Customer Service Cover Letter

Companies are always looking for good customer service representatives they can rely on to meet customer needs and drive sales. And the demand for customer service professionals is only increasing in 2022 and 2023, as the industry adapts to the new ways of interacting with clients after the COVID-19 pandemic.

But getting the perfect customer service job can still be challenging. So you need to know how to write a great cover letter to convince employers that you’re the right person for the job.

Here are three tips to help you write a great customer service cover letter:

1. Highlight your customer service skills

As a customer service specialist, you need both hard and soft skills, but you should emphasize your soft skills. The best customer service reps are patient and understanding, and they know how to be persuasive without seeming “pushy.”

Here are some customer service skills to include in your cover letter:

• Active listening
• Patience
• Empathy
• Communication skills
• Public speaking
• Ability to use positive language
• Professionalism
• Service-oriented
• Interpersonal skills
• Responsiveness
• Time management skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Fast learner
• Clerical skills: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, typing, basic math
• Remote communication skills: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Slack
• COVID safety protocols: personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, temperature checking

2. Provide examples of your achievements (with hard numbers)

Show employers you have the right customer service skills to excel by giving examples of your accomplishments on your resume and cover letter, using data to support them.

Here are good examples of some customer service achievements backed up with hard numbers:

• Made 60 cold calls a day to businesses and private individuals to solicit sales for goods and services
• Implemented a new sales strategy, which reduced training expenses by 30% and increased the close ratio by 10% within 3 months
• Maintained an average 95% customer satisfaction rating

3. Show your passion for customer service

Customer service employers hire candidates who are passionate about ensuring every customer has an excellent experience. Companies also want to work with people who are genuinely excited about their brand — a fact that’s especially true for customer service specialists who speak directly to clients.

Use your cover letter to show employers that you truly care about your work, and that you’d be a great brand representative. Here are three strategies for conveying passion in your cover letter:

Storytelling

Consider opening your cover letter with a storytelling approach to connect a personal passion to the company or role. Don’t sell yourself too hard though. Sounding too “salesy” is the easiest way to turn off an employer.

Here’s an example of an over-the-top storytelling opening, followed by a more appropriate rewrite:

Too salesy

ChocoChunk candy bars are all I ever eat. Seriously, I’m on the verge of developing diabetes as a direct result of my love for your products. But I don’t care. I’d rather eat your delicious chocolatey goodness and die happy than cut it from my diet — and that’s why I’d be a perfect ChocoChunk Retail Sales Representative.

Appropriately passionate

Every Christmas and Easter when I was a kid, my parents gave me ChocoChunk candy bars. Your delicious offerings have a nostalgic place in my heart, and they’re still my go-to sweet treat. True appreciation for your products and my customer service experience make me an ideal candidate for your open Retail Sales Representative position.

Research

The best cover letters include research about the company. Check your target company’s website and social media accounts, and find a way to align your talents to the company’s vision and values, like this:

I’ve been keeping up with JaneVision’s recent rebranding, and I believe I’m the perfect candidate to help you on the front lines as a Customer Service Specialist. My current company implemented a similar repositioning strategy in 2020, and I led a special task force responsible for explaining changes to customers.

Persuasion

Be authentic but persuasive. Think about how you’d close a sale in person, and use the same techniques to craft your cover letter. Keep your tone personable but focus on addressing needs and offering the best solution to their problem.

Here’s an example from a persuasive cover letter ending:

Your job ad said you’re looking for an “individual with a passion for helping others understand new social media technology.” Considering the skills and achievements outlined above, I’m confident I’m a perfect match. I’m excited to connect with you and discuss my qualifications further in a Zoom interview.