potential.

Customer Service Specialist Resume

• Luckily, customer service is typically a metric-heavy role. From sales to customer reviews to retention, there’s a lot of numbers you can draw upon, such as customer satisfaction scores, how many customers you helped, and sales targets you exceeded.
• Metrics draw the eye of the resume reader and increase the length of time they’ll review your  customer service specialist resume , which increases your likelihood of getting an interview. Since a hiring manager will, on average, spend six seconds reviewing your resume, hooking their attention quickly is key.

Retail Customer Service Clerk Resume

• The structure of your  retail customer service resume  can either help or hurt the flow of the employer’s reading experience and affect whether or not you get that interview.
• We suggest you experiment with an array of  resume templates  and go for the one that zooms in on your greatest selling points.
• Sprinkle in impressive numerical metrics such as team headcounts, sales targets met, and payment processing accuracy percentages whenever possible.

Customer Success Manager Resume

• Challenge yourself to prove your impact with metrics.
• For example, how much time did you save in labor hours? How much did you increase profits for the company? Provide any details that show how quickly you could boost numbers at the next business that’s smart enough to hire you. 
• Striking a good balance between hard and soft skills is tricky, but doable—the  skills section on your resume  can emphasize the soft skills that made those impressive numbers happen in the first place.

Bilingual Customer Support Resume

• For example, you can mention the number of reward program members you signed on, the number of customers you helped per shift, the number of performance-based awards you earned, and the percentage of bilingual clients who specifically returned to you for assistance.
• Pass the automated tracking system filter by peppering your skills section with relevant keywords you’ve taken the time to mine from the  job description .
• Just be sure the keywords you glean from the job description truly match the skills you possess! Better to be a master of a few talents than have a surface knowledge of many.

Customer Service Consultant Resume

• Having trouble breaking up with the roles you had in high school? You can save old positions in a separate document, just in case. Just reassure yourself that you can discuss this expertise during an interview.
• Rather than cramming your work experience down to microscopic font size, try honing in on your most relevant work history. 
• Since you probably have plenty of experience, you may want to consider including a  resume summary , which can give a valuable overview of your skills and how they’ve driven results over the course of your lengthy (10+ years for a summary) career. 

Customer Service Agent Resume

• As long as you’re not distracting from the content of your resume, go ahead and get a little creative. 
• Do this by  organizing your resume  into distinct sections (subheadings are your friend), and use an unexpected pop of color to draw on your personality. Who said your resume has to be boring? 
• Focus on adding hard skills, like Zendesk, Salesforce, and Microsoft Word.

Customer Service Success Specialist Resume

• Hiring managers in the customer service field often have less than a minute to review your resume, so it’s important that you place the most relevant information where they’ll see it! 
• Emphasize growth in your career by ordering your work experience in a  reverse-chronological resume format , meaning that your most recent experience will be listed at the top of the page. 
• Including numbers in your work experience bullet points shows the employer that you’re great at your job! Ultimately, they’re looking for specialists who can perform the job well, and numbers prove that you can. 

Customer Service Coordinator Resume

• That’s right. Your resume doesn’t need to look computer-generated to command respect. In fact, using a sprinkle of color can demonstrate your confidence and individuality, making you an even more appealing candidate. 
• A word of caution: While more companies are valuing the individuality and flair of applicants, there are times when toned-down colors (like deep navy, slate gray, or hunter green) may be more appropriate. This can be especially true if you’re applying to a larger corporate business. Determine what’s best by investigating the  customer service job description’s  work culture.

Customer Service Advisor Resume

• Now, that doesn’t mean you need to bring the entire color wheel to your resume. Instead, focus on grabbing recruiters’ attention by using one or two colors for your section titles. You can start from scratch to find a visually-appealing color, or use a  resume template  if you’re not artistically inclined. 
• Take your resume personalization to the next step by adding a  career summary  section if you’re a total pro in the field with more than a decade of experience. Use this section for some humble bragging and tell hiring managers about your biggest accomplishments over the course of your career. Because if there’s any good time to brag, it’s on your resume, right?

Customer Service Technician Resume

• It’s surprisingly easy! Using hard numbers throughout your resume makes hiring managers slow down and read more carefully, plus using metrics supercharges your resume clout and indicates that you know your value (literally). 
• Don’t be afraid to highlight your  hobbies and interests on your resume .
• But, please, please ensure you can relate them to the job. If you’re including a super interesting hobby, a hiring manager is almost certainly going to ask you all about it. You better 1.) actually do that hobby, and 2.) be able to relate that hobby to relevant customer service tech job skills. 

Customer Service Representative Resume

• So, instead of simply adding ‘Sales’ as a skill in your customer service representative resume , use an example of where and how you used said skillset. Try, “Boosted high-end electronic sales by 34% through deep product knowledge and personalized demonstrations.”

Call Center Customer Service Resume

• Format your resume so that your most recent experience and achievements are at the top of your call center customer service resume . By doing this, you’re presenting those highlights in a way that they’re the very first thing a recruiter will probably look at.

Professional Customer Service Resume

• Let’s say you have a Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP) certification on your professional customer service resume—it immediately lets a potential employer know you’re well-equipped and ready to provide exceptional customer service.

Customer Service Supervisor Resume

• If you know your way around a specific CRM or management software, don’t miss the opportunity to add it to your customer service supervisor resume and show an employer you’re a well-rounded candidate.

Remote Customer Service Resume

• By using a remote customer service resume template that’s clutter-free and spotlights what’s really important, you can show a recruiter what they need to see to form a positive opinion of you.

Customer Service Sales Resume

• Let’s take the poetry writing, portrait sketching, and vector illustration mentioned in this customer service sales resume . They convey that you have a knack for being creative, understanding design, and paying attention to detail—all of which will come in handy in your professional role.

Related resume guides

• Receptionist
• Sales Associate
• Front Desk Receptionist

4 Tips to Improve Your Customer Service Resume Today

Customer service resumes have gone beyond a simple list of experiences and education that prove your worth. Now, they’re as varied as the candidates themselves. Before writing a resignation letter and applying for your next job, check out BeamJobs’ list of recommendations to make your resume sound professional, look neat, and prove without a doubt that you’re the best candidate. We’ll cover:

• Customer service skills
• Formatting your customer service resume
• Quantifying your previous impact
• Customizing your resume for each job

Tip 1: Confidently choose your customer service skills

The  skills section of a resume  might be short, but it packs a punch. This is where you sell what you’re capable of and what you can do. This section is especially important for ATS to keep you in the running, so it’s crucial to pay attention to what skills you possess.

You should list both hard skills (like Microsoft Office Suite, HubSpot, or HelpDesk) and soft skills (like organization, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication). The best place to find applicable skills would be the job description itself—see what’s required for the tasks listed, and then use those tasks to steer you in the right direction.

Let’s say you run across a  customer service job description  requesting bilingual support like this:

• Answer telephone calls and emails promptly in Spanish and English
• Maintain and extend client base through positive customer interaction
• Excellent verbal and written skills in both Spanish and English
• Strong organizational and analytical skills 
• Flexible—must be able to work independently AND with a team daily

Based on the job description, it’s clear this company values a bilingual, organized individual who is an effective communicator. These skills (as long as they accurately define you) should serve as the foundation of your skills section. And a word to the wise—don’t apply for a job if you can’t honestly say you own the skill set required. 

Now, it’s time to tailor your skills section to the job description, which could look like this:

• Bilingual (Spanish and English)
• Organized 
• Strong verbal and written communication 
• Proven customer success 
• Empathetic 
• Methodical and thorough documentation 
• CRM (HubSpot)

Not every customer service job description will look like the one above, so your skills section should reflect the role for which you’re applying.

The following skills would be great additions to other customer service positions:

• Data analysis
• Metrics-driven
• Customer service reporting
• Self-motivated
• Social media
• Creative problem-solver
• Inquisitive

Tip 2: Format your resume for the ATS and recruiters 

When you open the pages of a book, what’s more inviting: dense blocks of text with little color or short paragraphs with headings, indents, and plenty of white space? The latter is easier to read and, thus, more inviting. Your customer service resume needs to follow the same principle since it’s your first impression. Make the recruiter’s job as easy as possible by being neat, easy to read, and understandable. 

There are multiple ways to achieve this, but one of the easiest is to put things in  reverse-chronological format . This helps recruiters know immediately where you’re coming from. (For example, if you recently worked as a customer service representative, you’ll have a shorter adjustment period. And even if you were a customer service rep a few years ago, the reverse-chronological order will help recruiters quickly assess your qualifications.)

Further suggestions for keeping your resume easy to read: 

• Bullet points rely on keywords, essential for making your resume ATS-friendly. The condensed structure and repetitive points also relieve eye strain when reading.
• Place the customer service title beneath your name to make it easier for the recruiter to keep that specific job in mind as they scan your resume. This is especially crucial when a company is hiring for multiple positions.
• The average time a recruiter spends looking at a resume is six to seven seconds, which means you should only include necessities. Anything else that’s relevant can be brought up in the job interview.
• Some companies see them as antiquated, but others like knowing exactly what you’re aiming for. Scan resumes in the job field to see if others include them, and consider reaching out to current employees on LinkedIn for advice.
• Primarily, fancy icons or images may confuse the ATS. Beyond that, leaving them off your resume looks more professional; plus, it leaves room for more important things, like skills or awards.

Objective or summary for your customer service resume?

Objectives and summaries  are a hot topic for resumes. It’s up to you to decide if an objective or summary is needed for your customer service resume. Typically, objectives/summaries are a good idea if you’re changing careers, you’re an entry-level applicant, or if you want to customize them for each application. Otherwise, it would be best to leave space for other things.

The difference between objectives and summaries rests in their purpose and your level of experience. Both are roughly two to three sentences, but  an objective describes your interest and qualifications for the job while a summary highlights your past work . If you have limited experience, you should choose an objective to sell why you’re the best candidate, but if you’re years into customer service, you could include a summary to describe your unique background.

No matter if it’s a summary or an objective, it should always be concise, informative, and personal ; this is your chance to show your personality and skills before the interview, so make it count.

When you write your objective, communicate your reason for applying and why you’d make a great candidate. Avoid making it generic, flat, or too casual: 

• College graduate looking for work in the customer service industry to start a life-long career. I’m hardworking, great with people, and skilled with computers.

Instead, your objective should be specific, detailed, and unique to both you and the job description. Try something that highlights your skills regardless of your experience level:

For those who have 10+ years of experience, a summary is the best way to go. Poor summaries have limited and vague information:

• I’m a manager who is seeking further professional growth. I’m good at resolving conflicts, handling money, and writing reports; looking for a job that will give me experience and career options.

Rather, a summary should be a highlight reel of your accomplishments and expertise. To further showcase your talent, add metrics here, too:

This summary is tailored to the position and outlines the candidate’s experience and skills while being personable and not too formal. By carefully crafting your objective or summary, you can rise above the competition in just two to three sentences.

Tip 3: Leverage metrics on your customer service resume 

Leveraging metrics is all about avoiding generality and demonstrating success. Most job description bullets don’t describe how successful, friendly, or efficient you were. However, saying, “Assisted 200+ customers weekly with technical questions with a 98% customer satisfaction rate,” tells the recruiter the specifics of your talents and abilities. 

Writing metrics for every single bullet point isn’t necessary, but including an estimate when you can is better than staying vague.

Some customer service metrics to add to your resume include:

• Customer satisfaction (CSAT) score: The core aspect of customer service is keeping customers happy, so providing high CSAT scores based on your interaction with customers is bound to get recruiters noticing.
• Net promoter score: Just like the CSAT, this gives an insight into how happy customers are with the company. 
• Employee retention rate: This statistic works well if you’re in a management position with a tight-knit group. That means your leadership has a direct effect on how many customer service reps leave or stay.
• Resolution rate: By showing a percentage of solved cases, you demonstrate your effective problem-solving skills and care for the customer.
• Customer effort score: This shows how much effort it took to get an issue resolved. Less effort means you’re easier to work with and more effective, which is why a low CES score is useful to add to your resume.
• Customer/employee numbers: Providing the number of teammates, employees, or customers you’ve helped or served is a great way to show your capability in helping large volumes of people.

Now that you know what kind of metrics to include, below are some examples of how you can use them in practice. If you have trouble calculating some of the aforementioned metrics,  HelpCrunch  or  Kustomer  have some helpful formulas. 

• Assisted over 250 patrons with technological questions monthly with a consistent 86 CSAT score based on interactions
• Extended the client base through positive, empathetic communication, resulting in a net promoter score of over 50
• Led a group of 20 employees through conflict resolution training, and updated onboarding processes that improved employee retention by 23%

Tip 4: Customize your customer service resume for the job 

Just as every company is different, no customer service position is identical. So, why would you submit the same resume for multiple customer service job applications? Tailoring your resume shows you have researched the job and helps corroborate your candidacy.

Check the following list for advice on how to customize sections of your resume:

• Mention the company by name and what you hope to accomplish. Check the “job details” section of the job description to see what the company hopes to achieve, whether it’s boosting customer loyalty or increasing customer satisfaction.
• Many customer service jobs require similar skills, but that doesn’t mean your skills should stay stale. Check the job description’s qualifications to scan for skill keywords to use. Keep it under 10 to avoid being excessive.
• Include the job description requirements in your resume as much as you can. If the job description says they’re looking for someone who will “standardize quality customer service through positive customer interactions,” mimic that wording on your resume to describe your past achievements. This helps make your resume ATS-friendly while highlighting your skills.
• No matter the customer service role you’re seeking, there are many ways to  write your resume  so that it’s relevant and unique to every application:

Customer service resume

• All of these are good ways to customize your job description points.
• Include a concise objective that mentions the company by name, and highlight why you’re qualified for the job.
• Have you assisted large volumes of customers or boosted overall customer numbers? Have you increased efficiency or used specific software discussed in the job description? 

Customer service rep resume

• Outcomes like increased sales or error reductions are great metrics to include.
• Highlight skills like empathy, friendliness, and negotiation in your skills section and job description bullets.
• Include your goals for your interactions with customers, like “established lasting relationships” to draw attention to your interpersonal skills.

Customer service manager resume 

• Use verbs like “directed,” “led,” or “modeled” to demonstrate productive leadership.
• Include a summary to showcase the success of your career so far and what you can bring to your new job.

Entry-level customer service resume

• For example, if you were a lab assistant, you had to be highly organized and a great problem-solver, which would work well in a customer service resume.
• Stress your ability to work well with people—include any courses,  extracurricular projects , or volunteer efforts where you interacted with people consistently. 

Retail customer service resume

• Include past experience where you solved problems, troubleshot issues, or resolved disagreements.
• Anything relating to product management would be an excellent addition—think of past jobs that dealt with marketing or sales, especially if you can provide metrics like increased revenue or reaching sales targets.

Customer success manager resume

• CSMs must be able to see trouble coming and steer clear, so include responsibilities where you proactively and positively improved the customer’s experience.
• Resilience and tenacity are two core elements of the customer success journey, so long-term projects and goals are solid additions to prove you’re willing to spend the time to get something done right. 

Bilingual customer support resume

• Include all languages in which you’re fluent in the skills section. Also, make sure to highlight your bilingual (or multilingual) abilities in your objective or summary.
• Mention how you improved your customer service strategies or practices as this will show you actively make customer experiences better for everyone.

Customer service consultant resume

• CSCs are also great advocates for both the customer and the company. They see things from both the customer’s perspective and the company’s, so keep your resume balanced between your advancements for the company and your success with customers.

The keys to your customer service resume

Resumes are your first impression, so it’s important you make a good one. By taking the extra time to customize and adjust your customer service resume, you’ll catch the eye of hiring managers. With your list of relevant skills, professional formatting, specific job metrics, and customized additions, your resume is sure to stand out from the competition.

Upload your resume to our  resume checker  to see if your resume meets our AI-powered recommendations. If you’re starting from scratch, use our  resume builder , which allows you to create resumes from the ground up with helpful hints and tools from BeamJobs. If you’ve made it this far, it’s safe to say you’re well on your way to crushing your customer service resume!

Best Customer Service Resume: How to Make Yours Stand Out [with Examples]

Published: October 19, 2022

One of the great things about customer service is that the skills you develop can be relevant to a lot of different jobs. The best customer service resume showcases those skills along with your unique personality and your diverse experiences.

Successfully marrying all of these elements into a one-page resume can be daunting for anyone. But fear not — there are steps you can take to ensure your resume is as strong as possible without causing you tons of stress.

In this post, let's review the sections you need to include in a successful customer service resume, as well as example resumes that you can use as inspiration for your next application.

Jump ahead:

What is a customer service resume?

How to write the best customer service resume, what to include in your customer service resume, top 10 best customer service resume examples, putting your best foot forward.

A customer service resume provides a comprehensive but concise summary of your job history, professional experience, and special skills in the customer service field. It's also a great place for candidates to showcase any achievements or accomplishments they've had in previous customer service positions.

Some common customer service roles include:

• Customer service representatives
• Customer support specialists
• Customer success managers
• Start from a template.
• Keep it clear and concise.
• Use the right keywords.
• Highlight specific accomplishments.
• Showcase your personality.

As highlighted above and shown in the image below, there are five ways you can write a customer service resume that gets the attention of prospective employers.

Let's review each below.

1. Start from a template.

While it's important to make sure your resume is unique to you, there are a number of templates available to help you get started. For example, HubSpot has a selection of free resume templates that are fully customizable to the job you're applying for.

Featured Resource: Free Resume Templates

Download These Templates for Free

2. Keep it clear and concise.

Keep in mind that you only have a limited amount of time to impress job recruiters. And many are quickly skimming through a sea of resumes for each open position. Keep your resume short and sweet, and make it easy for employers to see that you're the right fit up front.

3. Use the right keywords.

Speaking of skimming, hiring managers are also looking for a few magic words that tell them you're a good candidate to move to the next round. Look at the job description closely, and make sure your resume aligns with the language your prospective employer is using.

4. Highlight specific accomplishments.

It's great to know that you've "positively interacted with customers", but so has just about every other applicant vying for the same position you're applying for. Get specific, and try to quantify your experiences where possible (e.g., resolved x amount of customer inquiries per day).

5. Showcase your personality.

Show recruiters what makes you, you. What qualities will you bring to the team? Infusing your personality is one more way you can separate yourself out from the crowd.

Now that we've reviewed some fundamentals about how to write your resume, let's get into what you should include.

The best sections to include in your customer service resume are an objective or summary along with details about your skills, experience and accomplishments, and education.

Customer Service Resume Objective or Summary (Optional)

Depending on the position, it may make sense to start your resume with an overview of who you are, what you're looking for, and what you'll bring to the position. You can put this in paragraph or bullet-form at the beginning of your resume to make it clear to whoever is reading it.

However, if you're running out of room on the page, it's OK to omit a summary. You can always take what you would've written and weave it into other sections on your resume.

Here are a few examples of customer service principles you can highlight in this section.

Putting the customer first.

Companies know that customer interactions with the product and the business are incredibly important. Making this stance clear will show hiring managers that your priorities are in line with theirs.

Teaching rather than explaining.

Customer autonomy is a huge bonus for a hiring manager. Let them know that you want to be so good at what you do that the customer's understanding of the product might reach a level where they no longer reach out to your team as often.

Desiring challenges from an unpredictable environment.

A day in the life of a customer service representative can be extremely unpredictable. Adding this as an objective will make it clear that you're ready to hit the ground running. Plus, it will reassure the hiring managers that you know what you're applying for.

Growing your technical and product knowledge.

Learning is a huge part of customer service. So, showing eagerness to grow in technical and product knowledge is extremely vital to include on your resume.

Next up, let's talk about skills.

Customer Service Resume Skills

• Learning Potential
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Self-Motivation
• Product and Industry Expertise
• Emotional Intelligence
• Problem-Solving
• Improvisation

Another important section to include is the skills that you've developed as a customer service professional. Here are eight good ones to highlight.

1. Learning Potential

This is the big one. No matter what level of knowledge you have about the product or the business, you're going to be trained and coached. With this in mind, you need to show a willingness to learn, whether it be in a classroom or on the phone with a customer.

2. Communication

Though somewhat self-explanatory, these skills become more nuanced when you think about the different types of customers a company has. Can you take a technical concept and clearly explain it to people of all backgrounds? Plus, in addition to customers, you're going to need to be able to effectively communicate with your team too.

3. Adaptability

This can range from scheduling adaptability to troubleshooting on the fly. What do you do when your "surefire" troubleshooting step doesn't work? Are you cool under the pressure of the follow-up question? No matter what your level of product knowledge is, having adaptability and flexibility is going to be an asset.

4. Self-Motivation

Even though many companies block time for their reps to be on the phone, it's likely that no one will tell you what to do with your day as a whole. Self-motivation is a huge personality trait in this position, because it's one that no training team or manager can teach. At the end of the day, you have to want to be there and want to help solve for your customers.

5. Product and Industry Expertise

While this trait isn't imperative for getting hired, it is a nice detail that can stand out on your resume. Showing that you have a firm understanding of the product and its industry lets hiring managers know that you're not only ahead of other candidates, but that you also have a genuine passion for the business.

6. Emotional Intelligence

While product knowledge may be optional at first, emotional intelligence isn't. Emotional intelligence refers to your ability to interpret the thoughts and feelings of others and respond to them in an appropriate way. This skill is incredibly important for service reps because it creates a personalized and delightful customer experience .

7. Problem-Solving

If you know the saying, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade," then your resume should make you look like an enterprise-level lemonade salesperson. Customer service is all about solving problems, and often, the solutions to those problems aren't clear. In many cases, reps need to think on their feet to come up with creative solutions to meet customer needs .

8. Improvisation

As a customer service rep, it's your job to do everything within reason to prevent churn . Sometimes, this requires creative problem-solving and the ability to improvise when things go wrong. Keeping cool and making the right choices in stressful situations is an incredibly valuable skill in customer service.

Once you've laid out your skills, you'll need to back them up.

Next up, let's talk about professional experience and accomplishments.

Customer Service Resume Experience & Accomplishments

In this section, you'll want to cover your recent professional experience in depth, especially with regard to your career progression, projects completed, and milestones reached.

Here are some examples.

Customer Service or Professional Experience

If you're applying for a position in customer service and you've already worked in a customer-facing role, make sure your resume highlights your industry experience. This includes what industry your company was a part of, what metrics you used to measure success, what goals you achieved, and the impact you've had on the company.

If you're applying for a customer service role and you don't have industry experience, do some brainstorming about the transferable skills and experiences that would serve you in a customer-facing role. For example, if your previous experience is in marketing, you've probably developed effective communication skills. And, most importantly, think about why you want to move into customer service so your resume effectively communicates that.

Career Progression and Advancement Details

Were you promoted in your last role? Did you ever manage a team? Did you collaborate with other colleagues on side projects, experiments, or campaigns? Were you tapped to lead an experiment or test case?

Make sure the experience section of your resume details examples of you being recognized or rewarded for going above and beyond. Hiring managers want to hire the best of the best, so make sure you highlight examples of this.

Volunteer or Community Involvement

If you're involved in your community, feel free to include that work on your resume as long as it's relevant to the position. Including experiences like these will help you stand out to employers. Plus, it gives hiring managers an idea of what you like to do outside of work.

Next up, let's talk about education.

Customer Service Resume Education

In this section, you'll want to make sure you showcase your educational background. This includes any classes, research, projects, or accolades that speak to your ability to excel, your commitment and grit, and your industry expertise.

Higher Education Background and Achievements

Make sure your resume details your highest levels of educational attainment. Note where you studied, what you studied, your GPA, and any particularly relevant projects or research you worked on.

It's okay if you didn't major in the industry you're applying to (not all of us have). But education helps round out your overall workplace knowledge and experience.

Additional Professional or Educational Training

If you've taken training courses, certificate programs, or attended classes as part of your on-the-job training, include those diplomas in your resume as well — especially if they might be part of the tech stack the team you're applying to uses.

Now that we've broken down what to include on your customer service resume, let's take a look at a few examples you can use as inspiration for your application.

Check out the list below for the top ten best customer service resume examples for roles across the industry. Each customer service resume sample includes what we like about it.

1. Entry Level Customer Service Representative

What we like: This resume is a great example of someone who has no direct customer service experience, but does have experience interacting with customers of different backgrounds. The fictitious Justine has made a clean-looking resume that clearly states the experience she has had working with customers, and shows familiarity with hitting a metric of some kind in her sales position.

2. Mid-Level Customer Service Representative

What we like: "Lily's" resume is a great example of someone who has a mixed background with both directly and tangentially-relevant experience. She was a bank teller before she broke into the customer service industry, and putting it on her resume shows diversity and opens a conversation about why she began a career in customer service.

3. Experienced Customer Service Representative

What we like: It's easy to tell right away that "Marie Clark" has been killing it in the customer service industry for some time now. She takes some space at the top to highlight what sets her over the edge as an applicant, making it clear she loves what she does and wants to make a career out of it.

4. Personalized Customer Service Resume

What we like: This clean and creative resume helps the candidate stand out right off the bat while still allowing room to fit all of their awesome experience. The addition of a photo adds a face to their qualifications. And in a career where you might communicate with customers solely over email or phone, it's important to show that you're more than just a faceless resource.

5. Classic Customer Service Resume

What we like: This is a prime example of a no-nonsense resume that still looks great. It's classic, clean, and clear, which can be a relief to recruiters and hiring managers who may look at hundreds of resumes a day. This formatting allows your experience to speak for itself, and would be a great option for a candidate who has a lot of prior experience.

6. Formal Customer Service Resume

What we like: This resume is an effective mix of the first two we've shown in this article. The pops of color and headshot show uniqueness while the formatting leaves a lot of space for what you want to include. It's muted and easy to read, so no one element is overwhelming to the point of throwing it off balance.

7. White Space Customer Service Resume

What we like: This resume stands out because it's the first one we've seen in the article that utilizes the full width of the page. If you really need the extra space, this single-column format allows those extra inches on the side so your qualifications take up less vertical space. This can help your resume look less bunchy, and is extremely easy for your potential employers to follow.

8. Customer Support Engineer Resume

What we like: This customer support engineer resume lets the skills and experience speak for themselves. It's simple, straightforward formatting might not be advisable for a creative role, but for a technologist, it's not as mission-critical as standing out and impressing a hiring manager.

9. Customer Service Manager Resume

What we like: This customer service manager resume highlights this candidate's experience and impact, which is critical when applying for a leadership role. Using color, a modern font, and bullet formatting, this resume effectively divides the different sections while highlighting the most important aspects of this candidate's background.

10. Call Center Resume

What we like: This resume outlines all of the skills and qualifications needed to work in a call center. It starts by listing the candidate's key attributes then backs them up using their professional experience. On the right, it outlines other skills that the candidate possesses and categorizes them by either "hard" or "soft." This not only tells an employer what this candidate can do, but it also shows that they're organized and think logically.

The best customer service resume is the one that gets your foot in the door to "wow" them during the job interview. Take the time to build out a resume that truly makes you and your accomplishments shine.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Resume templates to create a killer resume for your job application.

Service Hub provides everything you need to delight and retain customers while supporting the success of your whole front office

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Customer service resume summary examples.

Approved by hiring managers, here are proven resume summary examples you can use on your Customer Service resume. Learn what real hiring managers want to see on your resume, and when to use which.

• Customer Service
• Customer Service Consultant
• Customer Service Manager
• Customer Service Specialist
• Customer Service Supervisor
• Customer Service Team Lead
• Entry-Level Customer Service Representative
• Senior Customer Service Representative
• Customer Service resume templates
• Similar summary examples

Customer Service Resume Summary Example

Industry-specific experience matters.

When you mention that you have '8 years' experience in telecom industry', it shows your familiarity with the industry-specific challenges and landscape. It's a direct indicator that you know the ropes and won't need much hand-holding if hired.

Showcase your leadership skills

By stating that you 'led a team of 15 to reduce customer complaints by 30%', you're not only showing your capability to lead teams, but also your ability to drive results and make significant improvements. That's an attribute any hiring manager would find desirable.

Highlight your accolades

'Awarded 'Customer Service Champion' three times' is a clear demonstration that you're not just an average Joe in the industry. It shows you've been recognized for your work, which adds credibility and weight to your application.

Demonstrate your ability to adapt

Working in both large corporations and small start-ups shows your adaptability. It implies that you can handle different work cultures and organizational structures, which is a sign of a versatile candidate.

Customer Service Consultant Resume Summary Example

Displaying customer satisfaction goals.

Stating that you improved customer satisfaction rates by 30% in one year is a strong testament to your skills. It shows recruiters that you're results-driven, customer-focused, and capable of making a significant impact on a company's success.

Emphasizing Training Skills

By indicating that you trained 50+ customer service reps, you're offering proof of your leadership abilities and communications skills. This shows potential employers you can not only work well with a team, but also lead and guide them towards improvement.

Innovation in Customer Feedback

Highlighting that you implemented a new customer feedback system that increased response rates by 25% is a great way to demonstrate your proactive approach and innovative thinking. It gives recruiters a glimpse into your ability to identify areas for improvement and take action to enhance them.

A great resume can open doors to new opportunities. But a subpar one can keep you stuck in your job search. Our tool helps you create a resume that showcases your skills and experience in the best possible light. Get started now and see the difference for yourself.

Customer Service Manager Resume Summary Example

Showcase your leadership strengths.

'Building and leading high-performing teams' demonstrates your leadership skills and your ability to inspire and motivate others.

Demonstrate your impact on staff morale

'Reduced staff turnover by 25%' indicates that you’re not only good at managing clients, but also at managing people. Lower staff turnover means happier, more engaged teams – and that’s a big win for any employer.

Illustrate your customer retention skills

'Increased customer retention by 10%' shows that you don't just handle customers, you keep them. In a competitive market, a strong customer base can make or break a company.

Customer Service Specialist Resume Summary Example

Promote your problem-solving skills.

'Proven record of resolving complex customer issues' clearly showcases your problem-solving skills. It shows you can handle challenges and defuse difficult situations, a crucial quality in customer service.

Evidence your customer engagement improvement

'Improved customer feedback score by 15%' shows that you do not only interact with customers, but you also make their experiences better. This shows you're not just doing tasks, but you're making an impact.

Highlight your process improvement skills

'Developed a new process for managing customer complaints' reveals your ability to identify areas for improvement and innovate solutions.

Customer Service Supervisor Resume Summary Example

Showcasing efficiency improvements.

Illustrating your ability to enhance team efficiency, as stated in the summary, is a concrete way to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and leadership abilities. By stating that you increased team efficiency by 35%, you're giving hiring managers a clear picture of what you're capable of.

Highlighting Time Management

Mentioning that you reduced call handling time by 20% is a smart move. It signals that you've got a knack for streamlining operations and improving efficiency, which are key elements in any customer service role.

Demonstrating Crisis Management

By mentioning that you managed a team during a major system outage and resolved the issue within 24 hours, you're showing potential employers that you can handle high-pressure situations and come up with solutions quickly.

Customer Service Team Lead Resume Summary Example

Draw attention to your productivity boost.

'Improving team productivity by 30%' is a tangible evidence of your positive impact on your previous team, showing that you can lead and make a difference.

Highlight your contribution to efficiency

'Implemented a new training program that decreased onboarding time by two weeks' shows your ability to identify areas that need improvement and take action to rectify them.

Showcase your reliability

'Consistently met and exceeded performance targets' signals your reliability and dedication to quality service. It shows potential employers that you're a dependable candidate.

Entry-Level Customer Service Representative Resume Summary Example

Highlight your qualifications.

'Certificate in customer service management' shows that you have gone above and beyond to equip yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge. It shows dedication and commitment to your career.

Emphasize your real-world experience

'Internship experience in a high-volume call center' gives you an edge over other entry-level candidates. It shows you’ve already dipped your toes in the water and have some understanding of what the job involves.

Show your initiative

'Increased customer survey participation by 20%' is an indicator that you're not just a passive player. It shows your willingness to take initiative and make improvements.

Senior Customer Service Representative Resume Summary Example

Show your impact on the team's efficiency.

'Reducing call wait times by 15%' underscore your ability to streamline processes and make the team more efficient. In customer service, efficiency is king.

Show your team management skills

Managing a team of 20 to handle 1,000+ daily customer inquiries shows your capacity to handle high-pressure situations and manage large teams effectively.

Highlight your contribution to sales

'Doubled up-selling rates by implementing a new sales script' shows you don’t just handle customer inquiries, but also contribute to sales. That's a big plus in the eyes of any potential employer.

Draw attention to your cross-industry experience

'Experience spans across healthcare and retail industries' shows that your skills are not confined to just one industry. It indicates that you can adapt to different customer needs and demands across various sectors.

Customer Service Resume Templates

Cloud developer.

Relationship Manager

Service Technician

Administrative Resume Summary Examples

• > Administrative Assistant Summary Examples
• > Executive Assistant Summary Examples
• > Office Manager Summary Examples
• > Research Assistant Summary Examples

Administrative Resume Objective Examples

• > Administrative Assistant Objective Examples
• > Executive Assistant Objective Examples
• > Office Manager Objective Examples
• > Research Assistant Objective Examples

Administrative Resume Guides

• > Administrative Assistant Resume Guides
• > Executive Assistant Resume Guides
• > Office Manager Resume Guides
• > Research Assistant Resume Guides

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Customer Service Resume Examples for 2023 [+Template]

• November 8, 2022
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

To succeed as a customer service worker, you need a diverse set of skills and qualifications. You must be patient, sympathetic, a good problem solver, and informed about the products or services offered by your firm. Still, hiring managers will be more likely to notice you if you also put in the effort to tailor and customize your customer service representative resume for the position. Your resume will only stand out from the crowd thanks to its content, professional formatting, and job-specific metrics. If you’re struggling to create your customer service resume, here are the best tips to help you get started.

How to write a customer service resume

Customer service employees must attempt to fulfill each customer’s requests, resolve issues, and guarantee that clients are satisfied with the product or service.

A customer service resume should include the following sections:  

• Work Experience  
• Contact Information

You can also include the following extra components to leave a strong first impression:  

• Certifications
• Volunteer Experience

Customer service specialist resume template

543 North Ave, Chicago, IL (123) 456-7890 doe.john@gmail .com

Customer Service Representative with over 3 years of call center customer service expertise, including sales, tech support, and customer care. Familiar with various customer service software, dispute resolution methodology, and bringing a positive, client-focused attitude. Ready to apply my demonstrated customer service and leadership skills in your organization’s management position.

WORK EXPERIENCE

BERRYBEE CO. / Chicago, IL / Customer Care Specialist / Sep 2019–Present

• Answering 110+ calls daily, onboarding new customers, accessing client data, delivering pertinent product information, and terminating services.  
• Training new hires on utilizing Zendesk, including data entry and organization of customer contact records.
• Received an average customer satisfaction rating of 91% to date, 12% higher than the company average.
• Researching complex issues to provide more comprehensive service to customers.
• Developing and implementing a new methodology to persuade canceling customers to stay with the company, resulting in a 17% decrease in cancellations and higher customer retention.

CTRL / Chicago, IL / Customer Care Representative/ Jun 2016 – Aug 2019

• Memorized the line of business products and services, including pricing and special discounts, to provide prompt and factual information to clients.
• Provided basic technical help for clients on various company products, resolving issues with an 87% client satisfaction rate.
• Remained courteous and professional thanks to high emotional intelligence and active listening, even in the face of extreme client dissatisfaction.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO   

• Chicago, IL / Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, 2015

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Zendesk / ChatDesk / TalkTalk
• Microsoft Office 365 & GSuite
• Bilingual (native-level English & Spanish)
• Typing speed 123 WPM

1. Write a customer service resume summary (3x examples)

A resume summary for customer service specialists should demonstrate that you are competent and motivated. Remember to highlight how your expertise, talents, and previous accomplishments will benefit the firm and help it expand when drafting your summary.  

When writing your summary, explain why you’re applying and why you’d be a good fit. The short paragraph should be concise, specific, and tailored to you and the job description. Aim for a summary that will emphasize your skills and achievements using numbers and metrics.

Retail Customer Service Resume Summary

Customer service manager resume summary, customer service representative resume summary, 2. customer service specialist work experience .

Instead of simply listing your daily duties, focus on your impact on the company. Adding statistics to your job experience area provides the hiring manager with a more detailed picture of your successes as a customer service specialist. Similarly, including highly sought-after skills will boost your chances.

• Suggested a new strategy to encourage canceling clients to continue with the firm, resulting in a 13% reduction in cancellations.
• Achieved the highest up-sell rates between 2016 and 2020 (4.7%).
• Greeted and provided gift packages to 300+ people during the store’s opening event. 
• Won “Employee of the Month” 5 months in a row for connecting with customers in a personable yet professional manner.

3. Skills to include on a customer service resume (examples)

The skills section on your resume may be short, but it packs a powerful punch. This part is critical for making it through ATS , so pay close attention to which skills you include. You should mention both hard and soft skills based on the ones mentioned in the job description. You may add soft skills to your resume even if you lack those specific hard skills . Also, be sure to highlight any relevant and transferrable skills.  

Hard skills:

• Typing speed
• Product knowledge
• Microsoft Office 365
• Foreign language skills

Soft skills:

• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Decision-making
• Time management
• Working under pressure

 4. Education and certifications 

Following your experiences, you should present your education to date. There are no secrets to this section – each entry in your educational background should follow the same format:  

• Degree name & major  
• University/school name 
• Years studied 
• GPA, Honours, extra courses, etc . 

Following your education, you can also include any licenses or certifications you have received. Include this section if you have any additional qualifications you’re proud of, whether an award or a certificate.  

MS Word Customer service specialist resume template

Customer service specialist resume 150030.

Customer service specialist Cover Letter 150030

Download Customer Service Specialist Resume 150030 Download it here →

FAQ – Customer service resume 

Every organization is unique, and no two customer service positions are the same. So, tailor your resume to show that you have done your research. From your title to the skills and experience you include, every bit of your customer service resume should reflect what the company is looking for.  To achieve this in your work experience section: –    Include keywords. While many customer service positions have similar requirements, you should still put effort into tailoring each section to the position. Examine the qualifications section of the job description for keywords to use, and scatter those throughout your resume. –     Make your bullet points unique and specific. Use the exact phrasing from the job description on your resume to explain your previous accomplishments. This makes your customer service representative resume more ATS-friendly while emphasizing your expertise.

Because they are far more engaging than verbs like “worked,” “did,” or “assisted,” action verbs increase your resume’s impact and help it stand out. Here are some relevant action verbs related to customer service positions:  Respond Manage  Consult  Resolve  Implement  Communicate  Maintain  Conduct  Supply Provide  Train

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Customer Service Skills for a Resume [W/ Full List & Examples]

Customer service skills are vital if you want to get hired for any customer-facing position. 

That’s because customer service skills can help you resolve customer complaints, improve customer satisfaction, and even drive new sales.

Want to learn which customer service skills are a must-have on your resume in 2024? You’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about customer service skills, including: 

• What Are Customer Service Skills
• 20 Essential Customer Service Skills For Your Resume

3 Steps to Add Customer Service Skills to Your Resume

• How to Improve Your Customer Service Skills

Let's dive in! 

What Are Customer Service Skills?

Customer service refers to the relationship between a business and its customers. The better this relationship, the more successful a business can be. 

Customer service skills are a set of soft skills that allow you to provide the best customer experience possible. They involve being able to:

• Communicate effectively
• Solve problems promptly
• Demonstrate patience
• Create genuine connections

Customer service skills are essential for any customer-facing role out there, including customer support representatives , salespeople, cashiers , and the sorts. 

But what is it, exactly, that makes customer service skills so valuable? Let us give you the data-backed answer. 

Why Are Customer Service Skills Important 

If you’re someone who’s looking for a job in customer-facing roles, you probably already know that having strong customer service skills can significantly improve your employability. 

Finding employees who can resolve customers’ complaints and make them feel heard, understood, and appreciated is of the highest importance for potential employers.  

Here are all the benefits that employees with strong customer service skills can bring to a company: 

• Improved customer experience. The better customer service you can provide, the more satisfied will your customers be. And, according to this HubSpot study, 68% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for products and services from a brand known to offer good customer service experiences.
• Increased profits. Happy customers are more likely to spend money on a product or service. A study by Bain found that companies that excel at customer experience grow revenues 4%-8% above their market .
• Higher customer retention. According to Invesp, investing in new clients is 5 to 25 times more expensive than retaining existing ones. Considering that 80% of consumers said they’d do business with a competitor after a bad customer service experience, customer service is essential in retaining customers.
• Established brand loyalty. According to the study by Zendesk, nearly three out of five consumers report that good customer service is vital for them to feel loyalty toward a brand.
• More referrals. Your customers are bound to talk about their customer experience - especially if it’s really good or really bad. According to Esteban Kolsky, Chief Evangelist for customer experience at SAP, after a positive customer experience, 72% of customers will share their opinion of your brand with at least six people.

20 Customer Service Skills to List on Your Resume 

As we already mentioned, customer service doesn't consist of a single skill, but of a set of skills. 

As such, the customer service skills you should list on your resume greatly depend on the specifics of the position you're applying for. 

That said, there are some customer service skills that are in demand for the majority of customer-facing roles out there, such as communication and active listening.  

Here is a list of the most in-demand customer service skills for your resume in 2024: 

• Active listening
• Adaptability
• Attention to detail
• Bilingual customer support
• Building customer royalty
• Communication
• Complain resolution
• Organizational skills
• Decision making
• Interpersonal skills
• Persuasion skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Product knowledge
• Time management
• Upselling/Cross-selling
• Service-based selling
• Computer skills

Now that you know what the most important customer service skills are, it’s time to list them on your resume.

Below, we’ll teach you which resume sections are best for listing your customer service skills, as well as teach you how to do it in the most compelling way possible.

Let’s get started!

#1. Mention Your Customer Service Skills on Your Resume Summary 

The first place where you can (and should) mention your customer service skills is the resume summary . 

In a nutshell, the resume summary is a short, three or four-sentence paragraph that describes you as a candidate. Typically, it mentions: 

• Your professional title and years of experience
• Your top skills
• Your most notable achievements

Done right, the resume summary will show the hiring manager you’re a qualified candidate from the get-go and get them to go through your resume in more detail. 

As such, for roles where customer service skills are practically essential, it’s very important to higlight that you possess such skills in your resume summary.

Here’s an example of customer service skills listed in a resume summary:

• Attentative and communicative customer service representative with five years of retail experience responding to all manner of customer inquiries. Career highlights include receiving 99% positive customer survey results at XYZ Convenience. Seeking a role at ABC Tech, where my problem-solving and interpersonal skills can be leveraged to achieve and maintain the highest level of customer service.

#2. List the Right Customer Service Skills 

The most obvious place to list your customer service skills is on your resume’s Skills section. 

The key here, though, is to list skills that are relevant for the role you’re applying for.

We already mentioned how different roles may require different customer service skills. A customer support agent, for example, requires comunication skills and active listening.

Whereas a sales represenative, on the other hand, requires persuasion and upselling skills.

What we’re getting at here is that you shouldn’t just randomly list all the customer services skills we covered in this article - you should pick out the ones that are most relevant for your role.

Here are our top tips on how to list the most relevant customer service skills for your position:

• Check the job description. Most jobs tell you exactly which skills they’re looking for in candidates, all you’ve got to do is check the job description. As a customer service representative, for example, it’ll typically tell you that you need active listening skills, multi-tasking skills, communication skills, knowledge of CRM systems, etc. 
• Identify the skills you possess. Single out the skills that you actually possess instead of adding every single skill mentioned in the job description. 
• Add them under Soft/Hard Skills. Add skills like time management, communication, etc., under Soft Skills and technical know-how like computer skills or product knowledge under Hard Skills. 

#3. Prove Your Customer Service Skills In Your Work Experience Section 

Last but definitely not least, you should use your work experience section to prove to the hiring manager that you possess the customer service skills you mentioned in your resume summary and under your soft skills.

After all, anyone can claim they have customer service skills. It's backing up your claims with facts that can make all the difference. 

Done right, your work experience will leave no doubt in the hiring manager’s mind that they should call you back for a job interview .

Here's exactly how you should build your work experience section so that it highlights your customer service skills: 

• Tailor your work experience to the job description. Don’t use one generic resume to apply to dozens of openings. Each position has its own specific requirements and your resume sections should be tailored to show the hiring manager that you can meet them. If you’re applying for a cashier position, for example, the hiring manager will want to know about your experience as a restaurant server, but not about the time your mowed lawns as a teenager . The first experience highlights yoru customer service skills, while the second does not.
• Focus on your achievements instead of your responsibilities. The hiring manager most knows exactly what your responsibilities were in previous jobs. What they want to know is how you made a positive impact with your achievements. As such, focus on highlighting how you made an impact on your work experience section instead of simply listing what your basic responsibilities were. 
• Make your achievements quantifiable. Speaking of achievements, supporting them with data-backed evidence is what really makes a difference. After all “helped company increase customer retention by 14% by providing customers with a personalized experience” sounds much better than “helped with customer retention.”
• Use action verbs and power words . There are hundreds of words and verbs you can use instead of “helped” or “served.” The more descriptive you are of your achievements, the more impressive you can make them sound. 

Here’s an example of a work experience section that highlights the candidate’s customer service skills perfectly: 

Customer Service Representative 

YXZ Convenience Store

03/2018 - 04/2022

• Achieved the highest up-sell rates in both 2019 (2.6%) and 2021 (3%).
• Worked at the customer information desk for 10+ hour shifts.
• Welcomed and provided personalized customer service to 1000+ customers during the store opening event.

7 Ways to Provide Excellent Customer Service 

Customer service skills don't come naturally to everyone. 

Some people are much better at making customers feel heard and appreciated, while others may struggle to form that connection that makes all the difference when it comes to providing good customer service. 

Well, if the first case applies to you, don't worry. 

Below, we cover seven ways to provide excellent customer service (that can be practiced and learned):

#1. Stay positive

Developing a positive mindset and attitude is an essential part of improving your customer service skills.

Think about your own customer experiences. You’re probably not too happy when, say, you sit at a restaurant and the server taking your order looks miserable, right? Or when you call customer support to resolve an issue and they’re less than willing to help. 

So, whether you’re communicating by phone, face-to-face, or via e-mail, try to stay as positive as possible (even in the face of difficult issues or customers).

#2. Don’t say no

Even if the answer to a customer complaint or issue is “no, it can't be done” or “no, I can’t help you with this,” you should always refrain from phrasing it this way. 

When customers hear the word “no,” they’re more likely to associate it with “this customer service worker doesn’t want to help me” rather than with “this is beyond this employee’s control.” 

So, whenever it’s possible, go out of your way to solve a customer’s issue or help them. And, if doing something to help them really is out of your control, use positive language to tell them, avoid the word “no,” and try to offer them alternative solutions/options that could satisfy them. 

That way, they’ll see that you’re trying hard, despite the fact that you might be unable to solve their problem.

#3. Practice active listening

Active listening is the process of mindfully listening to a speaker, providing feedback, and being observant of non-verbal cues to ensure effective communication. 

Considering that 40% of our daily communication consists of listening , making sure you’re listening effectively to what your customers have to say is an essential part of providing excellent customer service. 

Some ways to do that include: 

• Paying attention and not getting distracted. Try to stay away from your phone and avoid multitasking when you’re interacting with customers. 
• Asking open-ended questions. Open-ended questions require more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer. You can ask such questions to get your customers to describe their needs or problems more comprehensively. 
• Asking probing questions . Similar to open-ended questions, probing questions aim to get a 360-degree view of a topic. Not to mention, they don’t just help you understand better, but also help the speaker to think more comprehensively about what they’re saying.
• Being more attuned to the speaker’s feelings. Customers don’t appreciate feeling like they’re talking to a robot. Asking them about their day and being sympathetic towards their feelings (be they frustration, anger, or annoyance), is a great way to make them feel heard. 

#4. Know your customers

The better you know your customers, the more you can understand their needs and expectations. 

In turn, you can find more creative ways to meet said expectations and improve your customer service. 

Here are some ways you can better understand customer needs: 

• Ask yourself/the team questions such as “who are our main customers?” “what market are they from?” “how does our product/service meet their needs or expectations?” and “what could we do to further help them?”
• Step into your customers’ shoes by considering your own challenges and needs as a customer or what would make your life easier while using the company’s product or service. 
• Encourage customers to give detailed feedback.
• Analyze customer feedback by identifying trends and gaps in your service. Share any results with your team or your colleagues. 

#5. Know the product/service

The better you know the company’s product or services, the more qualitative the customer service you can provide. 

As a salesperson , for example, you’ll be able to sell a product or service better. As a customer support representative, on the other hand, you’ll be able to solve customers' problems more effectively. 

On the same note, knowing a company’s products or services can come in particularly handy when you’re interviewing for a job too. The hiring manager is bound to be impressed with your dedication and effort to learn all about the company before you’re even hired.

Some places where you can easily acquire knowledge of a company’s product or services are:

• Company’s website
• Company’s handbooks 
• Online forums 
• Customer feedback 
• Your own experience with the product 

#6. Be empathetic

We cannot stress enough how important it is to connect with your customers more than just on a professional level. 

Actually connecting with the customer on a personal level and showing real empathy for their issues can really make a world of a difference when it comes to customer experience.

In the first case, if you can’t resolve a customer complaint or help with a specific issue, the customer will be much more likely to feel disappointed with you and the company in general. 

In the second, however, they might cut you some slack and still think “well, at least they listened and genuinely tried to help.”

This can be the difference between losing customers and retaining them and it’s definitely an important part of providing amazing customer service. 

#7. Personalize your customer service

Personalizing your customer service is what can make customers feel special, and who doesn’t like to feel special, right? 

Here’s how you can provide personalized customer service that’s guaranteed to improve your customer service skills: 

• Greet your customers by name and make them feel welcome.
• Contextualize your customer service depending on the customer’s lifestyle and personality.
• Don’t get distracted by anything else when you’re interacting with a customer. Make sure that the customer feels like they’re your center of attention.
• Go out of your way to find the best possible solution/option for the customer, and make sure that the customer knows how much effort you’re putting into helping them.

3 Customer Service Representative Resume Examples 

Below, we’ll show you three examples of how you should list customer service skills for different roles. 

We hope these resumes, created with our tried-and-tested resume templates , inspire you to go after the customer-facing role of your dreams:

#1. Customer Service Representative Resume Example 

#2. Cashier Resume Example 

#3. Sales Executive Resume Example 

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap. By now, you should know everything there is to know about customer service skills and how to highlight them on your resume. 

Before you start putting our tips into practice, let’s go over the main topics we covered in this article: 

• Customer service skills are a set of soft skills that allow you to provide the best customer experience possible.
• Companies are always looking for candidates with strong customer service skills because they can provide the best possible customer experience and, in turn, help them increase their profits, retain customers, improve their brand loyalty, and get more referrals. 
• Some in-demand customer service skills include active listening, interpersonal skills, communication, complaint resolution, empathy, and positivity. 
• To best highlight your customer service skills, list them in your resume summary, work experience, and skills sections. 

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How Good Is Your Customer Service?

Ask yourself these five questions to find out.

Many consumer companies have kicked off the year with ambitious brand-building plans, engaging in rapid content creation , using generative AI and experimenting with augmented reality and virtual reality to deepen customer engagement.

Equally critical and often overlooked are brand experience investments that cover the other end of the customer lifecycle — the more complex customer service experience. Poor customer service can be costly, if not devastating, to a growing brand.

No modern brand intentionally overlooks service. But, even with the best of intentions, results can vary widely and much can be learned from some to the most public cases, both good and bad.

3 Customer Service Statistics

The statistics are clear about the importance of getting service right.

• 85 percent of consumers say they would avoid a brand that provides poor customer service.
• Almost 60 percent say they would pay extra for outstanding service.
• 76 percent expect companies to follow up if there is an issue with their order.

More on Customer Success 6 Clever Tips to Improve the Efficiency of Customer Onboarding Digitization

Customer Service: Asset or Liability? 

A breakout customer service moment that goes viral can be a huge asset, potentially more valuable than any paid media campaign or targeted investment you make to share your brand story .

Take, for example, the 2023 story of a Delta flight attendant who went above and beyond to comfort a nervous passenger, sitting in the aisle of the aircraft, explaining every sound and bump and even holding the passenger’s hand to provide reassurance. The story not only went viral, but was eventually featured on Good Morning America , reaching millions of viewers.

On the flip side, a botched customer service interaction that goes public can quickly become a liability, rapidly degrading the very same investments being made to accelerate customer engagement.

Back in 2022, for example, Air Canada received a barrage of bad press after reneging on a refund promised to a customer by an AI chat bot. 15 months later, Air Canada was the subject in a new round of negative press for the same incident when a Canadian tribunal came out with their ruling in favor of the customer.

While the shelf life of this particular controversy may be well above average, it puts into perspective the high cost of service gone bad.

The 3 Ingredients of Modern Customer Service

Behind each of these examples and in nearly every company is a set of data , a system/ customer relationship management tool and rapidly advancing AI tools that can either make or break the service experience you deliver to customers.

When optimized, these tools have the power to deliver the best of personalization, automation and efficiency. When critical components, such as customer history, company policies or system integrations break down, we open up our companies to the many risks associated with suboptimal service.

In a world of intense competition, rising customer expectations and rapid technological advancements, companies need to regularly assess how well they are delivering on their brand’s customer service promise. What may have worked six months ago could be the new crack in your system if you don’t get ahead — and stay ahead — of these trends.

How to Perform Your Own CX Audit

The good news is that your own customers are your very best barometer to monitor the strength of your customer service function. Start by asking these five questions.

Do Your Customers Feel Like You Know Them?

You built a brand that speaks to the values of your customers. Now your customer service experience must do the same. Show your customers that you have full insight into their connection to your brand.

Like bumping into an old friend who remembers your spouse’s name and your favorite sports team, your company should have easy access to a timeline of each customer’s interactions they can call upon to deliver truly compelling service experiences — the money that they have spent with you or the fact that packages are sometimes delivered to a neighbor with a similar name.

Bringing a thorough and chronological view of your interactions is exactly the kind of exceptional service customers are willing to pay a premium for.

Do Your Customers Feel Like You’re Proactive?

In the realm of customer service, the approach you take can make all the difference. Proactive customer service is like a trusted friend who knows you so well they anticipate your needs before you even realize them. It’s about staying one step ahead, offering solutions and support before you even have to ask.

On the other hand, reactive customer service is more like a reliable safety net: there when issues arise. While both have their place, proactive service shines for its ability to build stronger relationships, showing customers you truly understand and care about their needs.

Proactive customer service requires a robust system for managing customer data and using automation tools for personalized outreach.

Do Your Customers Feel You Respect Their Time?

The best way to show customers that you respect their time is to provide efficient solutions to their problems. Sophisticated AI language models , along with your company’s support content, can automatically and immediately solve an increasing number of customer issues with safe, accurate, conversational answers, reducing the time to resolution and creating a great customer experience.

Understandably, we also see a lot of emphasis on the cost saving impact for brands. We even spoke to a customer who reported that, within one day of AI implementation, 10 percent of chat conversations were handled without any agent interaction.

But what gets less attention is how much customers appreciate these highly effective self-service tools. Especially Gen Z, with 77 percent of consumers under 25 saying they find chatbots to be helpful.

Do Your Customers Have Easy Ways to Reach You?

Automation may be a great fit for some people and situations, but others require a human touch. Your platform should identify the need or preference for human support quickly, without leaving customers exasperated by the time they get to one. 

And we now have the technology to give human agents special abilities. Company information and policies combined with AI enables agents to access answers more quickly and accurately than with traditional databases. These AI tools help them craft professional responses, and can even automatically translate responses from one language to another.

Do Your Customers Feel You Resolve Their Issues?

As happy and comfortable as we want customers to be, what they’re really seeking is resolution. Start by ensuring that you can actually track and manage this important metric.

Move beyond legacy customer success metrics like call deflection and build in metrics tied to the ultimate outcome, like resolution rate or cost per resolution. Take it a step further and begin to view CS through the lens of a marketer, examining how improved service is impacting key metrics , like email open rates or reorder rates.

More on Brand Strategy 3 Steps to Create a Living Brand

Fulfill Your Brand Promise

Companies should continue to think big when it comes to the many new ways to build brand equity. But the small touches — proactively providing shipping updates, greeting customers armed with their history, automating refunds — will be some of the most important aspects of your customer’s journey.

Trust your customers to be the best gauge of how well you are delivering on your brand promise and make the most of what technology has to offer. Then, deliver on it. 

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Health Care Resume Skills: What to Include (+ Examples)

Find out which skills are important to include on your health care resume. Discover how and where to write health care resume skills and tips for developing your skills.

Listing critical health care skills on your resume can help distinguish you from your competition when applying for a health-related job. Employers can understand the tangible ways you've learned your skills through your education, work experience, and a list of skills on your resume (that they can follow up on during interviews).

What skills should you include on your resume to stand out? Find out how and where to include them, and use our helpful examples. We'll also share some tips on how you can further develop your skills to enhance your health care career.

What is a health care resume? 

A health care resume is a type of resume specific to professions in the health care field. Health care professions hold particular skills, education, experiences, and training that are different from occupations outside of health care.

Because most positions in the health care field require specific formal training, expect to include a separate section that lists skills specific to the position for which you’re applying. A health care resume may have an area that lists fellowships or clinical experiences that some medical professionals require. These elements are unique to health care and offer employers insight into your skills as a medical professional and how you have relied on these skills to advance your career.  

Jobs that require a health care resume 

If you’re applying for a position within the medical field, you will likely need to structure your resume to effectively highlight critical health care skills. The health care field is broad, with varying job titles and responsibilities. Here are a few of those fields: 

Allied health: Allied health is a field of health care focused on the delivery of health care, rather than clinical care. This includes supporting and diagnostic roles and specific skills will vary by job title. Technical skills for these positions usually require completing certificate programs or other training specific to the role.

Example jobs: Dental hygienists , medical transcriptionists , occupational therapists , sonographers , radiographers , medical assistants , pharmacy techs , home health aides , physical therapists , EMTs , speech-language pathologists  

Administration and management: Administration and management professionals in health care are typically planning, coordinating, and managing a medical facility. Some may specialize in a particular type, such as financial management or ambulatory services. Some managerial positions require leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving, while technical skills will vary depending on the facility, legal parameters, and more.

Example jobs: Administrative assistant, medical staff coordinator, community health director , health care administrator , quality assurance coordinator

Medical providers and nurses: Medical providers undergo extensive training. From a bachelor’s degree to residency, the average duration to become a medical provider is eleven years. During this time, doctors learn technical skills specific to their specialty but also critical personal skills and licenses necessary to the medical profession. 

Example jobs: Primary care physicians, dentists, anesthesiologists , nurses , home health aide , personal care aide

Read more: Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More

Key skills to list on a health care resume

Health care is a vast field with many different facets. You can work in health care in many ways, from a supporting position as a medical billing specialist to a patient care provider as a nurse. The skills you’ll need to succeed in health care depend on your career track in the field of health care. 

Technical skills 

Health care professionals who work directly with patients in clinical roles will need different technical skills than professionals who work on the non-clinical side of health care; however, you’ll find overlap in the knowledge of HIPPA laws and basic medical terminology. 

 Clinical (direct patient care; providers, allied health) 

First aid/CPR 

Adhere to HIPAA

Check and monitor vital signs 

Assess a patient’s symptoms 

Diagnose conditions and provide appropriate treatment 

Administer medical treatments 

Interpret lab results 

Develop treatment plans as needed 

Advise patients on treatment options 

Non-clinical positions (supporting health care roles; administration, clerical)

Office skills 

Insurance billing 

Medical codes and terminology 

HIPAA compliance 

Scheduling software 

EMR software 

Data entry 

Record patient history

Personal skills 

Most health care professionals understand the importance of compassion and empathy when supporting or treating patients. 

Good bedside manner

Compassion and empathy 

Good communication 

Listening skills 

Problem-solving 

Critical thinking 

Non-clinical positions (supporting roles in health care; administration, clerical)

Detail oriented

Ability to multitask 

Works well as a team 

Good communicator 

Detail oriented 

Attention to detail 

How to include health care skills on your resume 

Your skills as a health care professional should be immediately evident on your resume and demonstrated in each work experience description. It should be clear to employers how you developed those skills over time with real-world examples.

1. Include skills relevant to the position. 

Employers should be able to quickly assess if your skills fit the job description or not. Tailor your skills to the job description by including specific skills referenced in the job description. This will also improve your chances of applicant tracking software (ATS) picking up your resume. Optimize your resume with these keywords and include only skills relevant to the job posting.

Take advantage of the cover letter 

Cover letters offer an excellent opportunity to explain precisely how your skills would benefit an employer more in-depth. Use the cover letter as your introduction, further unpacking the skills you hold and how you plan to rely on these skills.

How will your qualifications and skills as a health care professional add value to the employer?

Highlight professional experiences or point to achievements or accolades that illustrate how you’ve developed skills and gained professional success due to this skill set.  Be sure to connect your skills to a specific position or job title. 

2. Mention skills in your professional summary.  

Highlight critical skills right away in your resume summary. Use these two to three sentences to give employers insight into your qualifications for a position by highlighting key skills and credentials that make you a suitable applicant. Using adjectives to describe yourself is a great way to pull in your skills concisely. For example, you could begin with “Organized care coordinator with five years experience in….” 

3. Weave skills throughout your resume.

Your health care resume should have a section devoted to your skills as a professional in health care with brief examples. It’s also vital to integrate skills throughout your resume. For example, if you list in the skills section that you are flexible and adaptable, describe in your work history section how you used these skills successfully.

4. Be specific. 

Avoid vague and ambiguous adjectives that are hard to quantify when listing your skills. Instead of listing “good communicator” as a skill, think of a creative way to be more descriptive. Try, “skilled in patient-provider interactions" instead. Tying real-world experiences and examples to the skills highlighted on your health care resume is always helpful.

5. Choose the best format based on your qualifications.

You can format your health care resume in a few different ways. The format you choose depends on your level of experience and education. You can choose the functional format, ideal for entry-level positions; the chronological format, best for management or supervisory positions; and the combination format for mid-level positions. 

With functional formatting , you’re focusing on skills over work history. List skills summary first, just after your resume summary. The skills summary section notes how you have demonstrated proficiency in specific skills through various experiences beyond work history.

The chronological format lists your work history from most recent to least recent. This format is ideal for those with a lot of professional experience. It’s also the preferred formatting for most health care resumes. With this format, you will still have a separate list of your skills, education, and summary.

A combination format gives equal weight to work history and skills. As with the functional resume, have your skills section at the top of the page, just after the summary. List your work experience after the skills section or toward the bottom of the page. These resumes are ideal for health care professionals seeking a mid-level job title.

6. Use a professional layout. 

The layout is as important as the formatting. When creating a health care resume, choose a professional format. Enhance the readability by using headers, bullet points, and bold text where appropriate. As a general rule, lay out your health care resume with: 

12 point font

10-inch margins

Ample use of white space

Headers for each section 

Four to five bullet points per job title 

One page limit (two pages may be appropriate for 10+ years of experience)

Example of a health care resume

Health care resumes typically include a title, personal information, a resume summary, a skills summary, experience, education, and certifications section. You may also have additional sections such as accomplishments, accolades, awards, and publications. Here is a sample template of what to include on a health care resume:

Headline (name and professional title if you already have one) 

Contact information (phone, email, LinkedIn) 

Resume summary (two to three-sentence explanation of your career goals and objectives)

Education (university name and degree awarded in reverse-chronological order; also include residencies or fellowships, if applicable) 

Work experience (organization, job title, responsibilities, skills used, accolades, and so on listed in reverse-chronological order)

Skills ( list of both technical and workplace skills, with brief examples of how you have applied these skills)

You may change the order of these sections based on the format you choose and omit or add to these elements depending on your level of education and experience. 

Consider this example of a health care resume for a patient care coordinator position with five years of experience in her role: 

Jane E. Doe

Patient Care Coordinator 

Personal information 

Phone: 123-456-7890

Email [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janeedoe 

Dedicated patient care coordinator with five years of experience managing patient care, implementing and monitoring treatment plans, and evaluating patient progress. Assisted in the grant writing process to secure funding for Acme Medical Center through the Health Care Coordinators and Navigation Grant. CCCTM certified with a degree in Health Care Administration. Looking to improve patient outcomes by providing support and quality care to patients at ABC Hospital. 

Skills Summary 

Coordinate patient-care services to offer quality care 

Work as a team member to evaluate possible patient interventions

Give compassionate patient care for improved patient outcomes 

Communicate plan of care to family and caregivers of patients 

Accurately record patient history and documentation per HIPAA compliance 

Work History 

Patient Care Coordinator, ABC Medical Center. July 1 to present 

Develop patient treatment plans based on provider’s notes 

Manage patient care coordinators within the medical center 

Advise caregivers of patient progress 

Communicate patient outcomes to medical providers 

Assist other patient care coordinators in the development of treatment plans 

Patient Services Coordinator, Maple Street Hospital, January 2018 to July 2021

Advised patients on viable treatment plan options 

Communicated patient concerns and feedback to medical providers 

Explained treatment options to patients 

Evaluated results of treatment plans and communicated outcomes 

University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 2010-2014

Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration 

Relevant coursework: principles of health care administration, health care marketing, health care human resources, and legal and ethical environment in health care 

Tips for developing key health care skills 

Need to build your skill set as a health care professional? You can find many ways to learn new skills or build upon existing skills in demand for the position you seek. Research the top skills for the job you’re applying for, and choose the best way to gain experience in those skills. Enroll in an online course, earn a certification, or apply for entry-level positions or volunteer opportunities. Developing your skill set can also help you meet your future career goals. 

Courses like Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Health Care offered by Northwestern University can help you learn critical skills to succeed in health care. You can list courses on your resume to demonstrate your breadth of abilities to employers.

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