Blog Post: Customer Service

What do you think of when you hear the words “customer service”? Probably how you were treated by the server at restaurant. Or the cashier at a grocery store. Customer service applies internally as well as externally. What’s the customer service like at the company you work for? And it should be something you consider when job seeking.

If you are currently working for a company:

How do they treat their vendors after they hang up the phone? How do they treat people that make a cold call to their office? Do they seem too busy to be bothered? And body language counts, too; rolling the eyes or not looking at you when you are talking to them. Chances are how they treat their external contacts is a clue how they could treat their internal employees.

If you are a job seeker:

Remember that the time you spend waiting for the receptionist to find the person that is interviewing you works both ways. They are checking you out as well as you checking them out! Not to mention what was the tone when you received the call to schedule an interview?

Something’s wrong when you speak to an employee and the first thing out of their mouth is “what did I do wrong now?” Yes there could be some self esteem problem going on, but maybe the only time you contact them is to correct them.

Here’s a random act of kindness you should try. Randomly pick a vendor or employee and call them just to say “hi” and let them know you appreciate them. The reaction is stunning because no one calls any one for no reason. I do it and I have fun!

Everyone needs to feel they are worthy and needed; ditto in the employment world, please and thank you. You spend most of your life at work with other people, so let’s make the best of it. Your co-workers are your extended family. Work shouldn't be heading for the cubicle and cranking out orders. Work should be a common interest that brings several people together for the same goal.

If you work for a company that regularly spends some time with you just chatting, caring about you, you should be thankful and say so. I work for a busy home health agency. The owner cares about the employees and takes the time to chat.

Customer service should be started internally top to bottom, and it will naturally grow externally. Mirror, mirror on the wall……