“What does customer service mean to you?”—that is the question. And yes, it does feel like a sea of troubles. Doesn’t it mean the same thing to everyone? What if I get it wrong, and my job is customer service?
Worry no more! We have the tips with the longest Lifetime Value.
This guide will show you:
- How to answer “What does customer service mean to you?” better than 9 out of 10 other candidates.
- Tips, strategies, and techniques on how to approach a question like that in the future.
- Examples of how not to answer “What does customer service mean to you?” to avoid scaring hiring managers away.
Want to keep your options open and stay active in the job market? Create a resume with our resume builder and update it whenever necessary. Choose from 18+ professional resume templates and be recruitment-ready at all times!
Build your resume now
BUILD YOUR RESUME NOW
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.
Not the exact advice you need? Explore our guides:
- Customer Service Resume
- Customer Service Resume Job Description
- Customer Service Cover Letter
- Sales Manager Resume
- Sales Associate Resume
- Retail Sales Associate Resume
Now, let’s break down the rationale behind “What does great customer service mean to you?”
What Does Customer Service Mean to You: Who Gets Asked and Why
If you work in an area that provides customer service in any capacity—retail, sales, or hospitality—you may hear, “What does great customer service mean to you?” at your next job interview. The reason for this is pretty simple: recruiters would like to hear some examples of customer service skills that you claim to have based on your resume.
The question can come in different forms:
- What does customer service mean to you?
- What does good customer service mean to you?
- What does exceptional customer service mean to you?
However, the technique for answering that question will be the same: proving that you have a solid grasp of your role and understand the importance of customer service to a business.
Don’t just take my word for it: according to a Microsoft report, 96% of customers emphasize the importance of good customer service as a driver for their loyalty to the brand. Employers know that, and they need to make sure you know that, too.
Pro Tip: Remember that how you introduce yourself at the interview is the first step toward showing your customer service skills. Also, don’t forget to send a post-interview thank-you email.
What Does Customer Service Mean to You: Best Answers & Strategies
Now, when you plan your answer, it’s very important to do your research first.
The more informed you are, the better prepared you’ll be for when you hear, “What does the phrase ‘customer service’ mean to you?” This will give you a competitive advantage over other candidates, too, because you’ll be able to tailor your response to the specific job you’d like to have.
1. Look Into Company Proposition and Values
No idea where to start? Try the company website, LinkedIn, or other social media. Many companies have clearly defined policies and visions, showing you the blueprint for the standard of services they strive to provide. And this is a kind of answer you could provide once you’ve done your research:
| Right |
|---|
“I know what superb customer service means for [name of company], and I couldn’t have stated it better. The company motto, “Only best, better than the rest,” reflects the desire to deliver the highest quality of customer care, and I think it’s the only way for a company to operate.” |
Read more: Best Answers to Most Common Interview Questions
2. Show Your Knowledge of the Niche
Try to make your answer as specific as possible. Here are some suggestions:
Explore the company's products and services to get some additional valuable insights like the typical customer the business caters to. You’ll be able to provide examples and strategies that work for this particular audience.
- Think of industry-specific examples of good customer service like fast response rates or reduced downtime for customer support, being proactive but not pushy for retail, etc. Don’t be shy to show that you know the “lingo” and how the field operates.
Here’s a set of examples for someone who works in sales:
| Wrong |
|---|
“Good customer service is making customers stay. According to studies, a 5% retention rate may result in up to 95% bigger sales, and customer satisfaction is the most crucial customer retention factor! Keeping old customers is literally more money. That’s why it’s important.” |
| Right |
|---|
“As a sales manager with extensive professional experience, I know that acquiring a new customer is five times more expensive than keeping an old one. For me, great customer service is ensuring that the clients get the attention and help they deserve and feel cared for at all times—thus turning into loyal, repeat customers. It’s a win-win: great for the consumers, great for business.” |
The Wrong example doesn’t exactly sound organic (like someone’s reading from a cheat sheet despite being actually backed by real studies), while the Right one shows a great understanding of job priorities. Taking your time with the answers and making them personalized will ensure that you get into the next round of the interviewing process. Just make sure you provide factual data.
Read more: Second Round Interview Questions
3. Don’t Give a One-Size-Fits-All Answer
It’s easy to assume there’s one “true” answer, but just as “good” means different things to everyone, so does good customer service. For some, it’d be just doing their job properly. For others, it’d be going the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
You might be inclined to tell the recruiter what they expect to hear (like give them a textbook customer service definition or some cliché response), but that would not have the right impact.
Be honest and precise, and talk about your real-life experience. No matter how it’s phrased, the essence of the question still is, “What is customer service to you, and what is your approach to treating the clients?”
Compare these examples of answers to “what does customer service mean to you”:
| Wrong |
|---|
“Good customer service means serving the customer well. It’s keeping customers happy at all times. Because the customer is always right!” |
| Right |
|---|
“To me, excellent customer service is taking the time to figure out what the person really wants from experience and delivering that. Surpassing their expectations, if possible.” |
The Wrong example is a response with a low Customer Satisfaction Score. It’s blank and doesn’t say anything about you as a professional. The Right example proves to the recruiter that you take the question seriously and that you really understand the reasoning behind it.
Read more: Interview Tips That Get Jobs
4. Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Describe a situation in which you’ve displayed examples of listening skills, good communication skills, empathy, or problem resolution skills. It’s a great idea to use the STAR method for interviews to introduce such scenarios.
Have a look at this example:
| Right |
|---|
“Great customer service is going above and beyond. We had a client whose shipment didn’t come on time, which was a big issue because we couldn’t fix it immediately. I invited them for a brief call instead of sending a generic email and asked about the inconveniences this situation would potentially cause them. We found a great workaround [your example], which eventually resulted in this client staying with us and upgrading to an enterprise solution.” |
If you don’t have a lot of experience, describe a situation featuring you as a customer that became a benchmark for fantastic customer service (and a standard you aspire to attain):
| Wrong |
|---|
“I don’t have any experience, really, so it’s hard for me to say anything about it.” |
| Right |
|---|
“I haven’t worked in a customer-centric setting yet, but there was a situation that I remember to this day as the greatest example of exceptional customer service. [your example] The way the salesperson resolved my issue, the level of involvement, and the attention to detail were unmatched. I’ve been a loyal customer ever since, and I aim to provide the same level of service at [name of the company].” |
Not having worked at a position before does not mean you have no understanding of what the position entails. Be sincere, and talk about firsthand observations.
Read more: Tell Me About a Time Interview Questions (With Answers)
Key Takeaway
We’ve established that the winning “what does customer service mean to you” formula is a combination of:
- Explaining what superb customer service means to you personally.
- Demonstrating how that reflects in your work ethic.
To get the answer right, don’t forget to:
- Do your research.
- Think of relevant industry examples.
- Be original and specific.
- Prove your strong customer service skills.
With that in mind, you’ll be able to stun the recruiters and do a great job at your interview!
Thanks for reading! Any more tips? Would you like to share your own “What does customer service mean to you” best answers? Feel free to share in the comments below!
FAQs
What does customer service mean to you best answer? ›
"Customer service means listening to customers and helping them resolve their issues quickly.
What does good customer service mean to you ?'? ›“Good customer service means consistently exceeding customer expectations and going out of your way to help people solve their problems.
Why is customer service important explain your answer? ›Customer service is important because it inspires customer loyalty and makes employees' jobs easier. This, in turn, helps businesses grow. By providing great customer service, organizations can recover customer acquisition costs, retain talent, and foster brand loyalty.
What is customer service interview answer? ›Here's what this might look like: “To me, customer service means ensuring that the client or customer has the best experience possible. I've learned that by listening to the customer's desires, concerns, and perspective, I'm able to figure out the best way to solve any issues that come up.
What does customer first mean to you? ›What is the meaning of “customer first“? Putting the customer first means putting the needs of customers above anything else. When a company puts the customer first, they put the customer at the center of everything they do.
Why do you love customer service answer? ›What do you enjoy about customer service? It's important for customer service reps to be empathetic and people-oriented. Good answers might include “I like talking to people and finding out about their lives” or “I love the feeling of helping somebody solve a problem they're having.”
What does good customer service mean to you indeed? ›This means quickly understanding a customer's needs and evaluating the possible solutions you might pursue. From there, you can recommend the best solution.
What are 3 important qualities of customer service? ›Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.
What is a good customer service interview question? ›General and Common Customer Service Interview Questions
What does good customer service mean to you? What's the best customer service you've ever received? What do you consider to be the most important skills when providing customer service? How do you ensure you maintain good communication with every customer?
More customer service examples
Remembering someone's regular order as a barista. Sending out a survey after making a product change, to see what your customers really think. Staying beyond your shift to help deal with a customer's enquiry. Phoning other stores to check stock levels and make reservations.
What makes you a good fit for this job customer service? ›
Answers should be similar to the previous question and include the following: "I am a good listener and enjoy solving problems for others." "I like making people happy and satisfied." "I enjoy working independently, as well as within a team environment."
How do you handle an angry customer? ›- Stay calm. ...
- Shift your mindset. ...
- Acknowledge their distress. ...
- Introduce yourself. ...
- Learn about the person you are talking to. ...
- Listen. ...
- Repeat their concerns back to the customer. ...
- Sympathize, empathize and apologize.
Customer service is the support you offer your customers — both before and after they buy and use your products or services — that helps them have an easy and enjoyable experience with you. Offering amazing customer service is important if you want to retain customers and grow your business.
What does the word customer mean to you? ›What Is a Customer? A customer is an individual or business that purchases another company's goods or services. Customers are important because they drive revenues; without them, businesses cannot continue to exist.
What's the most important part of customer service to you 1 point? ›Empathy is the ability to sense and understand the emotions of others. It's essentially putting yourself in the emotional shoes of the customer. Many will argue that empathy is the most important customer service skill out there.
What is your greatest strength for customer service? ›- Great Communication Skills. ...
- Creative Problem Solving. ...
- Emotional Intelligence (Empathy) ...
- Attention to Detail. ...
- Persistent and Consistent. ...
- Patience. ...
- Self-Awareness. ...
- Lack of Knowledge.
When you demonstrate the values of accountability, optimism, authenticity, respect, trust, and communication, you can earn the loyalty of your customers.
What are the 4 keys to customer service? ›There are four key principles of good customer service: It's personalized, competent, convenient, and proactive. These factors have the biggest influence on the customer experience.
Why should we hire you example? ›For starters, I have all the skills and experience listed in the job description, and I'm confident that I can make an immediate impact on your company. It's not just my background in leading successful projects for Fortune 500 companies, but also my passion for the industry that drives me to succeed.
Why should I hire you? ›Show that you have skills and experience to do the job and deliver great results. You never know what other candidates offer to the company. But you know you: emphasize your key skills, strengths, talents, work experience, and professional achievements that are fundamental to getting great things done on this position.
How do you handle stress and pressure? ›
- Decide what you can do. Pinpoint which parts of the situation you have the power to change or influence for the better. ...
- Get support. Find someone to talk to about your situation. ...
- Care for yourself. Take especially good care of yourself when stress in your life is high.
- Be positive: Wherever possible, use positive examples of customer service to give your explanation, rather than talking about how a negative experience could've been better.
- Summarise: Prepare your answers in advance and break them up into clear parts.
Example Answer #1
Customer service involves being a kind, courteous, and professional face for the company. It also involves listening carefully to customer wants and concerns. Beyond listening, customer service is doing everything in one's power to efficiently and accurately serve each customer.
How to (and how not to) answer the interview question 'What can you bring to the company?' The simple answer to this question is you : you bring all of your skills, qualities, values, interests, academic knowledge, internships and life experience to the company.
How do you introduce yourself in a customer service interview? ›Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success: "I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry.
How do you handle a difficult or rude customer? ›- Be empathetic. Empathy can be a powerful tool when discussing customers' issues. ...
- Listen actively. ...
- Separate the issue into smaller issues. ...
- Repeat what the customer says back to them. ...
- Stay calm. ...
- Offer solutions. ...
- Act quickly. ...
- Offer a sincere apology.
- Think carefully about the question. ...
- Demonstrate your listening skills to the interviewer. ...
- Display a calm and composed countenance. ...
- Reiterate and confirm that you understand the question. ...
- Draw from your past experience.
What is good customer service? Good customer service means consistently meeting customers' expectations. Great customer service is quick, easy, personalized, and empathetic. Companies that deliver excellent customer service take the time needed to understand the needs of their unique customer base.
What does customer service mean in your own words? ›Customer service is the support you offer your customers — both before and after they buy and use your products or services — that helps them have an easy and enjoyable experience with you. Offering amazing customer service is important if you want to retain customers and grow your business.
What is a Good example of customer service interview question? ›General and Common Customer Service Interview Questions
What does good customer service mean to you? What's the best customer service you've ever received? What do you consider to be the most important skills when providing customer service? How do you ensure you maintain good communication with every customer?
What is a Good example of excellent customer service? ›
An excellent customer service experience example is to hand-write a thank you message when a customer orders online. You can find other ways to welcome new customers if a hand-written note doesn't fit. You might send a personalized welcome email, call a new customer or record a brief video welcome for each client.
What does being in service mean to you? ›: going on or continuing while one is fully employed.
What are the 3 most important things in customer service? ›Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.
What is customer service skills? ›Customer service skills are the skills necessary to communicate with others, solve problems, demonstrate patience and understanding, ensure customer satisfaction, and resolve customer complaints. Employees with excellent customer service skills can have a massive impact on a company's bottom line.
Can you give us an example of good customer service? ›What are some examples good customer service? In retail, examples good customer service include remembering and appreciating repeat customers, forging a local connection with shoppers, putting your product knowledge to good use, and more. Read on below to discover what you can do to level up your customer strategies.
What makes a great customer service? ›Principles of good customer service. Listening, understanding your customer's needs, thanking the customer and promoting a positive, helpful and friendly environment will ensure they leave with a great impression. A happy customer will return often and is likely to spend more.
What is 5 star customer service mean to you? ›We could define quality customer service as: “The act of taking care of the customer's (internal and external) needs, by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and assistance before, during, as well as after the customer's requirements are met.” Hence, providing 5-star customer service ...