For most of us, interviews are anxiety-inducing events. You have a short timeslot, usually 30 mins to one hour, to communicate everything great about you. You have to get across why you are a good fit for the job, that you have the necessary skills, and will add value to the organization. And you have to do all of this while coming across as friendly, personable, and confident.
You might have heard the notion that interviews are something you’re good at, or you’re not. This is false. Sure, some people have a natural confidence that doesn’t falter under interview conditions. Some people even thrive with this kind of pressure. But confidence is only one aspect of the equation. Confident people still have to convey the same positive qualities and competence as more anxious people. There is a formula for succeeding in customer service interviews, and that’s what we’re going to look at today. Want to know how to nail your next customer service interview? You’re in the right place.
Before we get started on the tips, we must look at the kinds of questions you’ll be asked. A crucial part of interview preparation is ensuring (as much as is possible) that you won’t be caught off-guard. When we’re surprised by a question, several things can happen:
Of course, some pesky interviewers might try to throw you an unexpected question on purpose. Why? Because they want to see how you act under pressure and whether you can think on your feet. This adaptive and dynamic thinking under pressure is something you’ll have to do while working in customer service. You can study every piece of customer service training material out there and still encounter surprising, or even downright weird, customer problems.
We’re trying to say that you can’t eliminate your chances of receiving unexpected questions, but you can reduce your chances by preparing for as many questions as possible. With that in mind, here are some of the questions you can expect.
Why they’re asking:
They want to see if you have a good understanding of what customer service is and what it looks like in action.
Tips for answering:
Give a short definition of customer service. It’s about making customers happy, meeting their expectations, and sometimes exceeding them. The goal is to ensure customers leave satisfied at the end of the interaction.
You can also focus on the elements that make up good customer service, for example:
You might see a variation of this question such as “What does good customer service mean to you?”.
Why they’re asking:
They want to see whether you have prepared for the interview by researching the company. They also want to see whether your personality and values will mix well with the company culture.
Tips for answering:
Focus on what you know about the company and relate your answer to customer service. For example, if they sell IT services, you can say that you have a passion for technology and want to be a part of a forward-thinking and innovative company. But you should also focus on the human-customer service aspect. For example, you can say that by looking at the company’s social media accounts, you’ve noticed that they prioritize warm and friendly interactions and fast responses – something that you prioritize too!
Variations of this question could be “what appeals to you about this role?” or “why do you like working in customer service?”.
Why they’re asking:
They want to see whether you have the necessary soft skills for the job and whether your motivations are in the right place.
Tips for answering:
Focus on conveying a combination of your soft skills and your drive/motivation for the role.
Why they’re asking:
They want to see if you can identify good customer service when you see it. If you don’t have an excellent example of excellent customer service, how can you deliver it yourself?
Tips for answering:
The key here is to give an example and explain how that interaction made you feel. Some interviewees make the mistake of thinking the goal should be to think of the most awe-inspiring example of customer experience out there and claim it as their own (even if it didn’t happen to you). The company isn’t looking for tips on providing better customer service; they want to know that you understand the impact customer service has on customers. Your example can be impressive or straightforward.
Why they’re asking:
They want to see your method for dealing with demanding customers. They will be looking for the active things you do (listening, displaying empathy, validating the customers) and the passive (did you remain calm and avoid becoming defensive?).
Tips for answering:
Remember, interviews should be two-way discussions. When you have a natural back and forth with the interviewer, everyone feels more comfortable. When you ask questions, you’re also communicating that you are trying to visualize the job and yourself in it – you’re highly engaged and interested. Here are some questions to ask:
It’s a good idea to treat every interview as your one and only shot at getting the job. Don’t leave anything for after the interview. For example, if they ask whether you can come back on Friday for a second interview, don’t say, “I’m not sure, I’ll have to get back to you on that”. An answer like that can make you seem unenthusiastic. Be prepared to be flexible to meet their schedule.
Use the same language that they do. When you find out you’ve got the interview, go back to the job advert, highlight the language they use, and memorize it. Using this language in the interview will communicate that you’re on the same page as them. If you talk like them, then they’ll think you’re one of them.
If you’re hit with a question you don’t know the answer to or one you don’t understand, ask more questions. If you ask questions back to them for clarification, they might even ask you a less restrictive and easier to answer question. They’re not looking for you to be a genius. It’s better to ask more questions to ensure you’re answering the right question than to make assumptions and guess your way through it. If you do the latter, they might be concerned that you won’t be confident enough to ask customers for clarification when you’re confused about their complaint.
Most candidates forget to do this. They think just being present is evidence that they want the job. You can set yourself apart by being enthusiastic. Tell them that you want the job, it seems like a great place to work, you think you could add value, and you’re excited to hear back from them. The enthusiastic ones will get selected if the interviewers are trying to pick between multiple similar and equally competent candidates.
One of the things they will be looking for is how well you communicate. This means:
They are looking for your energy level. This means things like:
They will also be looking for how good of a match you are for the team, department, and the company as a whole. To pull this off, you need to know what they’re looking for. Look at what they post on social media or the language they use in their company descriptions and job adverts. If they pride themselves on being modern/laid-back/fun, then you might want to communicate your fun hobbies. You can also dress in a more smart-casual way.
You won’t always be told who is interviewing you, but often you will. Research this person by looking them up on LinkedIn and reading about their experience, hobbies, and groups. The key here is not to be creepy. Don’t walk into an interview and say, “oh, I noticed your wife had a baby recently, congratulations”. But if you find similarities like you and the interviewer went to the same university, play the same sport, are interested in the same types of activism, then you can focus on those things to strike up a connection.
Remember, when your interview starts from the moment you enter the building. Be friendly and talkative with the receptionist, the other candidates, and the other employees you encounter before the interview. You never know when your interviewers are watching or whether the receptionist is close friends with the interviewers.