What does an international customer service representative do?
An international customer service representative usually communicates with an international client. Their work is to take calls and answer queries about a particular product or service. They promote keep track of shipments to ensure that they will be delivered on time. They act as a liaison between a particular company and its client. This position requires someone who is customer-oriented and has organizational and management skills.
International customer service representative responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real international customer service representative resumes:
- Manage international and industrial pest control equipment sales using AS400 ordering system for company.
- Work with the RMA team to create credit memos for damage good's or any claims from the core customers.
- Partner with logistics, quality control, manufacturing, and purchasing departments to ensure product availability.
- Process return material requests and authorizations (RMA).
- Handle all overseas and national logistics, inventory analysis, shipping documents and inside/outside direct customer sales for their textile division.
- Demonstrate superb organizational and multitasking abilities
- Process invoices, collect all types of payment via face to face, telephone, USPS.
- Refurbish return merchandise to resell-able condition.
International customer service representative skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of International Customer Service Representatives are proficient in Logistics, Order Entry, and Customer Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of International Customer Service Representatives that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Logistics, 10%
Handled all overseas and national logistics, inventory analysis, shipping documents and inside/outside direct customer sales for their textile division.
- Order Entry, 9%
Managed specific assigned International Customer Accounts from order entry to final delivery.
- Customer Orders, 6%
Developed and administered new department policies and procedures that improved the turnaround time of processing customer orders.
- International Customer Service, 6%
Worked as a domestic customer service representative, while working as an international customer service representative.
- Customer Inquiries, 6%
Utilized Windows-based computer applications, intranet-based applications, and ledger-based billing systems to process customer inquiries.
- Forwarders, 5%
Teamed with the shipping department and freight forwarders to ensure accurate shipment/delivery execution based on country requirements.
"logistics," "order entry," and "customer orders" are among the most common skills that international customer service representatives use at work. You can find even more international customer service representative responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an international customer service representative to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what international customer service representatives do because "customer service representatives must be able to provide clear information in writing, by phone, or in person." Additionally, an international customer service representative resume shows how international customer service representatives use communication skills: "resolved out of balances, stale/rejected gl items and problems through research, computer systems and communication. "
Customer-service skills. This is an important skill for international customer service representatives to perform their duties. For an example of how international customer service representative responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "representatives help companies retain customers by professionally answering questions and helping to resolve complaints." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an international customer service representative: "served as the main contact person for our customers in latin america and the caribbean".
Interpersonal skills. For certain international customer service representative responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of an international customer service representative rely on this skill, as "representatives should be able to create positive interactions with customers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what international customer service representatives do: "developed excellent interpersonal skills by providing excellent service to every customer while working in a fast paced environment. "
Listening skills. Another common skill required for international customer service representative responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of international customer service representatives all the time, as "representatives must listen carefully to ensure that they understand customers in order to assist them." An excerpt from a real international customer service representative resume shows how this skill is central to what an international customer service representative does: "communicated with sales reps, compiled all orders from customers and filled these orders in a timely manner. "
Patience. Another skill commonly found on international customer service representative job descriptions is "patience." It can come up quite often in international customer service representative duties, since "representatives should be patient and polite, especially when interacting with dissatisfied customers." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day international customer service representative responsibilities: "process claims for patience on cigna insurance quote benefits for patients and providers process pre-determination letters"
The three companies that hire the most international customer service representatives are:
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Compare different international customer service representatives
International customer service representative vs. Customer advisor
A customer advisor is responsible for assisting customers with their inquiries and concerns regarding the company's goods and services. Customer advisors also coordinate with the sales and marketing team to sell services by reaching out to potential and existing clients to increase revenue resources and profits. Customer advisors document reports, resolve complaints, and process orders and payments. A customer advisor must have excellent organizational and communication skills to ensure the highest customer satisfaction and achieve the business' long-term goals and objectives.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, international customer service representative responsibilities require skills like "logistics," "order entry," "international customer service," and "forwarders." Meanwhile a typical customer advisor has skills in areas such as "excellent interpersonal," "persuasion," "multitasking," and "work ethic." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Customer advisors earn the highest salaries when working in the media industry, with an average yearly salary of $34,880. On the other hand, international customer service representatives are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $35,055.The education levels that customer advisors earn slightly differ from international customer service representatives. In particular, customer advisors are 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an international customer service representative. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.International customer service representative vs. Customer associate
A customer associate is responsible for providing the best customer service by assisting the customers with their inquiries and concerns, as well as resolving their complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds as needed. Customer associates also sell products and services to the customers, demonstrating product features, and identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and profits for the business. They must have excellent communication and organizational skills to process orders and payments timely and accurately.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that international customer service representative responsibilities requires skills like "logistics," "order entry," "international customer service," and "forwarders." But a customer associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sales floor," "product knowledge," "phone calls," and "stock merchandise."
On average, customer associates earn a higher salary than international customer service representatives. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, customer associates earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $33,698. Whereas international customer service representatives have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $35,055.customer associates earn similar levels of education than international customer service representatives in general. They're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.International customer service representative vs. Customer service advisor
A customer service advisor is responsible for providing the best customer service by responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services offered by the organization. Customer service advisors assist customers with their needs by recommending product selection, offering new products and services, and informing the customers of promotional offers to generate revenues and increase profitability. They also resolve customers' issues, escalating high-level complaints to a customer service lead or supervisor for immediate resolution.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from international customer service representative resumes include skills like "logistics," "order entry," "international customer service," and "forwarders," whereas a customer service advisor is more likely to list skills in "taking care," "strong customer service," "standard operating procedure," and "customer care. "
Customer service advisors earn the best pay in the insurance industry, where they command an average salary of $33,001. International customer service representatives earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $35,055.Most customer service advisors achieve a similar degree level compared to international customer service representatives. For example, they're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.International customer service representative vs. Customer service administrator
Customer service administrators supervise people in performing customer service and relations. They manage customer inquiries and oversee customer service representative needs and requirements. In carrying out their job, they function as the middlemen between customers and the company. Their job requires strong communication and clerical skills. They are expected to have a mindset focused on customers while being polite, helpful, and patient. Among their other responsibilities include sales promotion, answering phone calls, handling complaints and inquiries, and adherence to team goals and budget.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between international customer service representatives and customer service administrators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an international customer service representative might have more use for skills like "international customer service," "forwarders," "freight forwarders," and "international orders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of customer service administrators require skills like "strong customer service," "data entry," "post sales," and "windows. "
The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for customer service administrators, with average annual pay of $37,503. Comparatively, the highest international customer service representative annual salary comes from the health care industry.customer service administrators reach similar levels of education compared to international customer service representatives, in general. The difference is that they're 1.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of international customer service representative
Updated January 8, 2025
