Customer Associate Job Description

Customer associates must deal with both pleasant and unpleasant customers.

Customer associates are also called sales associates or customer service representatives. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that in 2008 the field of customer service was one of the largest occupational areas in the United States.

Job Duties

Customer associates interact directly with customers. They inform customers about the benefits of certain products and help them complete their transactions. They may also assist clients by addressing complaints or offering refunds.

Educational Requirements

Customer service representatives must have a minimum of a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. Some companies prefer their employees to have a two- or four-year college degree depending on the type of organization.

Work Settings

Some customer service representatives are employed by retail outlets. Others work in call centers or insurance agencies.

Job Outlook

The field of customer service is expected to increase 18 percent between 2008 and 2018. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there should be around 400,000 job openings within this decade.

Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009, a customer service representative could expect to earn between $9.33 and $23.57 per hour.

References

• Job Bank USA: Job Descriptions, Definitions, Roles, Responsibility---Customer Service Representatives
• College Grad: Customer Service Representatives
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Customer Service Representatives
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009