Is customer service a skill worth mentioning?

[jackal head]

Is it fair to say that a person that is good with customers would probably be good with patients?

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[Kansas Pharmer]

Is it fair to say that a person that is good with customers would probably be good with patients?

Usually but not necessarily. I can give you a good example. My daughters pediatrician is a super nice guy that is extremely knowledgeable. He has great "customer service" when at the check in counter or over the phone, but his bedside manner is HORRID!!! The list of people that complain about this is long and distinguished; both patients and his own nurses.

That being said, he is one of the best peds I have ever been around. So, I can overlook his bedside manner in order to obtain the best for my daughter.

Just my dos centavos...

 

[bw6]

I would only mention it if you have REAL ON THE JOB experience dealing with customers and you have stories to back it up. Even then, I would only mention it if it is a somewhat impressive job and if they ask about people skills.

No one cares if you dealt with angry customers as an Arby's cashier. However, if they ask if you feel you can deal well with people, tell a story. I worked for a contract laboratory outside of Pittsburgh and drove around to meet clients daily. I would mention that but only if they asked me about my experience with customers.

 

[delfang]

I second bw6's comment. You'll find that you'll only be able to highlight your exemplary customer service skills during your interviews, and that's if they happen to ask some type of self-critical or situational question.

 

[xtsukiyox]

I disagree. I would certainly put customer service type skills learned as something like an Arby's cashier, if your resume is short. As you earn more applicable experience, certainly put that instead. However, I would never just put "customer service" as a skill on my resume - there are many better, more specific ways to put it. Your resume is a conversation starter: not only does it help get you an interview, but it also can help guide the interviewer. Make sure you can elaborate well about anything you put on there.

OP, what is the context of the question? Are you writing a resume, filling out a scholarship application, or doing PharmCAS?

 

[owlegrad]

I once had someone have "customer service skills" highly prominent in his PS. It seemed more like something for a job interview than something for graduate school admissions. I seem to recall that he retooled it to read about interpersonal and problem solving skills (using examples from his experience in retail) rather than calling them customer service skills. I though it seemed much more appropriate for the audience. To each there own.

 

[xtsukiyox]

It seemed more like something for a job interview than something for graduate school admissions.

I agree. I think "customer service skills" is definitely a business buzz word / phrase, whereas "interpersonal & problem solving skills" seems a bit more suited to academia.

To each their own.

I think The Oatmeal has something to say about this. 😛

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[owlegrad]

I think The Oatmeal has something to say about this. 😛

I love the oatmeal! I don't know what he has to say about that though.