Customer service agents contribute to a company’s reputation by listening to what customers need and ensuring they have a good experience. Knowledge of your company’s products, services, communication skills, problem-solving skills, active listening, and empathy are some of the things that are needed to be good in customer service. So you have skills such as rising to the challenge, empathy, and patience, but you need a strong customer service resume to show how you’ve applied these skills.
In this article, we have two customer service resume samples you can use. Plus, we’ll explain everything you need to know to craft a customer service resume.
What is customer service?
Customer service is a skill set that includes active listening, empathy, problem-solving, and communication, and it is used in a variety of jobs at all levels. Traditionally, customer service is thought of as a service provided by a business to a consumer, but it can also be applied within a business.
Tip: Any time an employee engages a customer, they are representing the organization and exercising customer service skills.
Related: 11 Remote Jobs That Pay $80/Hour — No Experience Needed!
What Is a Customer Service Resume?
Well, it’s not just some boring document listing where you’ve worked. Think of it as your highlight reel—proof you’ve actually made customers’ lives easier. Solved their problems. Maybe even turned a bad experience into a loyal fan.
Big difference from a general resume? This one’s all about how you handle people. Can you keep your cool when someone’s yelling about a refund? Explain tech issues without making their eyes glaze over? Juggle five chats at once and still sound friendly? That’s the stuff employers care about.
Jobs this applies to? Basically anywhere with customers. Retail. Hotels. Call centers. Even hospitals—ever tried calming down someone who’s waited 2 hours past their appointment? Exactly.
Check this out: How to Create an Impressive Resume
What to put into your customer service resume:
- Communication that doesn’t suck (Show off your ability to communicate clearly and not like a robot on a script.)
- Your secret tricks for defusing meltdowns (Talk about how you handled complaints and situations in the past)
- How you play nice with coworkers (Because everybody wants a team player and a coworker they can relate with.)
- Tech you’ve mastered (CRMs, Zendesk, that ancient phone system—mention it.)
Here’s the thing: Companies aren’t hiring robots to spit out “I’ll help you with that.” They want people who get customers. Your resume should scream: “I’m the reason people keep coming back.”
Also Related: Common Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You Jobs
Key aspects of customer service
Let’s be honest – good customer service isn’t just about answering questions. It’s about making people feel genuinely helped when they interact with your business. Whether you’re dealing with frustrated customers or just helping someone choose a product, nailing these four elements can make all the difference:
- Stay One Step Ahead: Why wait for complaints to roll in? The best service anticipates needs before customers even ask. Notice a common issue popping up? Reach out first with solutions. It shows you actually care.
- Make It Personal: Nothing feels worse than being treated like ticket #4056. Take time to learn your customers’ names, preferences, and purchase history. Quick tip: social media and short surveys can reveal goldmines of insight about what your customers really want.
- Meet Them Where They Are: Some people love phone calls. Others would rather chat online or swing by in person. Offering multiple contact options isn’t just convenient – it shows respect for how people prefer to communicate.
- Know Your Stuff Inside Out: There’s nothing more frustrating than getting passed between five different reps who all say “That’s not my department.” Deep product knowledge lets you solve problems quickly without the runaround.
Pro Tip: These days, support comes in all shapes – from old-school phone calls to AI chatbots. The channel matters less than how well you use it to deliver real solutions.
Remember: At its core, great service is about treating customers like actual human beings rather than interruptions to your workday. Get these elements right, and you’ll not only solve problems -you’ll build loyalty that keeps people coming back.
Related: Best Tips On How To Write An Internship Resume
21 important customer service skills to include in your customer service resume
Although customer service is often seen as a skill in and of itself, many associated skills support strong customer service abilities. Important customer service skills include:
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration
- Conflict resolution
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making
- Effective communication
- Emotional intelligence
- Empathy
- Friendliness
- Negotiation skills
- Open-mindedness
- Patience
- Persuasion
- Problem-solving
- Product knowledge
- Time management
- Understanding body language
- Writing skills
Many customer service skills are soft skills. As you learn how to communicate more effectively, make decisions, think independently, and expand your understanding of empathy, you’ll find you can more easily relate to and assist others. Employers value people with strong soft skills because of how well they can interact with both customers and colleagues.
Tip: The five dimensions of service quality are reliability, tangibility, empathy, responsiveness, and assurance.
Check out: How to Build a Strong Resume for Scholarship Applications
Tips for writing a customer service resume
Let’s be real—customer service resumes can feel repetitive. But with the right tweaks, yours can stand out. Here’s how:
1. Stop Using a Generic Resume for Every Job
Customer service roles vary a lot—retail, tech support, hospitality—so why send the same resume everywhere? Tailor it.
- If you’re new (under 5 years experience), lead with a sharp objective statement.
- Seasoned pro? A professional summary works better.
- Always mention your industry experience early. Hiring managers scan fast—make it easy for them.
Related: How far back should a resume go?
2. Flaunt Your Skills (The Right Way)
Don’t just list skills—prove them. Sprinkle these throughout your resume:
- Bullet points for quick scanning (e.g., Conflict resolution, CRM software, multitasking).
- Work history section—show how you used skills like active listening or problem-solving in real scenarios.
- Summary/objective—pair skills with achievements. Example: “Boosted satisfaction scores by 20% by resolving complaints empathetically.”
3. Numbers Talk—Use Them
Vague claims don’t impress. Hard numbers do. Make sure to include some metrics as you show your achievements. Examples:
- “Cut average response time from 48 hrs to 12 hrs.”
- “Maintained 95%+ customer satisfaction over 6 months.”
- “Processed 50+ daily orders with 99% accuracy.”
4. Include action verbs
Words like “helped” or “assisted” are weak. Action verbs show actions you took to achieve your goals in your previous roles. Also try to match these action verbs with the key words in the job description. Use words like listen, record, sell, manage and respond.
Pro tip: Mirror the job description’s verbs to beat ATS filters.
Also Related: What to Bring to an Interview: The Ultimate Guide
Importance of effective customer service resumes
A polished resume isn’t just about getting past bots—it’s about making an impression. Here’s what hiring managers notice:
- Impact – Metrics prove you deliver results, not just tasks.
- Professionalism – Clean formatting shows that you’re detail-oriented and thorough.
- Growth – Improved metrics or certifications show you’re getting better, not just coasting.
Bottom line? A great customer service resume doesn’t just list experience—it sells your ability to turn frustrated customers into loyal ones.
Example of customer service skills in a resume
Customer Service Resumes
Sample #1
Cody Fredrickson
Austin, TX | (555) 456-3333 | cfredrickson@email.com
Summary
Empathetic and customer-focused customer service professional looking to take on additional responsibilities at a larger retail location. Three years of experience managing phone and in-person queries in retail where I applied problem-solving and creative expertise to maintain a 99% satisfaction rate. Proficient in point-of-sales systems, drafting customer emails and following up on requests.
Education
Ramsey University 2019
Bachelor of Arts in communications
Experience
SuperClothes Retail, Mahwah, NJ, Customer Service Representative August 2019–Current
- Respond to all live customer queries immediately with 24-hour resolution times
- Report issues to management within 24 hours,
- Process returns and exchanges using POS systems
- Draft customer newsletters with management to promote new products or policies
- Facilitate customer satisfaction surveys, receiving a score of 99% satisfaction
BurgerBrothers, Inc, Mahwah, NJ, Restaurant Server September 2017–August 2019
- Served full sections during peak hours for tables with five or more guests
- Substituted for hosting and bartending to greet and keep customers happy
- Cleaned several areas of workplace to maintain compliant and safe work environments
Certifications
- Certified Customer Experience Professional
Skills
- Empathy
- Point-of-sale proficiency
- Computer skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving
Sample #2
Ivy Haddington
Denver, CO | (555) 456-7891 | ihaddington@email.com
Summary
Seasoned customer service representative with over ten years of experience in business-to-business customer service and supervision. Consistent record of maintaining client satisfaction and retention while supervising teams to meet service-level agreements and turnaround times. Proficient with customer relationship management tools and Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word.
Education
Union College
Bachelor of Arts in business administration
Experience
MarketMarketers, Union, NJ, Customer Service Supervisor December 2016–Current
- Supervise a team of four customer service representatives and their logs
- Create new process documentation to increase response time by 20%
- Limit customer leave rate to under 3% by maintaining positive relationships
- Oversee customer database and manage data input, updates and follow-ups
- Continue to achieve a 98% customer satisfaction rate
Sell For You, Union, NJ, CRestaurant Server September 2013–November 2016
- Maintained the highest satisfaction rating at 99% among peers
- Answered and addressed all customer queries within 24 hours via phone and online
- Documented all customer interactions and logged them in CRM database
Certifications
- Certified Customer Service Manager, June 2023
Skills
- CRM solutions
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Customer service supervision
- Data entry and management
- Problem-solving
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No experience? No problem. Think outside the box—maybe you’ve calmed down a frustrated classmate during a group project or smoothed over a conflict at your weekend café job. Skills like listening, staying patient under pressure, or explaining things clearly all count. Even volunteer gigs or that internship where you answered emails matter here.
Unless you’ve got a decade of stories to tell, stick to one page. Hiring managers skim fast, so throw the spotlight on what’s actually relevant. Less fluff, more proof.
Short answer: Yes. Generic resumes get tossed. Spot keywords in the job description? Use them. Did they emphasize “multitasking” or “CRM experience”? Move those skills front and center. It’s not cheating—it’s showing you get what they need.
Key skills include communication, empathy, problem-solving, conflict resolution, time management, and familiarity with customer service tools like CRM software.
Conclusion
A killer customer service resume isn’t about stuffing every detail onto a page. It’s about showing (not just telling) that you’re the kind of person who fixes problems without making folks feel like a nuisance.
Focus your resume on real-world skills showing only specific achievements relevant to the job description so you show the employers that you are the right person for the job.
Think of your resume like a first impression. Polish it, personalize it, and go get that interview.
