We surveyed 41,313 customer service representatives to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical customer service representative. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a customer service representative?

Low

High

Working as a customer service representative typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a customer service representative?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a customer service representative typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a customer service representative?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically not very difficult to find a job as a customer service representative. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for customer service representatives.

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Do customer service representatives work full-time or part-time?

74% of customer service representatives work in full-time roles while 26% work part-time.

Is being a customer service representative stressful?

Low

High

Stress is very commonplace for customer service representatives, contributing negatively towards career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as a customer service representative?

Low

High

Some level of organization is generally required to be a customer service representative.

How competitive is the workplace for customer service representatives?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for customer service representatives.

Does being a customer service representative require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Customer service representatives will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.

Are customer service representatives allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Customer service representatives rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.

Do customer service representatives have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Customer service representatives tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being a customer service representative physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as a customer service representatives is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.

Are customer service representatives exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, customer service representatives tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a customer service representative require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for customer service representatives.

Does being a good customer service representative require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

Strong compassion and empathy are critical to success as a customer service representative.