How to Write a Customer Service Advisor Resume (with Tips)

Updated 31 May 2023

A strong resume can show a hiring manager you're the most suitable candidate for a customer service advisor role. A well-written document can help you promote your relevant experience and skills. Learning how to craft a tailored resume can give you an advantage over other candidates applying for the same position. In this article, we explain how to write a resume for a customer service advisor job with a step-by-step guide, provide a resume template and example and offer some writing tips.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

How to write a customer service advisor resume

Follow these 6 steps to create a customer service advisor resume:

1. Start with your contact details

Start with your contact details to help the hiring managers easily identify your resume and invite you for an interview. As they may use this information to pair your resume with its cover letter, make sure the details are consistent. List your full name and highest qualification, if you have a vocational certificate or degree, at the top of your resume. Add your phone number, a professional email address and your city and state or territory underneath. Employers may prefer candidates who live close to the office for non-remote customer service advisor roles.

Find customer service advisor jobs

2. Write an engaging professional summary

An engaging professional summary may encourage the hiring manager to read your whole resume and seriously consider your application. Write 2 or 3 sentences that introduce you and demonstrate your suitability for the position. If you have experience as a customer service advisor, list the number of years you've held this role. Also, consider mentioning any other experience in the service industry. If this is your first customer service advisor role, focus on showcasing your transferable skills. For example, if you worked in retail, highlight relevant skills, such as customer care and problem-solving.

3. Expand on your work experience

In this section, expand on the experience you mentioned in your professional summary. Reading through your career history may help the employer assess your preparedness for the role and likelihood of success. List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, placing the most recent and relevant role first. For each position, provide your job title, period of employment, the name of the organisation and its location. Next, summarise your responsibilities and achievements with a bullet point list. Aim to name responsibilities that align with the role, such as responding to customer queries and upselling products.

4. List your skills

A separate skills section helps the employer easily notice your abilities and determine if they match the role. Choose 5–10 abilities that make you a suitable candidate for the position. Soft skills, such as customer service, problem-solving and verbal communication, are typically the most relevant for customer service advisor roles.

5. Outline your education

Qualifications are optional for most customer service advisor jobs, as you typically learn industry-related skills through on-the-job training and experience. A relevant vocational certification may give you an advantage over other candidates. For example, consider earning a Certificate III in Business to learn about relationship building and teamwork. Some businesses in technical industries, such as financial services, may prefer candidates with relevant bachelor degrees, as these teach specialised industry knowledge. Listing your highest qualification in the education section may help the employer evaluate the expertise you can bring to the role.

6. End with your references

A references section traditionally concludes a resume. This can be a short section stating that the employer can request your references. If you know someone working for the company, consider mentioning their name, as the employer may trust your colleague's recommendation. List the names and phone numbers of three referees and note their connections to you.

Template resume for a customer service advisor

Here's a resume template you can personalise when applying for a customer service advisor role:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]

Education
[Degree and Major], [Name of School or University]
[City], [State or Territory]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] – [Year completed or expiration date]

Example of a customer service advisor resume

Here's an example of a resume for a customer service advisor role based on the template:

Damien Gibson, Bachelor of Business (Finance)
(03) 5550 5555 | dgibson@email.com | Melbourne, Victoria

Professional Summary
Dedicated customer service advisor with 5 years' experience in the finance sector. Friendly person with strong problem-solving and relationship management skills. Committed to customer care and always representing the business at the highest level.

Experience

Customer Service Advisor | Jan 2021–Current
InvestSure Solutions | Melbourne, Victoria

support 150+ customers daily via phone, email and online chat portal with advice about user accounts and investment portfolio
clearly and concisely explain products to customers to increase sales and customer satisfaction
direct complex inquiries to supervisors and follow up with customers to ensure issues get resolved to their satisfaction
liaise with the tech team to resolve matters related to the InvestSure Solutions customer platform
upsell customers to VIP InvestSure Solutions subscription

Bank Teller | March 2019–December 2020
Ocean Road Bank – Geelong | Geelong, Victoria

greeted and provided over-the-counter service to customers visiting the bank, including giving them financial advice and answering questions
promoted the bank's products and services, including cross-selling and upselling to help the bank reach its financial targets
accurately helped customers make deposits and withdraw funds from their accounts

Education
Bachelor of Business (Finance) | Great Ocean University
Geelong, Victoria

Tips for writing a resume for a customer service advisor job

Here are some tips to craft a resume that distinguishes you from other candidates for the role:

Focus on customer service

Customer service is usually a key skill for this role. Showing your commitment to customers throughout your resume can emphasise your experience and dedication to this business principle. Try to incorporate this phrase in every section of your resume. For example, when creating your skills section, pick skills that help you assist customers better.

Use the same terms as the job advertisement

Using terms from the job advertisement in your resume helps the employer easily see you have the qualities they're looking for. For example, if the job advertisement asks for candidates dedicated to customer care, tailor your resume to include this exact phrase, instead of mentioning customer service experience. Incorporating these keywords can also help your resume pass through any applicant tracking system the employer may use to shortlist suitable candidates.

Add transferable skills

Mentioning abilities that can help you succeed in a range of roles can demonstrate your versatility. Employers often prefer hiring candidates with many transferable skills that could help them advance in the company. You may start as a customer service advisor before getting promoted to a supervisor role, for example.