{"id":57515,"date":"2024-09-12T00:28:03","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T07:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newrcblog.wpengine.com\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=57515"},"modified":"2025-03-31T00:22:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T07:22:17","slug":"9-valuable-call-center-skills-to-consider-when-hiring-successful-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/9-valuable-call-center-skills-to-consider-when-hiring-successful-agents\/","title":{"rendered":"9 valuable call center skills to consider when hiring successful agents"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call center agents are among your frontline employees who impact how customers feel about your brand. Quality agents make customers feel comfortable, try to solve their problems, and improve the overall experience. Low-quality ones do the opposite and make you lose customers, which negatively affects your bottom line. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The quality of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/call-center-service.html\">call center service<\/a> can have a big impact on your bottom line. According to research, improving customer experience has increased sales revenues by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/tr\/our-insights\/prediction-the-future-of-customer-experience\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 to 7%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, demonstrating how crucial it is to hire people with the right call center skills. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what are these skills, and how can you spot them? We answer these questions in the following sections. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading h2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential skills for call center agents<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To meet and surpass customer expectations, here are nine skills to consider when hiring successful agents:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Technical proficiency<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57517\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image1-10.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free-to-use-image-from-Pexels<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is perhaps the most important call center skill because, without it, no work can be done. Agents depend on several technologies to do their jobs effectively. As a result, having strong technical skills, including competence with different software, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.astrill.com\/business-vpn\">business VPN solutions<\/a>, and systems, is essential.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They need to be knowledgeable about call center management tools, telephony equipment, and CRM (customer relationship management) systems. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some agents may also need to use chat services, business applications, and knowledge bases. When the inevitable technical issues arise, they should be able to troubleshoot basic problems and outages to prevent lengthy downtimes in customer service. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way to evaluate the technical skills of potential hires is to research what tools they have used in the past. If the candidates are recent graduates or industry newbies, see how they navigate an easy call center software. Both these will tell you how the candidate can adapt to the tools you use for your calling campaigns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another option to determine whether a candidate is tech savvy is to employ <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oleeo.com\/blog\/how-is-ai-changing-recruitment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI recruitment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tools. These technologies use automation to simplify and enhance various recruitment tasks, like skills assessment. For example, AI tools can measure a candidate\u2019s typing skills and accuracy, which are crucial for note-taking during calls. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Knowledge retention<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call center agents must be able to retain information to deliver exceptional customer service. This can include product information, escalation protocols, frequently asked questions, or even problems your customer is calling with. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If agents have to ask callers to constantly repeat key information they\u2019ve already provided, it leads to a poor experience. When that happens, customers won\u2019t be too keen to call and may move to competitors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, you can easily spot this. During trial call sessions, provide the candidate with plenty of information about the pretend caller, their problems, and so on. Then, see how well the candidate absorbs and uses that information throughout the conversation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A successful candidate will retain most of the information and know how to separate crucial details from less important ones. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Attention to detail<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paying attention to details can be the difference between good and great customer service. When agents are meticulous, they can identify less obvious issues and resolve them promptly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a detail-oriented agent will notice that a customer has multiple inquiries across various channels. Then, they will consolidate them into a single comprehensive response, providing a seamless experience. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a time when customer loyalty is fragile, this level of personalization can strengthen your retention efforts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than this, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/customer-engagement-research\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">73%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of customers expecting companies to understand their unique needs, the ideal agent needs to treat each case separately and with the attention it deserves for you to remain competitive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57518\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image3-13.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"470\" height=\"601\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image-sourced-from-<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emarketer.com\/content\/most-consumers-want-brands-personalize-their-communications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emarketer.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how do you gauge these skills when hiring?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the candidate\u2019s resume. If it contains too many typos and errors, they\u2019re probably not the one. The cover letter can also tell you whether a candidate is meticulous or not. Check if it has been tailored to your company and the job. If it has, then you know the candidate pays attention and can translate the skills to calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Active listening<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having active listening skills goes beyond correctly capturing and confirming a customer\u2019s phone number and other details. It involves understanding the sentiments behind a customer\u2019s words and providing the right solution. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a potential customer might say, \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m ready to move forward right now.\u201d If your agent is actively listening, they will understand that the words \u201cthink\u201d and \u201cright now\u201d mean that the caller isn\u2019t ruling out a purchase. They just need more assurances. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a tricky one to evaluate when hiring because a candidate\u2019s listening skills can vary by situation. For instance, a candidate under pressure to meet deadlines may listen poorly to one who isn\u2019t under the same stress. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A solution to this is observing their body language during interviews and how easily they grasp issues. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Effective communication skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact center agents must be able to express themselves clearly. Properly speaking and a good vocabulary are only valuable if they resolve customer issues. In other words, if the agent has to use local slang to get their message across, that\u2019s what they should do. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective communication isn\u2019t limited to talking to customers. Agents should also be able to communicate with the rest of their team and other departments. This is particularly crucial in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/virtual-call-center.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">virtual call center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> setting, where agents are based across multiple locations and communication is key to ensure everything runs smoothly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To assess this, see how a candidate delivers information during your mock call. In addition, evaluate the quality of a prospective call center agent\u2019s follow-up emails or texts. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Strong problem-solving skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57519\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image2-13.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bulk of a call center agent\u2019s responsibilities are managing complaints and dealing with unhappy customers. So, agents must know how to generate solutions promptly and defuse conflicts before they turn into more challenging situations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solid problem-solving skills also enable agents to think on their feet in tricky situations. For example, if a customer asks a question that isn\u2019t detailed in the script, skilled agents can quickly come up with a creative answer. Or they don\u2019t waste time connecting the caller with the direct <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/features\/local-numbers\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">phone number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a department that will be able to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Either way, they provide your customers with a first-call resolution. This, in turn, improves customer satisfaction and boosts the efficiency of your overall call center.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When hiring, you can gauge this skill during your mock call sessions. Give the candidate an off-script situation and evaluate their response.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See if the candidate can think outside the box and adapt. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Organizational skills<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is essential for call center agents to be organized because they often have to manage multiple tasks. For example, they may have to take notes and navigate the CRM while on a call\u2014and these tasks must be performed accurately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An effective way to analyze a candidate\u2019s organizational skills is to set up a mock call. During this call, pay attention to how a candidate records information and the type of information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A successful call center agent will automatically ask you about your note-taking tool. Even after the call, you will see the agent making notes to ensure no information is lost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they are industry newbies, they may use a pen and paper to jot down key information from the call. That is also okay because it shows that they have organizational skills that can be adopted in the call center. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Empathy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nature of a call center job means agents will encounter worried, depressed, rude, or unhappy customers. At each point, agents must have the ability to understand and share those feelings\u2014this is called empathy. It is one of the most crucial soft skills for call center agents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When agents are empathetic, they show customers that they really care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it is not always possible for agents to solve a customer\u2019s problem, showing empathy helps customers feel that their concerns matter\u2013whether it\u2019s by providing a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/features\/toll-free-numbers\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">toll-free number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so they can easily call again to resolve the issue or it\u2019s just taking the time to listen and pass on their complaint. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately, assuring the customer that they are valued by your company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to assess a candidate\u2019s empathetic skills is during the mock call session of the interview. Empathetic candidates will make the customer feel heard and have a <\/span><strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">positive call experience. Get feedback from the trial customer; if they had an overall good feeling after the call, it is likely the candidate handled the call with empathy. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Stress management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57521\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image5-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free-to-use-image-from-Pexels<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every job comes with some level of stress, but call center employees are more burnt out. A study revealed that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecommons.cornell.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/e4ae98ca-9034-4f68-8be9-86885905f403\/content\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">87%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of call center workers report high or very high-stress levels at their call centers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It makes sense: call center agents don\u2019t just have to offer value to customers; they must also solve problems under time constraints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, you need agents with a high stress tolerance who can focus on the job. Otherwise, you will end up with agents who burn out quickly, can\u2019t help customers, and eventually leave. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To evaluate this skill during recruitment, simulate a stressful call center scenario and allow the candidate to answer a few calls. These calls can include dealing with a rude customer, helping an inpatient caller, or other complex issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, observe how they handle the pressure. If the candidate stays calm and polite and manages the situation well, then they may be a good fit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading h2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrap-up<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An efficient call center can help you outperform your competitors. If callers are enjoying quality customer service, they will stick around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this starts with finding the right call center agents. While this can be tricky, knowing the skills to look out for can make your job easier. Use our list as a guide in your next hiring round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading h2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long does it take to train call center agents?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this will depend on your product and how you\u2019ve designed your training programme, it usually takes 4-10 weeks to fully train a call center agent. On top of this, to get the best out of your staff, you should invest in their training and development to ensure that they continue to use the best techniques and practices. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the hard skills in a call center?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hard skills enable call center agents to carry out their jobs effectively. For example, agents must know how to use call center software, CRM systems, and other productivity tools. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Call center agents are among your frontline employees who impact how customers feel about your brand. Quality agents make customers feel comfortable, try to solve their problems, and improve the overall experience. Low-quality ones do the opposite and make you lose customers, which negatively affects your bottom line. The quality of your call center service &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1212,"featured_media":57516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18390],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-and-collaboration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>9 valuable call center skills to consider when hiring successful agents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hiring call center agents? Discover 9 essential call center skills to look for in potential employees. 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