11 Questions to Ask When You Hire Customer Service Staff

Asking the right questions in interviews is critical to appropriately assess potential talent when you hire customer service staff. The right questions will help you evaluate whether someone has the skills required to succeed in your position and is a good fit for your team and company culture. Some things you should assess during interviews for customer support professionals include:

Written and verbal communication
Customer service experience and skills
Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Diplomacy and tact
Problem solving skills
Whether the candidate is friendly and engaging

general questions to ask when you hire customer service staff

describe your ideal work setting

Is the person going to be happy at a desk answering phone calls all day, or are they looking for a more mobile, face-to-face customer service position? The answer to this question helps you evaluate whether someone is a good fit for your workplace.
do you have experience working remotely?

Many call centers and other customer service roles that can be done digitally are now being moved remote thanks to the pandemic. You need to be able to count on your remote staff like you would in-person staff, especially if you're using a remote or hybrid approach to work right now. But even if you're bringing people into the office, those who can manage themselves while problem-solving and serving customers from any location are good resources now and for the future. You never know when you might need to or want to have employees work remotely again.
what do you enjoy most about working in customer service?

If a candidate can't speak sincerely about something they really enjoy about the industry, why do they want this job? What someone most enjoys about the work can also help you decide where they might fit best in your organization.
what skill do you think is most important in customer service?

The skill people think is most important tells something about them. Either they've seen this skill overcome challenges in customer service or it's a skill that has helped them achieve goals in the past. It's a good idea to follow-up on this one and ask why someone believes a certain skill is critical.

More and more, companies that want to retain their employees are developing a skills-based hiring approach. This is a significant advantage for companies that can keep knowledge within the organization. Providing a long-term career perspective for a candidate applying for a customer service position can also give you a competitive edge over other employers.
how do you approach stressful situations?

Customer service positions get stressful. At some point, your employees have to deal with irate customers or other unpleasant situations. Asking this question communicates this truth while also helping you ascertain whether someone is ready to face those situations.
have you used x software before?

Customize this question based on your needs. If your teams use a certain CRM, ask candidates if they're familiar with it or what CRM they have used before. You might not need candidates to know how to use your exact system — you can provide training — but someone who is already familiar with that type of software can pick it up faster.

questions specific to customer services skills and situations

describe a situation where you went above and beyond to provide a great experience for a customer.

It sounds like a throwaway for anyone with experience in customer service, but this question delves into a variety of topics. First, it shows whether the person understands the importance of customer experience and what makes a good one. It also allows them to set the bar for where they think "great" customer service is. Second, a scenario-based answer lets you hear about the person's skills and knowledge in context.
describe a time when you handled an agitated customer. how did you deescalate the situation?

This question has many of the same benefits as the one above. It also helps you understand whether the candidate has experience dealing with stressful situations. If they're unable to tell you a story about how they deescalated a customer issue on their own, they may not be as skilled or experienced as you need them to be.
what is your preferred method of communication? are you comfortable handling inquiries over the phone / instant message / email?

Make sure the people you hire are comfortable using the communication methods required of the position. A chat customer service rep needs to be comfortable typing and communicating in text, for example, and that's not always the same person who is comfortable dealing with phone or in-person communications.
tell me about a time you helped a customer solve a complex problem.

Having the candidate talk about specific events in their work history is a great way to ferret out details about their skills, beliefs about the job and personal values as they pertain to the work. This question puts them on the spot to show off a bit, too, which can help you evaluate them compared to other call centre or customer service candidates.
do you have any experience with sales or upselling?

Customer service isn't all about providing clients with answers or solving problems. Customer service reps that can sell or upsell help increase your revenue and profit margins. Depending on your business processes, you might not need a yes here. But even if it's a nice-to-have, an affirmative answer to this question can help you pull top talent from the applicant stack.

In conclusion, asking the right questions during interviews is crucial to hire customer service staff. By evaluating their written and verbal communication skills, customer service experience, ability to handle stressful situations, problem-solving abilities, and their demeanor with customers, you can determine if they are a good fit for your team and company culture.

At Randstad Canada, we understand that finding the right talent for your customer service team can be challenging. That's why we're here to help. Our experienced recruiters have a deep understanding of the skills and qualities needed in customer service professionals. We can assist you in finding candidates who not only meet your requirements but also align with your company values.

Specific questions related to customer service skills and situations allow candidates to showcase their abilities in providing exceptional customer experiences, handling agitated customers, solving complex problems, and even upselling if necessary. Our recruiters have extensive experience in conducting behavioral-based interviews that uncover a candidate's past experiences and accomplishments relevant to these scenarios.

By partnering with Randstad Canada for your hiring needs, you gain access to our vast network of qualified professionals who are actively seeking opportunities in customer service roles. We take pride in our ability to match top talent with organizations like yours.