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The Ultimate Guide to Combat Customer Service Burnout: Symptoms, Causes, and Solutions
Address customer service burnout and support your teams effectively. Discover tips to combat it now!
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As with any career, when you start at a call center, you already have an eye towards the future and how you can grow and advance. The key is to continuously learn and hone your abilities. Working your way to the top in a call center is as much about hard skills as soft skills.… Read More »

As with any career, when you start at a call center, you already have an eye towards the future and how you can grow and advance. The key is to continuously learn and hone your abilities. Working your way to the top in a call center is as much about hard skills as soft skills. This is your guide to 5 soft skills you can begin developing from day one!

Five Skills That Will Advance Your Call Center Career

Communication is Key

At the heart of call centers are communication. Employees must be able to communicate with customers and other team members effectively. These tips will help improve your ability to communicate:

  • Never assume information is common knowledge. Carefully explain every situation.
  • Within the call center, take note of how each person likes to communicate and tailor to them. For instance, some will prefer email or phone while others want a face-to-face conversation.
  • Do not keep pertinent information to yourself. Be sure to share with those in your organization who need to know.

Manage Stress Effectively

Call centers naturally can be stressful atmospheres. They are very fast-paced, and there will be times you must deal with angry customers. It is vital that you learn how to manage stress. It is all about compartmentalizing. Devise strategies to deal with one stressful situation at a time while keeping your cool and not allowing it to ruin your entire shift.

Walk a Mile in Your Customers’ Shoes

Let’s face it. Customers do not call because they are happy with the service. They are having an issue with a product or service. In most cases, customers just want to know they are understood. Empathize with every caller and try to feel what they must be feeling. Try listening carefully, taking notes, and thoroughly analyzing an issue before you present a solution. The better you are able to connect with callers, the higher your success rate.

Put Out Fires

As mentioned above, customers can become incredibly angry. A heated situation will not lead to a positive resolution, and the caller will get off the phone still upset. Instead, work to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible. Follow these tips:

  • Maintain a calm tone of voice
  • Show concern and understanding for their problem
  • Ask what the best-case solution is for them and come as close to it as you can.

Are You Ready to Take Your Call Center Career to the Next Level?

Whether you are just beginning your career or a veteran ready to advance, the above tips will help hone your skills. Don’t forget, when it’s time to find your next call center job, partner with Salem Solutions. They specialize in call center staffing and can help you find a rewarding career that fits your goals. Don’t waste another minute! The beginning of your next chapter starts by contacting us!

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To help call center employees thrive, first, you must understand their unique situation. Naturally, agents are in stressful situations daily. Customers who call in are not doing so to rave about your organization. At the very least, they are frustrated and sometimes downright angry about an issue revolving around products and services. Other internal sources… Read More »

To help call center employees thrive, first, you must understand their unique situation. Naturally, agents are in stressful situations daily. Customers who call in are not doing so to rave about your organization. At the very least, they are frustrated and sometimes downright angry about an issue revolving around products and services. Other internal sources of stress include:

  • Uncertainty about job duties
  • Lack of high-quality equipment
  • Micromanagement
  • Few or no incentives
  • Low pay

When call center agents are not thriving, your call center suffers from poor performance, decreased efficiency, and a high employee turnover rate. Follow these tips to help employees succeed!

How To Help Call Center Employees Succeed

Set Goals

Achieving goals is not only good for the call center but is excellent for employee morale. It instills a sense of accomplishment and success which increases productivity. Keep in mind the following when setting goals:

  • Attainable – Each goal should be attainable. Break significant goals into smaller chunks to make them more realistic. If they are unrealistic or seem unattainable, employees will not be motivated.
  • Measurable – There is no way to know if goals have been achieved if they cannot be measured. Make sure each objective can be accurately quantified.

Setting realistic goals helps to ensure that all team members are on the same page and headed in the right direction.

Create a Comfortable Atmosphere

Many people think of call centers as cold and sterile environments with a pace akin to the trading floor of the stock market. This does not paint the picture of a welcoming workplace. Instead, make your call center a comfortable atmosphere with these tips:

  • Include warm colors as opposed to stark white
  • Ensure plenty of room between workstations
  • Provide a relaxing break room complete with a coffee and a snack bar, furniture, etc.

Employees who feel comfortable are more likely to perform better at their jobs. As a bonus, allow call agents to personalize their workstations if feasible. Having photographs of their loved ones or pictures of calming scenery can elevate their mood and keep stress levels down.

Supply High-Quality Equipment

Imagine talking daily to callers over a poor-quality headset that crackles and fades in and out or working with a computer that constantly freezes. This is stressful for both agents and customers and can quickly escalate an already tense situation. Not to mention, equipment failure decreases the efficiency and productivity of your call center. In addition, consider offering options for different types of desks. Some people prefer to sit down for the entire shift and are okay with a traditional desk. Other agents will prefer a taller desk that allows them to both sit and stand.

It is worth investing in high-quality equipment that makes your agents’ jobs easier. Another piece of advice is to use a single, centralized app that makes it easy to access customer records.

Motivate with Rewards

One of the most powerful motivators apart from salary are rewards. It is crucial that employees feel appreciated and know their value. Here are a few ways to show your employees they are a valuable part of the team:

  • Celebrate the completion of company goals
  • Hold friendly competitions with highly sought-after rewards such as paid time off, gift cards, etc.
  • Organize fun activities that foster camaraderie and increase morale

Find out what fun treats and activities motivate your team and implement them. Happy employees are employees who will stick with you for the long haul.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Nobody likes to be kept in the dark, including your employees. Good communication increases employee engagement, productivity, and efficiency. Furthermore, your call center is more likely to experience a lower turnover rate.

Do not keep company news to yourself. Share it with your employees unless it is meant to be top-secret, of course. To ensure everyone is kept in the loop, have a plan in place. For instance, weekly or monthly meetings or a newsletter.

Offer Advancement Opportunities

The ability to advance in a job is a huge factor in motivating call agents. Provide opportunities for growth within in your company. However, it is not just enough for these opportunities to be mystical unicorns that everyone has heard about but no one has seen.

Instead, clearly lay out what is expected of employees. So they know how to take their careers to the next level. This may include things such as:

  • Diligence
  • Responsibility
  • Punctuality
  • Ability to multi-task
  • In-depth knowledge of the company
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Displaying a high degree of efficiency
  • Receiving specific certifications

Ask for Feedback

Your agents know best which processes are working and areas of needed improvement. Routinely ask for feedback. Keep in mind that anonymous feedback tends to be the most honest because employees do not fear retribution for speaking their minds. Anonymous digital polls and surveys are a great way to accomplish this goal.

Obtaining feedback is not enough. You must act on it. Employees will stop giving quality feedback if they feel it isn’t taken seriously. Address every concern. Even if you can’t provide the solution asked for, get as close as you can, and explain why you can’t. Your employees’ feelings will be validated, and call center processes improved.

The First Step Matters

Good employees don’t just stick around. You have to work hard to keep them. The above tips will help agents thrive in call centers. One of the best ways to ensure employees thrive is to hire candidates who are a good match in the first place.

Need Help Hiring Great Call Center Employees? Salem Solutions Can Help!

Hiring is a time-consuming process, and cutting corners will leave you with subpar employees and high turnover rates. Seeking the services of the nation’s leading call center staffing agency frees up your time to focus on running your call center. Additionally, it ensures you receive only the highest-quality hires. Salem Solutions handles all of the legwork for you and presents you with only the most qualified applicants. Contact us today and see the difference we can make!

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Your job postings set the stage for candidates’ initial perceptions of your call center. Those first impressions wield incredible power in drawing top-tier candidates to your doorstep. However, creating impactful call center job descriptions can sometimes be challenging. This guide will equip you with insights into shaping job ads that seamlessly inform, captivate, and motivate.… Read More »

Your job postings set the stage for candidates’ initial perceptions of your call center. Those first impressions wield incredible power in drawing top-tier candidates to your doorstep. However, creating impactful call center job descriptions can sometimes be challenging.

This guide will equip you with insights into shaping job ads that seamlessly inform, captivate, and motivate. We’ll also delve into the elements that can attract or deter candidates as they engage with your listings to empower you with a deeper understanding of their needs and expectations.

 

The State of Customer Care Today: What You Need to Know 

Getting the right customer care talent is a real challenge these days as highlighted by McKinsey. The current workforce is facing higher call volumes and more complex calls.

In fact, 61 percent of care leaders they surveyed found a growth in their total calls due to the increased contacts of each customer and their growing customer base. Additionally, 58 percent of these leaders expect even more calls coming in.

What makes things more challenging is that employees are leaving faster than they did pre-pandemic and they’re also more difficult to replace. Around half of managers, they surveyed noticed a spike in employees leaving over the past year. Here are the top reasons why employees left their jobs:

  • 58 percent left due to recruiting from competitors
  • 39 percent left due to employee dissatisfaction¹

With this information in mind, you can write better job descriptions for your call center vacancies. When you’re putting out those listings, think about how you can tackle these issues and attract your next best candidates.

Related Reading: How AI Can Improve Your Call Center Performance 

 

Revamp your Job Descriptions: 8 Tips to Attract the Best Talent 

The key to writing better job descriptions is understanding what customer service representatives are looking for. Figure out what they want and show them how the job checks all these boxes. Here are some tips you can apply.

 

1. Learn from Your Competitors

One reason why candidates are leaving their current jobs is because other companies are snatching them up. With this in mind, you might want to consider learning from them.

Read through their job postings and see how they write them. For instance, take note of how their wordings or how welcoming their tone is. Identify what’s unique or good about these posts and try writing something similar but relevant to the job you’re hiring for.

 

2. Write Clear and Concise Job Titles

Just like headlines catch people’s attention, the job title is the first thing applicants will look at when deciding if a position is a good fit for them. It’s the first thing that makes them view the entirety of a job post or skip it.

However, it doesn’t mean getting creative with titles such as “Customer Service Champ”. Candidates don’t have time for riddles. It’s better to take a more straightforward approach and use titles such as “Experienced Customer Service Agent.” 

 

3. Identify the Important Skills Needed

Now that a candidate’s got their eyes on your post, it’s time to see if they’ve got the skills needed for the job. It’s best to clearly state the most critical requirements you’re looking for in a customer service representative.

You could categorize job requirements into two groups: required and preferred. For instance, a required skill is proficiency in using CRM software while a preferred skill is bilingualism. This method makes it easy for job seekers to identify whether they qualify for the position or not.

Related Reading: 6 Qualities That Make a Great Call Center Agent 

 

4. Make Your Post Easy to Read

Most candidates skim job descriptions first to determine if they’re interested in further pursuing the opportunity. Long, wordy sentences and confusing jargon may turn off potential applicants, and you could end up missing out on exceptional employees.

To avoid this, it’s best to break job descriptions into bite-size pieces of info by using clear and exact headings such as “Job Duties” and “Job Requirements.” It’s also ideal to keep your sentences brief and use bullet points whenever appropriate.

Your post’s flow will be very important too. For example, put the most important details on the topmost part of your post. These include salary range, benefits, and job qualifications.

 

5. Remember to Use Inclusive Language

It’s advisable to steer clear of unintentional bias in your language—it matters more than you might think. Remember, how you communicate can shape how job seekers see your company.

According to McKinsey, racial or ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ candidates are more likely to pass on a job if the company appears non-inclusive. In fact, you can lose an average of 39 percent of potential applicants.²

When you’re drafting your job posts, opt for gender-neutral pronouns and inclusive language. Craft descriptions that embrace all backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths, genders, ages, abilities, and more.

For instance, phrases like “strong English-language skills” might discourage non-native English speakers, while “young and energetic” could turn away more experienced candidates. This is why it’s important to choose your words carefully.

 

6. Talk about Company Culture and Values

Help potential employees imagine what it’ll be like working for you. You could describe what a typical day looks like by listing down job responsibilities, benefits and perks, and a glimpse into the company’s culture. Your goal? To show potential employees how amazing it’ll be to work in your call center.

And when delving into your work culture, underline how much you value your team. Gallup discovered that 61 percent of employees highly prize work-life balance and personal well-being in their next job.³ Use your post to spotlight how your setup benefits applicants and let them know you care about them as individuals and respect their needs.

Related Reading: The Importance of Wellbeing and Health in the Workplace 

 

7. Provide Salary Range and Benefits

According to Statista, almost 50 percent of employers agree that offering competitive starting salaries is one of the most popular methods of attracting skilled candidates in the United States. Meanwhile flexible work options, hiring remote candidates, and signing bonuses also rank high on the list.⁴

You don’t have to disclose the exact amount, but laying out the range together with insights into medical insurance benefits and retirement packages can give your job an enticing edge. Additionally, excluding the compensation specifics might signal your job offer falls short, which could deter top tier candidates.

Choosing to exclude the compensation details in your job posting may give the impression that the compensation package you’re offering isn’t good enough and may discourage candidates from applying.

 

8. Provide an Overview of Growth Opportunities

A McKinsey Consumer Pulse Survey revealed that 74 percent of Gen Z and millennial participants harbor concerns about job stability.⁵ You can help your applicants, especially the younger ones, feel secure about working with you by spotlighting growth and development opportunities in your job posting.

These could include upskilling opportunities or training initiatives. Including these details underscores your commitment to invest in their career growth and future in the company.

Related Reading: 7 Secrets to Outstanding Customer Service  

 

FIND THE BEST CALL CENTER CANDIDATES WITH SALEM SOLUTIONS

Crafting an effective job description is the key to attracting exceptional candidates and expediting your hiring process. At Salem Solutions we specialize in call center candidate recruitment. We understand the unique challenges call centers face and vet all potential candidates, presenting you with only the most qualified to interview.

When it comes time to find your next exceptional agent, you can count on us to do the job. Request an employee today to fill your vacancies or build a whole customer service team. Contact us to find out how!

 

References 

1 “The State of Customer Care in 2022.” McKinsey & Company, 8 Jul. 2022, www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/the-state-of-customer-care-in-2022.

2 “Not Inclusive? You’re Losing 39 Percent of Job Applicants.” McKinsey & Company, 29 Jun. 2020, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/not-inclusive-youre-losing-39-percent-of-job-applicants.

3 Wigert, Ben. “The Top 6 Things Employees Want in Their Next Job.” Gallup, 21 Feb. 2022, www.gallup.com/workplace/389807/top-things-employees-next-job.aspx.

4 “Top Methods of Attracting Skilled Candidates by Employers in the United States in 2022.” Statista, 25 Apr. 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/1380196/how-employers-are-attracting-skilled-candidates/.

5 “Job Jitters.” McKinsey & Company, 9 May 2023, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/job-jitters.

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Let’s say you are browsing job boards for open positions. You stumble across a job title that sounds promising, so you click the link for further details. The description and duties align near perfectly with your dream job. And then your excitement is crushed when you realize you don’t meet the requirements. You do not… Read More »

Let’s say you are browsing job boards for open positions. You stumble across a job title that sounds promising, so you click the link for further details. The description and duties align near perfectly with your dream job. And then your excitement is crushed when you realize you don’t meet the requirements. You do not have the 5+ years of experience they are looking for. Should you still apply for the job even though you’re underqualified?

How to Know If You Should Apply For Job You Are Underqualified For

First, it is essential to understand that employers create job requirements that describe their ideal candidate. 9 times out of 10, the perfect candidate does not exist, but the point is to prevent applicants who do not qualify at all from applying. This guideline will help you determine if you are qualified enough to apply for a job you do not meet all the requirements for.

How Underqualified are You?

You should be at least a 50% match to consider applying for a position. The closer you are to 100%, the better, though. Keep in mind that you should match with most of the more important requirements, such as experience with the “X” program and not “willingness to learn.” Anything under 50%, and the chances are good that you will be wasting both your time and the employer’s.

Do You Have Achievements Under Your Belt?

If you have incredible achievements under your belt that can relate back to the industry you are applying for jobs in, then you should go for it! Achievements can be anything from winning an award to being an inventor so long as you can show how it is beneficial to the job you are applying for.

You Know You Have What It Takes!

Let’s face it. You know deep down whether you have the credentials to be successful at a job. If you know you have what it takes and can answer how you would provide immediate value to the position and company, you should apply. However, if you know with certainty that you will be winging it, it’s time to move on.

Tips for Applying for Jobs Your Underqualified for

  • Submit a functional resume – Instead of a chronological resume, try a functional one that groups your experiences according to skillsets (e.g., leadership).
  • Show off your personality – Employers want to hire people who can get along with everyone. Being likable goes a long way.
  • Find an “In” – If possible, find someone you know who can make a personal introduction within the company.
  • Demonstrate your value – Create a presentation or an outline that shows how you would tackle the position and overcome challenges. Then, attach it to your application.
  • Fill in the Gaps – Show how the skills and experiences you do have translate into the position you are applying for.

Let Salem Solutions Help You Find Your Next Great Job!

Scouring the internet to find current job openings can be frustrating, to say the least. First, you have to sift through hundreds of jobs that are months old and probably not even still open. Even then, you still aren’t finding the best jobs because many employers choose to utilize staffing agencies to help them fill open positions instead of public job boards.

Salem Solutions is the leading staffing agency in the United States. Not only do they have access to open positions that are not publicly advertised, but they will do the leg work of finding jobs openings that match your skillset and career goals. Best of all, partnering with Salem Solutions is FREE to job seekers! So what are you waiting for? Browse open positions today!

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Every company, no matter how big or small, strives to have a high employee retention rate. Having a high retention rate positively affects your bottom line by saving the time, money, and resources that it takes to train a new hire. Your onboarding process plays a critical role in whether employees stay with your company… Read More »

Every company, no matter how big or small, strives to have a high employee retention rate. Having a high retention rate positively affects your bottom line by saving the time, money, and resources that it takes to train a new hire. Your onboarding process plays a critical role in whether employees stay with your company long-term or leave in mere months.

In fact, a study conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management found that half of employees leave within a year and a half. The cost of replacement is high, comparable to 6 to 9 months of the employee’s salary. Let’s look at how the onboarding process can impact call center employee retention and tips for strengthening your company’s strategy.

How The Onboarding Process Can Impact Call Center Employee Retention

What is the Purpose of an Onboarding Process?

New hire onboarding processes are designed to help call center employees integrate with your organization’s culture in every way. It involves making new employees feel welcome and providing the tools needed for them to be successful. Strategic onboarding shows employer dedication which helps to create a quicker and stronger loyalty from employees. In turn, employee retention increases.

How Long Should Onboarding Last?

Onboarding is often confused with orientation. Although orientation is a part of the onboarding process, it is just a small portion focused on completing the necessary paperwork, which typically only lasts a week or two. On the other hand, onboarding is a much more comprehensive process that should last anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the position.

Onboarding’s Massive Impact (Numbers Don’t Lie)

Recent studies shed light on just how devastating a poor onboarding program can have on your company:

  • A strong onboarding process can increase employee retention by an incredible 82%. This is crucial in an economy where job opportunities are high, and people have plenty of choices when it comes to where they work.
  • Did you know that only 12% of employees believe their employer has a great onboarding program? That’s a meager number and leaves plenty of opportunities to become a preferred company to work for.
  • Over half of organizations (58%) admit that their onboarding is primarily geared toward technical processes such as paperwork. In reality, it should go way beyond the legalities of hiring.

Make These Considerations Before Developing or Revamping

  • When will the onboarding process begin, and how long will it last? The answer may not be one-size-fits-all but differ based on job titles.
  • What is the best way to obtain feedback and measure progress on the program?
  • Outline what new hires need to know about the culture and workplace dynamics to be successful.
  • What is Human Resource’s role?
  • What are the initial goals for new hires?

Strategies for Strengthening Your Onboarding Process

Follow these tips to take your onboarding program to the next level and improve employee retention.

Look Past the First Week

It takes longer than a week for a new hire to integrate into a new workplace. They have to not only navigate new job duties but a new culture, teammates, and supervisors. Ensure support is provided for at least the first 3 months and potentially longer if need be. By the time onboarding ends, new hires should be able to work at full capacity.

Before the First Day

Contrary to popular belief, onboarding should not begin on a new employee’s first day but instead on the day they are hired. Send out a welcome email. If possible, send the paperwork that needs to be signed along with the employee handbook and any other pertinent resources new hires will need on their first day, including access to employee portals.

By the time a new hire’s first day arrives, ensure you have their office space or cubicle set up. Alert the receptionist of their arrival and make sure that someone is there to greet them and guide them through their first through moments. Nothing will make an employee feel worse than feeling like they aren’t valued.

First Days are the Hardest

The first day on a new job is the hardest. There is a lot to take in, not to mention new hires want to make an excellent first impression and show they are an asset to your company. Ensure new hires are met on their first day with a warm welcome and a friendly tour. Introduce them to coworkers, supervisors, and other departments such as accounting that they will need to work with regularly. You want new hires to feel excited from day one!

Partner New Hires with a Veteran

Anxiety about doing a good job and impressing supervisors is entirely normal. Make first days, weeks, and even months easier by pairing new hires with a mentor until they are confident in their job responsibilities. The length of time will depend on the individual employee as well as the complexity of the position. Offering complete support as new hires become acclimated is vital to employee success and retention.

Lay Out Expectations

It is easier for employees to be successful when they know what is expected of them. As a part of the onboarding process, it is advisable to clearly lay out expectations, including setting key performance indicators (KPIs).

Walk new hires through opportunities for career growth. Nobody wants a job that is a dead-end. Employees are much more likely to stay when they know there is plenty of opportunity for growth.

Ready for Your Next Great Hire? Salem Solutions Can Help!

Creating a robust onboarding program is the key to getting every new hire off to a great start and improving employee retention. Salem Solutions is the nation’s leading staffing agency, specializing in the government call center, and commercial customer service industries, just to name a few! No matter how complex your staffing challenges are, we have you covered! Don’t waste another minute; request your next employee today!

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The fact of the matter is that the most straightforward interview questions are often the most difficult to come up with answers for that set you apart from other candidates who may be just as qualified. Hiring managers are tired of hearing the same canned responses to interview questions. This is your interview guide to… Read More »

The fact of the matter is that the most straightforward interview questions are often the most difficult to come up with answers for that set you apart from other candidates who may be just as qualified. Hiring managers are tired of hearing the same canned responses to interview questions. This is your interview guide to easy yet effective answers to the most challenging questions you will be asked in an interview.

5 Answers to Hard Interview Questions

What Questions Do You Have?

Do not let this question fool you. It is often the hardest for candidates to get right. Most interviewees do not prepare, so they blank when asked this question and end up saying, “nothing” (the worst possible response). This response shows a lack of care for the position. You should always prepare for this question ahead of time. Make sure you ask at least one or two questions that you can’t easily find the answers to on the internet. For example, ask how the organization views success.

Please Describe Yourself in One Word

There’s no doubt this is a tough one! First, avoid generic responses such as “punctual” that do not really tell employers anything about yourself. Instead, choose an adjective that relates to the position you are applying for and is meaningful to who you are as an employee. For instance, if you apply for a data entry position, a great option is “detail-oriented.”

Why Should I Hire You for This Position?

It can be hard to “brag” on yourself, but sometimes you have to. In this case, you can do so humbly. Prepare a short answer that highlights how you will be an asset to the company. Avoid mentioning other candidates or rambling on about irrelevant facts that do not pertain to the needs of the position or the organization.

What is Your Greatest Achievement?

You have a long list of accomplishments, and that is amazing! However, you probably do not need to list them all in an interview. Instead, choose the ones that are most relevant to the position you are interviewing for. After all, the chances are good that the interviewer saw your complete list of achievements on your resume.

What is Your Biggest Strength and Weakness?

This question is about digging deeper into your character and the value you can bring to the company. Then, when it comes to your biggest strength, choose one that will be an asset to the position you are vying for. The more relevant it is, the more of an impact it will have.

However, for your biggest weakness, gone are the days of choosing a weakness that is actually a strength. The best strategy is to be honest and then provide steps you are taking to become stronger in that area. Your candid answer will be appreciated and leave a better impression!

Find the Perfect Job! Salem Solutions Can Help!

Following these tips will help you prepare stellar answers to the most commonly asked interview questions. Salem Solutions is the nation’s leading staffing agency! We are here to help you find the perfect job to fit your career goals. Browse open positions today!

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