According to the South African Satisfaction (SAS) Index as well as the nation’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), South African customers enjoy much higher levels of satisfaction than those living in America and Europe. This is mainly because South African companies are always trying to improve on their standards with the help of enthusiastic employees in their customer service departments. If you’ve ever considered a career in customer service, here’s a roundup of your need-to-know info:
Customer service is not a single role
The customer service industry has an abundance of great employment opportunities. And if you love working with people, you could very well find yourself working your dream job in one of these roles within the industry:
1. Customer service advisor
Average salary: R112,962 per year
Customer service advisors are tasked with helping customers find the information they need. They deal with complaints, customer enquiries, and company promotions. Service advisors are most commonly found in the motor industry of South Africa and can also earn a commission based on how much effort they put into their jobs.
2. Customer service assistant
Average salary: R136,280 per year
Customer service assistants ensure that all clients leave with a sense of satisfaction. This role involves a significant amount of face-to-face client interaction, but also entails email communication as well as telephonic administration. Depending on which sector you work in, your day-to-day activities will probably include arranging store displays and dealing with payments.
3. Customer service manager
Average salary: R324,261 per year
If you have strong leadership skills, a career in customer service management could be ideal for you. In this position, you will be tasked with leading a team of employees to help ensure your company delivers the best customer service possible. You’ll be responsible for recruiting staff, handling security issues, and assisting with the training and development of new talent.
4. Technical support representative
Average salary: R197,270 per year
If you’re aiming at joining a company’s technical team as a support representative, you’ll be helping customers with all of their technical issues. These positions are often found in more advanced call-centre positions, which means that you might need a degree in the engineering field to qualify for these positions.
5. Sales product support representative
Average salary: R381,285 per year
Sales product support representatives are responsible for handling queries that consumers have before and after making a purchase. Keep in mind that professionals within this field are paid a low basic salary and make a commission on sales as their main source of income.