Customer service representatives held about 2.6 million jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most customer service representatives were as follows:
Administrative and support services
18%
Retail trade
12
Insurance carriers and related activities
12
Monetary authorities, credit intermediation, and related activities
9
Customer service representatives are employed in nearly every industry. Many work in telephone call centers, credit and insurance agencies, banks, and retail stores.
Representatives usually work in an office setting, sharing a large room with other employees. As a result, the work area can be crowded and noisy. Some workers may be under pressure to answer a designated number of calls while supervisors monitor them for quality assurance. In addition, the work can sometimes be stressful when they interact with dissatisfied customers.
In retail stores, representatives may spend hours on their feet assisting customers in person.
Work Schedules
Although most customer service representatives work full time, about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2014.
Positions in call centers may require early morning or late night shifts because some are open 24 hours a day. Weekend or holiday work is also common.
In retail stores, customer service representatives are often needed to work during busy times, such as evenings, weekends, and holidays. Some companies hire additional workers during the holiday season when more customers are expected.