Customer Service Officer

• Certificate III in Business

Whether its a general inquiry or a complaint about an organisation's products or services, customer service officers are usually the first port of call for customers. They either handle preliminary inquiries themselves, or they direct inquirers to the section of an organisation where they can find answers. One Service Officer, said a work day may include directing irate customers who have received parking infringements to the Council's payment area, or processing a complaint form about a local eating spot.

Not quite the career you are looking for? Please try the related course profiles below:

Clerical and Administrative

Receptionist (Tourism),  Accountant,  Hotel Manager,  Caravan Park/Camping grounds Manager,  Human Resources Manager,  Customer Service Officer,  Medical Administrative Officer,  Project and Program Administrator,  Purchasing Officer,  Legal Secretary,  Conveyancer,  Bookkeeper,  Credit and Loans Officer,  Receptionist,  Financial Planner / Financial Investment Advisers,  Librarian

Helping and Community Services

Nutrition Assistant (Dietary Aide),  Police Officer,  Aged or Disabilities Carer,  Counsellor and Community Worker,  Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health Worker,  Trichologist,  Child Care Worker,  Landcare Officer,  Customer Service Officer,  Park Ranger,  Tourist Information Officer,  Kitchen hand,  Medical Administrative Officer,  Interpreter,  Reflexologist,  Youth Worker or Disability Worker,  Patient Care Assistant,  Massage Therapist,  Fitness Instructor,  Occupational Health & Safety Professional,  Financial Planner / Financial Investment Advisers,  Librarian

While there are no specific educational requirements to become a customer service officer, having acquired some training would assist in finding work in this occupation. Of the current Customer Service Officers 11% have either Certificate I or II, 11% have Certificate III or IV, 6% have and Advanced Diploma or Diploma and 63% have no post school qualification. The majority of those without a qualification are likely to be included in the 55+ years. It is recommended that you get the advantage when applying for jobs and get the appropriate education and training.

TAFE SA offer the following courses to help you find employment in this occupation:

Certificate II and III in Retail, Certificate IV in Retail Management; Diploma of Retail Management; Certificate IV in Business Sales; Certificate IV in Frontline Management; and Certificate IV in Small Business Management.

Still unsure? Then enrol in a short course also offered through TAFE SA such as Introduction to Retail. For further information about these and related courses go to the TAFE SA website http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au.

Customer Service Officers generally find employment in most industries; in commonwealth departments and private organisations. What The Future Holds According to occupational forecasters, employment growth in the medium term is likely to be strong. The demand for customer service officers comes from a range of industry sectors and a high job turnover rate contributes to ongoing job opportunities. However, in smaller organisations customer service officer duties are generally performed as part of another occupation.

Education,  Finance and Insurance,  Property and Business Services

To be updated.

"I am usually the first person people see when they come to the front counter of the Health Services section at the Council, or the first person they speak to on the phone. We handle all general inquiries and complaints about food premises and noise levels in the area. Its my job to find out what the person would like to know, provide them with the necessary information if I can, or let them know who can assist them further. If it was food poisoning for example, then I would direct the person to our environmental health officer". Central Point of Inquiry Customer service officers are an important part of an organisation's customer service strategy. They minimise the time it takes a customer to find the right person or a piece of information. Its also more efficient for the organisation having one or more people dedicated to this task.

Because of the direct contact Customer Service Officers have with the public, excellent customer service skills are a must in this occupation. Being well informed about their organisation, so that inquiries can be answered promptly and complaints resolved quickly, is also advantageous. Since customer service officers have to contend with the odd problem, analytical and problem solving skills will also greatly assist them in their job. Aside from handling inquiries, customer service officers often assist people to fill in forms associated with their inquiry or complaint. This might be a rental assistance form at a housing agency, a loan application form at a financial institution, or some cases a poor work practice complaint form.

Customer service officers need to be competent in Word and Excel and be good typists as they process these forms and enter the details into a computerised database. Customer Service Officers play an important role in many different departments and organisations. They may handle inquiries about bond assistance, rental vacancies and whether or not people are up to date with their rental payments. So that the public can be better informed about an organisation's products or services, customer service officers also distribute information pamphlets over the counter to any interested parties. They should be aware of where the relevant information is located in their department so that this type of information can be handed out promptly to the public.

For further information, contact:

Australian Retailers Association (SA)
60 Halifax St Adelaide SA 5000
Ph: (08) 8233 0222
Fax: (08) 8233 0299
Email: reception@sa.ara.com.au
Internet Address: http://www.ara.com.au

The salary range for customer service officers can vary depending on where they are employed and their level of experience. This generally ranges between $25,000 and $35,000 per year. The latter salary would more likely apply to someone with several years experience in the job.

For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au