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What does a call center specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a call center specialist do

A call center specialist is responsible for providing the customers with the highest quality service by responding to their inquiries and concerns and resolving their complaints. Call center specialists assist the customers in taking their orders, processing payments, and verifying transaction details. They may also sell new goods and services to the customers according to their needs and budget limitations to generate more revenue resources for the business and enhance the brand's image. A call center specialist must have excellent communication and computer skills to navigate databases and update customer's information accurately.

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Call center specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real call center specialist resumes:

  • Manage Facebook and patient communication programs.
  • Transmit patient information per HIPAA regulations.
  • Handle escalate calls and use available technology to efficiently troubleshoot customer problems and help resolve their concerns.
  • Fast pace call center, taking calls from technicians to troubleshoot installation of home security and home automation systems.
  • Explain Montana Medicaid program and benefits to recipients.
  • Problem-Solve health insurance complications for retiree and Medicare recipients.
  • Provide competency of EOB forms and Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and requirements
  • Review medical necessity information for medications requiring prior authorization for Medicare members.
  • Interview patients by telephone to collect accurate demographic and insurance information to complete registrations for services provide throughout WellSpan.
  • Provide internal and external customer service-Listen to patients' request and triage message to clinicians-Fill medication refill requests-Data entry-Knowledge of insurance-Maintain confidentiality
  • Demonstrate superb organizational and multitasking abilities
  • Assist with customer requests, including new service, upselling and making changes to existing service.
  • Illustrate diplomacy by adhering to all HIPAA regulations while assisting callers with questions regarding appointments and billing.
  • Demonstrate superb organizational and multitasking abilities

Call center specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 42% of Call Center Specialists are proficient in Strong Customer Service, Patients, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Call Center Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Strong Customer Service, 42%

    Utilize strong customer service skills and serve as a liaison between victims and community based services.

  • Patients, 10%

    Interview patients by telephone to collect accurate demographic and insurance information to complete registrations for services provided throughout WellSpan.

  • Customer Service, 6%

    Started position as a customer service representative trained on multiple product lines and computer fulfillment systems and specializing in customer retention.

  • Phone Calls, 5%

    Answer telephone calls from potential students who have submitted a request for information through advertisements and transfer calls to appropriate individuals.

  • Outbound Calls, 4%

    Perform inbound and outbound calls- assisting students and potential students with direction and qualification into University of Phoenix educational system

  • Inbound Calls, 4%

    Received inbound calls enrolled medicare applicants into different supplement health insurance plans that the company offers.

Most call center specialists use their skills in "strong customer service," "patients," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential call center specialist responsibilities here:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a call center specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what call center specialists do because "customer service representatives must be able to provide clear information in writing, by phone, or in person." Additionally, a call center specialist resume shows how call center specialists use communication skills: "managed quality communication, customer support and product representation for each client. "

Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of call center specialists is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday call center specialist duties, as "representatives help companies retain customers by professionally answering questions and helping to resolve complaints." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provide professional customer support to corporation and staff. "

Interpersonal skills. call center specialist responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "representatives should be able to create positive interactions with customers." This resume example shows what call center specialists do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "used strong oral, interpersonal communication skills for inbound calls data entry"

Listening skills. Another common skill required for call center specialist responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of call center specialists all the time, as "representatives must listen carefully to ensure that they understand customers in order to assist them." An excerpt from a real call center specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a call center specialist does: "required active listening and accurate data entry. "

Patience. While "patience" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to call center specialist responsibilities. Much of what a call center specialist does relies on this skill, seeing as "representatives should be patient and polite, especially when interacting with dissatisfied customers." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of call center specialists: "communicate, effectively with prospective applicants, answered all incoming phone calls with diligence and patience. "

All call center specialist skills

The three companies that hire the most call center specialists are:

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Compare different call center specialists

Call center specialist vs. Customer care specialist

A customer care specialist is responsible for assisting the customers with their inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services offered by the organization. A customer care specialist must be detail-oriented, as well as have excellent communication and time-management skills in responding to the customers' needs while documenting the processes on a specific computer program. Customer care specialists are responsible for processing payments, replacing defective items, and initiating refunds as needed. They must resolve complaints accurately and efficiently to ensure customer satisfaction to keep a good reputation for the organization.

The annual salary of customer care specialists is $862 lower than the average salary of call center specialists.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both call center specialist and customer care specialist positions are skilled in customer service, outbound calls, and data entry.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between call center specialists and customer care specialist. For instance, call center specialist responsibilities require skills such as "strong customer service," "patients," "phone calls," and "inbound calls." Whereas a customer care specialist is skilled in "inbound phone calls," "product knowledge," "customer orders," and "medical claims." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Customer care specialists really shine in the insurance industry with an average salary of $34,400. Comparatively, call center specialists tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $35,502.The education levels that customer care specialists earn slightly differ from call center specialists. In particular, customer care specialists are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a call center specialist. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Call center specialist vs. Office specialist

An office specialist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the organization's daily operations. Office specialists must be highly organizational, as well as having excellent time-management skills to handle work units. They have duties including data entry procedures, greeting visitors, responding to customers' inquiries through phone calls and e-mails, and filing and sorting documents. Office specialists are responsible for creating meeting reports, scheduling appointments, evaluating financial statements, coordinating with other staff for event planning, and assisting the senior management with complex functions.

A career as a office specialist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a call center specialist. In fact, office specialists salary is $188 higher than the salary of call center specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Call center specialists and office specialists both require similar skills like "patients," "customer service," and "phone calls" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real call center specialist resumes. While call center specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "strong customer service," "outbound calls," "inbound calls," and "customer care," office specialists use skills like "office equipment," "word processing," "office support," and "payroll."

On average, office specialists earn a higher salary than call center specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, office specialists earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $37,752. Whereas call center specialists have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,502.In general, office specialists achieve similar levels of education than call center specialists. They're 0.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Call center specialist vs. Insurance specialist

An insurance specialist is an individual responsible for interpreting insurance plans and providing risk management advice to clients and wealth managers. Insurance specialists must have a full understanding of risk management to craft a comprehensive solution that integrates well with the client's portfolio. They need to manage their clients' accounts and should maintain contact with clients after the application process. Insurance specialists must ensure that government insurance programs comply with federal laws, regulations, and contracts within the healthcare industry.

An average insurance specialist eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of call center specialists. The difference in salaries amounts to insurance specialists earning a $992 higher average salary than call center specialists.Using the responsibilities included on call center specialists and insurance specialists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "patients," "customer service," and "outbound calls.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from call center specialist resumes include skills like "strong customer service," "phone calls," "customer care," and "excellent organizational," whereas an insurance specialist is more likely to list skills in "exceptional client," "insurance coverage," "insurance verification," and "life insurance. "

Insurance specialists make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $38,343. On the other hand, call center specialists are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $35,502.Most insurance specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to call center specialists. For example, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Call center specialist vs. Call center representative

Call center representatives are employees who take customer calls in the company's contact center. They answer incoming calls related to their account. Call center representatives are trained on the company's products, policies, and guidelines. They are expected to know the ins and outs of every company product under their account before they are assigned to the operations floor. Once they are deemed efficient enough to handle calls, they begin to take customer inquiries and try to resolve them during the call. Call center representatives are expected to follow company policies and procedures and to meet the goals set by the company.

Call center representatives typically earn lower pay than call center specialists. On average, call center representatives earn a $1,740 lower salary per year.While both call center specialists and call center representatives complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like strong customer service, patients, and customer service, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between call center specialists and call center representatives, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a call center specialist might have more use for skills like "phone calls," "outbound calls," "inbound calls," and "customer care." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of call center representatives require skills like "bartending," "inbound phone calls," "medicare," and "customer product complaints. "

The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for call center representatives, with average annual pay of $32,660. Comparatively, the highest call center specialist annual salary comes from the finance industry.The average resume of call center representatives showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to call center specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of call center specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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