CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING: 'GOOD SKILLS FOR GOOD JOBS'

"A financial services company is looking expansion. People with good communications skills wanted, part and full-time positions, $7 to $10 an hour."

"Customer service representatives wanted for state-of-the-art office. Applicants must possess excellent customer service skills. Flexible hours, benefits, $10 hour."

"World of opportunity awaits you to provide prompt, courteous and accurate service of our customers. College degree or customer service experience or training desired, $8 to $10 an hour."

Etc.!

Telephone reps, retail management, supervisors, security, sales consultants, clerks, cashiers and secretaries are in short supply.

Various companies, many of them in the Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri area, offer a variety of schedules, pay scales and benefits for people with customer service experience or training.

"We want to offer customer service training here," said Bev Hickam, adult education supervisor of the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau.

"We're currently in the process of establishing the six-week training sessions," said Hickam. "We'll be ready when the new center opens on Silver Springs Road in the fall of 2001."

The Career and Technology Center is the new name for the current Cape Area Vocational-Technical School.

The proposed new program, to be patterned after the training program being provided by the Metropolitan Community College's Business & Technology Center at Kansas City.

The training will run from four to six weeks, depending on the person's experience, said Hickam.

"Either way, the final week - 40 hours will be an internship with a local company" she said.

The program is well on its way, following a donation of computers, keyboards and hard drives from Southwestern Bell.

"We have received about $26,000, or more, in equipment from SW Bell," said Hickam. "We also have letters of support for the program from 14 businesses, and we have monetary pledges from a number of businesses and individuals."

"There's a real need for this type of program," said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association. The Career and Technology Center is already involved in a program to train workers for industrial jobs, said Robinson, adding: "The customer service training will be valuable."

Robinson and Hickam agree the customer service field provides good opportunities with good salary, excellent benefits and a chance for rapid career advancement.

Customer service is important to businesses. Companies everywhere are looking for qualified, customer service people, who can help customers over the telephone, said Robinson.

"If you have customer service skills, there's a world of opportunity waiting for you," he added.

Customer service representatives are a vital part of a company's success. They field questions, enter orders, and supply information about the company.

"They're in demand," said Hickam. "There is a shortage of qualified people to fill these positions."

In the Kansas City area as many as 300 customer service jobs open up in the field every month. The program is great for the "Welfare to Work" program.

Many of the companies needing customer service help are big companies with good benefits, and some will reimburse tuition for the training.

Although the range for starting salaries for customers service representatives is about $7 to $10 an hour, some of the jobs, especially if sales is involved, can be much higher.

"The program here will provide fast-track training," said Hickam. "Students will be trained by instructors with current industry experience, using the latest equipment and software. Hands-on practice will help students build their confidence and knowledge."

Customer Service training will provide skills in telephone usage, communications, voice tone, computer skills, and much more. In six weeks, students will be ready to enter the job market.

"We can help there," said Hickam. "We're in constant contact with employers who want workers. We want to be ready to go when the new center opens during the fall of 2001."