Customer Support Executive

This question should give you a sense of how the candidate views their role. A great answer won’t just involve solving a problem or answering a question, but ensuring that the customer had as positive an interaction as possible.

This might sound like a trick question, but it isn’t. A great candidate should feel comfortable talking about their experience using your product or service, and pointing out places where their experience could have been improved.

It is a common phenomenon for a customer service representative to encounter a customer that they consider to be difficult. This question will seek to find out how the interviewee would handle customers when pushed to the brink and subjected to pressure. Will they maintain their calm? What image of the business will they project? In order to answer these customer service interview questions effectively, the interviewee should clearly explain how they would listen to customer complains, handle a customer who is wrong and deal with a rude customer. Previous examples of how they handled such situations may be helpful.

Example stories could be a class project, an internal meeting presentation, or a customer facing presentation.

Report it to the leaders within the company. True leaders understand business ethics are important to the company's longevity

Not every customer is in the right mood for a sales call, and I understand that. Irate customers are part of the game, and I can easily calm them down with an apology; however, I will usually attempt to get a callback time so a valuable potential customer doesn’t lose out on the great benefits your products can give them.

This can be your answer: No, my work ethic is strong, so there’s been no reason for conflict. However, at times I have had disagreements on how to resolve a particular problem for a customer, but I have always been able to talk it out and find a solution that my team leader has supported.

Admit to the mistake without being emotional, but then discuss how you are being proactive in getting it fixed. Lastly, pull the co-worker aside later on to tell them that you'd appreciate it if they gave you the feedback 1:1 first before throwing you under the bus.

Relatively easy one to start off, but to be great at customer service, a person really has to love it. Otherwise, irate and impatient customers are going to grind on them, and they are going to burn out.

Ideally, when you ask a candidate this question, their should eyes’ light up and they’ll clearly demonstrate some passion in their answer. Hopefully, the reason is they give is they legitimately like helping people, and are thrilled to do it every day.

The most difficult customer I’ve ever seen was someone who came to the customer service counter at the office supply store where I worked. The customer was irate that we would not match a price even though the products were not the same. After I politely explained this to the customer, she began screaming personal insults at me. I kept a smile on my face, apologized for the inconvenience and suggested checking another store. The customer realized that I wasn’t reacting to her tirade and soon left.

Take a break to rest. Work in smaller increments of time to increase focus with breaks in between. Delegate tasks to those that are willing to help.

Every customer service rep is going to encounter customers who are upset. Great candidates should remain respectful while continuing to provide as high a level of service as possible.

I used to work as a customer service representative for an auto insurance company, and one time a customer called with a complaint about the repair shop that was fixing his car. The customer was distraught because he didn’t know much about cars and felt he was getting ripped off. The issue didn’t really have anything to do with the insurance company because it was not related to a claim, but I told the customer I would call the repair shop and get things straightened out. I was able to talk the manager into reimbursing the customer, and the customer was so happy with my service that he called my manager to recommend a promotion.

First, the key is to state the differences in personality to give the interviewer some background. Second, you want to discuss how that was affecting the situation. Third, show how you were able to adapt to the way the person wanted to be communicated with to achieve your goals

My first reaction to conflict is to try to understand the perspective of whomever the conflict involves. My rule of thumb is to first seek to understand, then seek to be understood. Not only does listening to the other person allow me to clearly determine the root of the problem, it also helps ease the tension so we can communicate more calmly and effectively.

This question should give you a sense of how experienced the candidate is and whether the issues they’ve dealt with in the past have prepared them for the challenges they’re likely to face while supporting your product or service.

First, find out which skills are the ones that you're currently lacking. Then identify what the steps would be to acquire/build those skills. Then take action to do so.