How to Snag (and Succeed at) a Remote Customer Service Job

Working in customer service no longer means sitting in a cubicle. You don’t have to drive to an office park or commute 90 minutes on a train every day. Customer service professionals (and their employers) can let go of that daily grind and still get ahead.

Across every industry — and especially customer service — in-person jobs are shifting to remote opportunities as companies see increases in productivity, happier employees and lower overhead costs.

When you work from home in customer service, you’re stepping into a booming industry. Companies like Disney, Amazon, Uber and Airbnb consistently post work-from-home customer service jobs. You can pick from a plethora of roles and choose where you work — as long as you have a solid internet connection.

For people hoping to break into a home-based customer service job for the first time, there are a lot of unknowns about how to find the right job and manage this newfound freedom. This article breaks it down, so you can get to work.

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Tips on finding the right remote customer support role

Finding the best customer support role for you requires persistence and patience. But you also need to know where to look. From there, you can build a career adapted to your strengths and interests rather than the other way around.

Research all your options by leveraging personal connections and job boards

Do you know anyone who works in customer support? If not, do you know anyone who knows anyone who works in customer support? Ask your friends and family if they have a contact in the field. Even a relatively distant connection can come in handy. Overall, people who work in customer service are happy to help others get a leg up in any way they can. Reach out and introduce yourself before sending along some specific questions about getting started.

Whether you can leverage these connections or not, take the time to explore job boards created specifically for remote work or support roles. These online resources give you a sense of the wide breadth of hiring companies.

Here are some of the best job boards for home-based customer service jobs:

• Support Driven

• We Work Remotely

• Remote.co

• Remote OK

• Working Nomads

• Tech Ladies (for women and non-binary folks)

Get to know hiring companies and their products

When you see a position that piques your interest, research the company. Keep a running list of the organizations you like — even if you don’t get the job they’re listing right now, another opportunity might pop up soon. Get to know each company you’re interested in working for: Read their blogs, interact with them on social media, and try their products. Some companies, like Help Scout, allow you to submit a generic application for future openings.

By familiarizing yourself with the company and its unique goals and culture, you can present yourself as an informed candidate later in the process. Plus, this step helps you clarify what you want in a home-based customer service job.

Emphasize transferable skills — even if you don’t have experience

Do you have customer service or support experience? If not, emphasize your transferable skills. Hiring managers are always looking for critical thinking skills, communication abilities, empathy, and a genuine interest in the customer.

You can hone them across industries, from teaching preschoolers to bagging groceries at a local supermarket. Get creative in how you frame your experience.

Ultimately, companies are looking for someone who can serve as a committed customer advocate. Your character and willingness to learn are the most important factors in your ability to thrive in a home-based customer service job.

Incorporate customer service language into your resume and cover letter

During the application process, there are some tactical ways to boost your chances of being selected for an interview. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to select the most qualified individuals for support roles.

The technology scans a resume and cover letter for the same customer service keywords the organization used in the job posting, so mirror the language the company uses when describing their ideal candidate in your own application. You can check how well you matched the posted position with the free tool Jobscan.

Emphasize your values, enthusiasm and professionalism

During the interview process, share what excites you about the position and talk about how your priorities match the hiring company’s values. Use tangible examples of how you have solved real-life problems — even if they didn’t take place in a work setting. The more comfortable and confident you are with what you offer as a professional, the more likely you are to find your dream job.

Related: How to Knock Your Virtual Job Interview Out of the Park

If the interview takes place over video chat or the phone, get dressed up and prepare as you would for an in-person interview. Take the call in a quiet area, preferably with a blank wall behind you if you’re talking over video. Preparing in advance will help you feel more confident.

How to be successful working in home-based customer service jobs

Working in a customer service job from home can be a rewarding experience. You get paid to help people every day while maintaining autonomy and flexibility. Yet, just as in any position, you need support and resources to thrive in your career. This is especially true for remote employees because you don’t have in-person access to colleagues and managers.

Join online groups and build a community

When you’re working from home, it’s important to tap into online communities for people just like you. Here are a couple groups to check out:

Although preexisting groups can offer you an immediate sense of community, you can also build your own. If you notice other home-based customer service employees on social media, reach out to make a personal connection. Ask if they would be interested in participating in a monthly online hangout.

Complement remote work with clear internal communication

You may have mastered clear communication with customers over the phone, but you need to foster the same dialogue within your remote team. Harvard Business Review suggests that employees actually overcommunicate when working in dispersed teams. If your boss forgets to answer a question over email or Slack, ask it again to ensure everyone is on the same page.

It’s also important to bring a positive intention to remote conversations with colleagues and your managers. Without the benefit of an in-person dialogue, it’s easy for a tone to seem too harsh or blunt. Harvard Business Review recommends defaulting to the friendlier and warmer way of saying something when communicating online.

Leverage tools of the trade

If you want to succeed in a work-from-home customer service position, you need to give yourself the right tools. These must-have resources range from the latest support software to an office chair that keeps you comfortable.

Whether you’re just starting in the field or you’re a long-time customer service champion, check out this master list.

It’s also worth noting that most companies will offer you a stipend to put toward new equipment and even a wonderful home office — make sure to spend it wisely!

Work-from-home customer service jobs are on the rise

In the United States alone, the number of remote employees has jumped by 115% in the last ten years! This leap signals a change in what it means to build a career as a support professional.

As more companies shift their emphasis to remote collaboration across a global economy, customer support professionals who work at home are in the perfect position to grow their careers for the long term. Are you ready to dive in?