Things to Include in a Resume When Applying to a Call Center

by | Aug 13, 2021

 

Your resume is the first step to landing a job; produce a great one, and it could encourage a hiring manager to take a chance on you even if you don’t meet all of the job requirements. It’s also possible that if you fail to communicate your skills and experience clearly, you may be passed over for a job you’re perfect for.

 

 

Although using a resume template can help you create a clear, concise document, you must tweak your resume for each job you apply for. The following tips can help you create the best resume when applying to a call center.

 

 

Use the Job Description for Hints

 

Use the job’s description when making job-specific edits to your resume; echo the language they use, particularly the required skills. This will make it clear that you are a good candidate for the role and ensures your resume is read by a hiring manager (irrelevant resumes may be discarded by a computer first). Referencing vocabulary used in the job description is also a great tip for job interviews.

 

 

Relevant Work Experience

 

The work experience section is, perhaps, the most important part of your resume, and as such, it should be clear, detailed, and to the point. If you have a long work history, it may not be necessary to include every job you’ve done as this will take up valuable space. You should keep your resume to one or two pages at the most.

 

 

Instead, focus on the most relevant roles, using bullet points to get important information across in a way that is easy to read. If you don’t have much professional experience, for instance, if you are a recent graduate, you may wish to include volunteering experiences that show applicable skills. Concentrate primarily on customer service skills as these are key to the role of call center agent.

 

 

 

Soft Skills

 

Many soft skills are vital for working in a call center, and you should make sure to include them in your resume. However, just listing these skills, even those highly relevant to the role, is not enough. Instead, explain how you have shown these skills, preferably linking them to your work or volunteer experience. 

 

 

Soft skills that you should reference when applying to work in a call center include:

 

 

Clear Communication

 

Excellent communication skills are at the top of the list for customer service agents at call centers. They should feature prominently on your resume as communicating effectively with customers is essential for the job. 

 

 

In addition to reading scripts accurately and in a way that customers will understand, you need to assist callers with their queries, deal with complaints, and make them feel comfortable, all without drawing out the conversation for too long.

 

 


 

 

Problem Solving 

 

Complications are common in customer interactions of any sort. Call center agents must be able to quickly and accurately define the issue, evaluate it, and find a way to solve it themselves. 

 

 

Using your initiative to solve problems independently successfully is a huge benefit, and you should include examples of this in your customer service resume where possible. 

 

 

Patience

 

Working with the public inevitably requires considerable patience. Customers can be difficult to communicate with and even unpleasant, mainly when customers’ issues are challenging to resolve. However, customer satisfaction is paramount, and a good call center agent will remain calm, patient, and polite in all situations to assist customers.

 

Other soft skills you may wish to let your hiring manager know you possess through your resume are empathy, flexibility, listening, organization, and attention to detail.

 

 

Hard Skills 

 

Hard skills, often referred to as technical skills, are those that can be taught and are easily measurable and provable. In the skills sections of your resume, write all those that are relevant to the job, providing details of courses or qualifications where applicable. To save space and make your resume more readable, use bullet points.

 

 

Product Knowledge

 

Showing that you know a company’s products or services before working with them will make your resume stand out. If you have experience with a similar company, make sure to clearly highlight it in your work history. 

 

 

It is also crucial that your call center resume objective aligns with the company you are applying to. For instance, if your objective states you want to work in customer service for a tech company but you’re applying to an apparel brand call center, this could negatively impact your chances of getting the job.

 

 

Proficiency in Relevant Software 

 

Being computer savvy is a requirement for many jobs, including customer service positions in call centers. If you have experience with standard software used in call centers, such as HubSpot, Aircall, or CloudTalk, this will undoubtedly give your resume a boost. Even if it isn’t the exact software the company you’re applying to work with uses, previous experience on similar programs shows you will be able to learn new software quickly.

 

 

Languages

 

If you are proficient in another language, you should include that in your resume, mainly if the company you’re applying to work with is international. Being bilingual may not be a requirement for the job, but it means you are a more versatile employee, helps you stand out, and says a lot about your work ethic and communication skills.

 

 

Although not traditionally considered a hard skill, selling is a tangible skill that can be proved. If the call center agent role you are applying for involves selling, you should include your sales history, including successful figures. 

 

 

Land Yourself an Interview

 

The key things to get across in a call center agent resume are your customer service skills and experience. Back this up with clear examples and evidence in a concise, easy-to-read format, and you will be giving yourself the best possible chance at landing an interview.

 

 

The next step after preparing your resume is to apply to call center positions. Online job boards like jobsfuel.com are a great place to start your search. Ensure you take the time to read job descriptions carefully so you can craft a resume that increases your chances of getting an interview.