Best Customer Service Interview Questions To Ask A Candidate

As a hiring manager, you know how vital the interview process is to explore a candidate's competence.

Curating the right selection of questions not only helps you understand the core competencies of candidates but also their behavioral traits, ethical stance, and how they align with your organization's culture, goals, and values.

We are keenly aware of how crucial the recruitment process is. Therefore, we have compiled fifteen customer service interview questions that will aid you in assessing candidates' capabilities accurately.

1. Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer?

This question helps you to understand how the candidate perceives "going the extra mile" in customer service.

It provides insight into the candidate's initiative, creativity, and commitment to customer satisfaction.

It also offers an opportunity to assess their problem-solving skills, as often going above and beyond involves addressing complex or unexpected customer needs.

2. How would you handle a situation if you don't know the answer to a customer's query?

The ability to handle uncertainty is an important quality in customer service roles.

This question tests the candidate's ability to admit when they don't know something, their problem-solving skills in seeking out the necessary information, and their ability to manage the customer's expectations in the meantime.

It can show you whether the candidate is honest, resourceful, and patient.

3. How do you respond to customer complaints?

The way a candidate handles complaints reveals their skills in communication, empathy, and problem resolution.

The best responses will demonstrate the ability to listen to the customer's concern, empathize with their experience, apologize when necessary, and find an effective solution.

This question helps you see how the candidate could potentially preserve the company's relationship with its customers, even in challenging situations.

4. How would you respond if a customer is upset or angry?

This question is similar to the previous one but focuses specifically on handling negative emotions.

It gives you insight into the candidate's patience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills.

Handling an upset or angry customer requires staying calm under pressure, showing empathy, and resolving the issue effectively.

5. How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks?

In customer service, employees often need to juggle multiple tasks and requests at once.

This question helps you understand the candidate's organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively.

Good time management is crucial in this role as it can directly affect customer satisfaction - delays or errors due to poor time management can lead to dissatisfied customers.

6. What steps do you take to maintain positive relationships with customers?

This question can provide insights into the candidate's interpersonal skills, their understanding of the importance of customer retention, and their proactive measures to build and sustain positive relationships.

It also gives a glimpse of how the candidate might represent the company and its brand to customers over time.

7. Describe a situation where you turned a negative customer experience into a positive one.

A key part of customer service is being able to turn negative situations around.

The question provides an opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate their communication skills, empathy, and patience.

It gives you a chance to see how the candidate might act in a real-world scenario, which can be highly indicative of their suitability for the role.

8. Tell me about a time when you resolved a business problem using your customer service skills?

This question helps you understand how a candidate applies their customer service skills beyond dealing with customers.

It reveals their ability to identify and solve problems, potentially highlighting critical thinking, creativity, and initiative.

It could also provide insights into the candidate's broader understanding of business operations.

9. How do you handle pressures and stress in a full-packed shift?

Customer service roles can often be stressful, especially during peak times.

This question gives you an idea of the candidate's stress management strategies and resilience.

The answer could also provide insight into the candidate's potential for long-term success and endurance in the role.

10. How do you keep yourself motivated during repetitive tasks?

Repetition is common in customer service roles, and maintaining high-quality performance and attention to detail can be challenging.

This question helps yous understand the candidate's motivation strategies, which could impact their productivity, consistency, and overall job satisfaction.

Their answer could also reflect their self-awareness and personal management skills.

11. What are your methods for learning about a product or service?

This question helps you understand how the candidate takes the initiative to learn and absorb new information.

A good customer service representative should have a sound understanding of the products or services they're representing to provide accurate information and help customers.

12. What importance do you place on teamwork in customer service and how have you illustrated this in your career?

This question can reveal a lot about a candidate's understanding of collaboration and teamwork in a customer service setting.

In many cases, delivering great customer service is a team effort, involving coordination and communication with other team members.

The response can show their experience working in teams and their perspective on how teamwork impacts customer satisfaction.

13. How do you handle negative feedback from customers?

Negative feedback is a learning opportunity and can be used to make improvements.

This question assesses the candidate's resilience and ability to learn from criticism and improve.

Their answer will show whether the candidate takes it personally or uses it constructively.

14. What techniques have you used to satisfy a difficult customer?

This question is designed to evaluate the candidate's problem-solving skills, patience, empathy, and ability to remain calm under pressure.

How they handle difficult customers is a key indicator of their interpersonal skills and ability to maintain a positive customer relationship, even when challenged.

15. How would you close a conversation with a customer after an issue is resolved?

The way a conversation is concluded can leave a lasting impression on a customer.

This question allows you to understand how the candidate ensures the customer leaves the interaction feeling positive, heard, and valued.

It can also give insight into their communication skills and understanding of customer relationship management.

Is there another way to assess customer service skills?

While interviews provide opportunities for candidates to showcase their personal work experience, customer service tests can complement this information by assessing practical skills and abilities.

A customer service test provides a standardized evaluation method, ensuring that all candidates are assessed using the same criteria. This allows for fair and consistent comparisons among applicants.

By combining both methods, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of a candidate's potential for success in a customer service role.