When writing your customer service representative cover letter, focus on how you can keep clients engaged and satisfied with the hiring company’s products or services. Also, emphasize your related skills, such as conflict resolution, payment processing, or finding fast solutions.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as a customer service representative.
Customer Service Representative Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Customer Service Representative Cover Letter
A good cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section back to the service organization and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples show how you can use this strategy to optimize your letter for each application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, company, and contact information (when available)
(Note: Feel free to omit this section when sending your letter as an email message, as long as your contact details are part of your email signature.)
Example
Britt Gaines
Customer Service Representative | [email protected] | (205) 123-4567 | 5681 W Pine St., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
January 7, 2024
Amber Louis
Human Resources Manager
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services
(205) 000-1234
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name – this is the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
Examples
Dear Ms. Wingate,
Dear Nordstrom Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your resume or a key credential the company seeks in applicants. Then, connect that highlight to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised customer service representative role. Refer to the hiring organization by name to further convince the recipient you’re applying to them specifically.
As an alternative to the work highlight approach, you can set yourself apart by networking. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company]’s new customer service representative opening.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the [event] last month.”
Example
As a hotel guest services representative for the past two years, I understand the importance of creating and contributing to world-class customer experiences. I have assisted and cultivated positive professional relationships with many airline passengers, flight attendants, and aviation specialists among my clientele. The niche of corporate aviation fascinates me, and I’d love to offer my customer service skills to Hawthorne Global Aviation Services.
4. Job- or employer-specific paragraph(s)
This section is crucial, so think it through fully for each application in your job search.
On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this customer service representative position or employer interests you based on the job posting. When you’re done brainstorming, review your notes: Do any stand out as important or persuasive? Adapt those points into one or two brief paragraphs that speak to the job opening at hand. By making this description a central part of your letter, you’ll have a better chance of persuading the manager to call.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your customer service representative skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
HD Bank has a remarkable reputation for providing thorough customer care that seeks to resolve all issues to satisfaction. The company also values employee development. I know I would be an asset, thanks to my accomplishments as manager of customer service at Primary Bank:
- Exceeded expected numbers for bank accounts opened and complications resolved every year since 2015
- Resolved over 90% of customer issues on average, reducing the manager’s caseload
- Led a customer service team of 25, with no turnover in the past five years
- Customer service ratings were 97% during 2020 and 96% the preceding year
5. Conclusion
Finally, request an interview and thank the hiring manager for their time and attention. Consider briefly restating why this customer service representative job interests you. You can also use this section to refer to your resume or other application materials. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I would be delighted to meet you for an interview to discuss how my previous experience can help me provide an outstanding service for Nordstrom customers and support the company’s commercial aims. Please get in touch to let me know what date and time are convenient for you.
Sincerely,
Greg Burgess
Customer Service Representative Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you can support clients and uphold company standards
Start your letter with a clear example of your success in this role. As the title implies, a customer service representative doesn’t only help customers – they also represent a company’s brand or service philosophy. View your own work experience from this perspective, and choose a highlight pertaining to one or both of those objectives. For instance, maybe you earned a near-perfect score on the last client satisfaction survey. Or perhaps you co-developed a training program to help clarify and instill the team’s service values in new hires.
Example
Being rated as the top San Francisco customer service representative in my organization in 2020 was my proudest career achievement to date. I hope to demonstrate the same excellent performance level in a role at Nordstrom.
2. Explain why you're drawn to the opportunity
For example, maybe the firm has a reputation for thorough customer care. Or maybe the company is in telecommunications, a sector you’re eager to return to. Also, consider the role’s primary mode(s) of interaction with customers (phone, email, in person, and so on) and how that overlaps with your experience so far.
Example
As a seasoned representative with nine years of experience, I am drawn to Nordstrom’s prestigious reputation and outstanding customer service record. My strong communication skills and dedication make me the ideal fit for Nordstrom’s customer-focused ethos.
3. Highlight your other service skills
Use your bullet points list to cover your success in other key customer service areas, like payment processing, account retention, or conflict resolution. With each bullet, show how you applied the skill to drive a positive result. For instance, you could display efficiency by describing how you ranked No. 3 on your team for average email response time.
Example
My most significant career achievements so far include:
- Consistently exceeding my individual targets by up to 45% every month
- Regularly receiving excellent customer feedback for going above and beyond to match them with the best deals and resolve queries and complaints
- Achieving a turnaround time more than 40% quicker than the company average throughout 2019 and 2020
Customer Service Representative Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Greg Burgess
Customer Service Representative | [email protected] | (123) 456-7891 | 123 My Road, San Francisco, CA 12345
January 8, 2024
Natalia Wingate
Senior Hiring Manager
Nordstrom
(098) 765-4321
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Wingate,
Being rated as the top San Francisco customer service representative in my organization in 2020 was my proudest career achievement to date. I hope to demonstrate the same excellent performance level in a role at Nordstrom.
As a seasoned representative with nine years of experience, I am drawn to Nordstrom’s prestigious reputation and outstanding customer service record. My strong communication skills and dedication make me the ideal fit for Nordstrom’s customer-focused ethos.
My most significant career achievements so far include:
- Consistently exceeding my individual targets by up to 45% every month
- Regularly receiving excellent customer feedback for going above and beyond to match them with the best deals and resolve queries and complaints
- Achieving a turnaround time more than 40% quicker than the company average throughout 2019 and 2020
I would be delighted to meet you for an interview to discuss how my previous experience can help me provide an outstanding service for Nordstrom customers and support the company’s commercial aims. Please get in touch to let me know what date and time are convenient for you.
Sincerely,
Greg Burgess
Customer Service Representative Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What traits are useful to highlight in my cover letter? -
Desired qualities in customer service representatives include politeness, professionalism, clear communication, and a steady focus on solutions. Consider which of these traits best describe you, then give an example or two of how you’ve shown them in a work setting.
What’s the most important part of a cover letter? -
Any explanation you give for why the specific job opening or employer interests you. These details distinguish the cover letter from your resume and other application materials and can help you get past applicant tracking systems. They also set the stage for a good interview discussion about how you fit the role and the office’s work culture.
What credentials should I consider noting on my cover letter? -
An associate's or bachelor’s degree in related subjects like business, hospitality, public relations, or communications. If you have one or more of these credentials, including them can show hiring managers you have a strong knowledge base toward customer service. Also, if you’re applying to finance jobs, consider mentioning any required state license, or training you have on new regulations.
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