Work from Home Jobs in Customer Service
Have you been searching for work-from-home jobs in customer service? Don't give up, yes, there are many scams out there that will mislead and discourage you. The good news, there are just as many legit customer service jobs that allow you to work from home.
As with any job opportunity there are pros and cons, and working at home doing customer service is no different. Naturally, working at home requires a place to do your work that is free from interruptions, free from background noises, and equipped with whatever work supplies the job requires.
Applying for an at home customer service job is like applying for a job offline in many ways, and should be treated as such. One big difference, in most cases a computer, high speed Internet access and a telephone with no special features are necessary. Depending on the company, an online application or resume may need to be submitted; many customer service positions also have a written test and a phone interview that is used as a voice quality test. Remember, each company is different so be sure to read their specific requirements before applying.
Employee or Independent Contractor (IC) - This varies by company, some hire you as an employee and deduct payroll taxes while others only hire IC's in which case you will need to fill out a W-9 and you will receive a 1099 form at the end of the year for tax purposes. It is highly recommended that you consult a professional with regards to tax or other legal issues involved. Many companies that hire at home workers require a background check; refer to company policy to learn who will pay for this.
Experience as a customer service representative, inbound or outbound phone sales or telemarketing is helpful and might be required, however some companies offer paid or unpaid training so be sure to inquire about this before applying. The basic skills needed are communication, listening and data entry or typing skills.
Communication skills include speaking clearly, having a good tone and pace, and understanding how to build rapport. Listening skills are needed to understand what a customer wants and needs, a lack of listening skills can lead to you and the customer becoming very frustrated. As a professional representing a company you must always keep your composure, there are no exceptions; this means even if you have an irate caller, intoxicated caller or prank caller, you are to remain patient and professional at all times.
Typing and computer skills are usually required, if you are doing customer service over the phone you will probably be using a hands-free headset while using a computer to enter data. Do you need to type 100 wpm? Probably not, although being a top speed typist may not be needed it is helpful if you can type at least 30-35 words per minute. Entering accurate data is very important when doing customer service at home. There are several typing tutors online that are free to use if you need to brush up on your skills.
A great place to interact with others who are actively working at home and find work-from-home jobs in customer service that are legit is Work Place Like Home, a forum with a lot of information and helpful people; you do have to join, but it is free.
