Nearly 31 percent of customer service and sales job candidates could improve their ability to encourage customers to upgrade or buy new products or services by offering them more options, according to findings from a SkillSurvey study.
Additionally, more than one in four (27 percent) need to work on their ability to give customers specific recommendations about company products and services, based on information about the customer.
“Whether in-store, on the phone or online, retailers may not be completely satisfying customers and may be leaving sales on the table if they don’t make the right hiring decisions this holiday season,” said Ray Bixler, president and CEO, SkillSurvey, in a statement. “At the same time, job-seekers need to know which skills to emphasize in their applications and throughout the hiring process. Employers will be well-served by seeking out candidates who have shown that they can use creativity and strategic thinking to create smart solutions to customer problems.”
Good customer service means good business. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of customers say they are willing to spend 14 percent more, on average, at a company that they believe provides excellent customer service, according to a 2014 study by American Express. This study also found that three-fourths of customers (74 percent) say they have spent more with a company because of a history of positive customer service experiences. On the other hand, 37 percent of customers said they will switch companies after a single poor customer service experience.
Other key findings from the SkillSurvey reference data on customer service and sales candidates include:
Areas for Improvement:
- 23 percent can boost their ability to make high quality decisions based on business priorities.
- 22 percent have room to grow when it comes to effectively using customer service systems and databases to resolve customer issues.
- 20 percent could improve at gathering information from customers to more efficiently answer questions and resolve issues.
Top Areas of Strength:
- Nearly all (95 percent) of these job candidates are good at treating other people with fairness and respect.
- Trustworthiness: 93 percent of candidates demonstrate honesty and high personal standards when dealing with others.
- Nine out of 10 candidates (90 percent) show ethics and integrity in their work.
“Smart, strategic companies can set themselves apart and boost their bottom line by hiring customer service and sales representatives who have shown that they are great listeners and able to engage thoughtfully with customers,” Bixler said. “Using input from job references to identify those hard-to-find markers of success is a great way to help boost results this holiday season.”