At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide exceptional customer service and support at key college events.
- Company: Join a dynamic college committed to equality and inclusion.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, pension scheme, and discounts on services.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Be the friendly face of the college and make a positive impact.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a customer-focused mindset.
The predicted salary is between 24521 - 25210 £ per year.
Location: Highbury, North Harbour, Sixth Form and Arundel Campus
Salary: Actual Salary Pro Rata, Full Time Equivalent £24,521.29 - £25,210.25 per annum
Hours of Work: Sessional/Variable Hours. Please note, this is sessional and there are no guaranteed hours attached to the post.
About the Role: This highly professional, flexible, pro-active customer service role requires the Customer Service Assistant to undertake the high-level priorities of the post, and flexibly prioritise the needs of the role. They must be highly adaptable, constantly demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and be unflappable under pressure, and be very capable of working error-free and pro-actively within a highly pressurised environment. As the first point of contact for high level partners and visitors they must display excellent and continuously professional verbal communication skills, and high levels of emotional intelligence. Consistency, approachability and helpfulness are key and a positive self-reliant manner. Regular training is essential, as is self-motivation to continually be improving the quality and efficiency of the role through training and using new technology. The Receptionist must continuously display an exemplary, flexible mindset especially when under pressure, and cope with unanticipated change. Discretion is essential at key times, with a can-do problem solving attitude to seek long-term sensible solutions. Workload anticipation is vital on a daily, monthly and annual cycle. A willingness to own, problem-solve and suggest new approaches and systems will also be important regarding customer service.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide reception duties
- Provide additional reception cover for key College events such as Open Evenings, Awards events and College events
- Provide excellent customer service to all visitors, students and staff, dealing with enquiries to resolution as required and providing a helpful service for all
- Act as a central communication link in an emergency and as liaison point for staff
- Deal with incoming queries, including telephone calls and e-mails to the college
Qualifications:
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Strong interpersonal skills, maintaining an approachable demeanour to aid a positive first impression and rapport building
- Customer focussed mindset with a commitment to providing exceptional service
- Problem solving abilities in order to resolve issues independently or collaboratively with colleagues
- Previous experience in customer service, administrative support or a similar role would be beneficial but not necessary
- Computer literate
Benefits:
- Annual Leave: 25 days total and closure for winter shutdown period in line with Hampshire County Council school holidays & statutory bank holidays
- Pension: Generous Local Government pension.
- Learning & Development: Programmes by The Community Adult Education Department
- Staff Development: Access to the College staff development programmes and CPD
- Onsite Discounts: City of Portsmouth College Hair Salon & 50% off at the City of Portsmouth College Sports Centre
- Online Discounts: Unidays, Student Beans, and Totum with a City of Portsmouth College email address
- Parking: Free car parking across all campus sites (apart from Arundel)
- Blue Light Card: providing several discounts for clothing, electrical goods, food and days out, even concert tickets!
Diversity and Inclusion: Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are central to the work of the College. This underpins the vision of the College to transform lives through providing exceptional education and training. The College's commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is reflected in the continued successful promotion of these strands through the curriculum, enrichment activities and the range of direct and indirect student support services.
Pre Employment Checks: The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and two references.
Sessional Customer Service Assistant in Portsmouth employer: City of Portsmouth College
City of Portsmouth College is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development and growth. Located at the North Harbour Campus, the college provides unique opportunities to engage with local businesses and make a meaningful impact on apprentices' lives, all while enjoying a collaborative environment that values innovation and teamwork.
Contact Details:
City of Portsmouth College Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sessional Customer Service Assistant in Portsmouth
✨Get Social with Customer Support Communities
Join customer support groups on platforms like Facebook or Reddit. They often share job openings or temp opportunities. Engaging with these communities can help you learn more about the specific skills and experiences employers are looking for, plus you'll meet folks who might know about openings at companies like City of Portsmouth College.
✨Leverage Seasonal Hiring Trends
Since customer support roles can spike during busy seasons (think holidays and sales periods), keep an eye out for timelines when companies ramp up hiring. Make sure to apply early and stay active; sending a quick follow-up a week after applying can show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Flex Your Communication Skills
In customer support, communication is key! Prepare for hypothetical scenarios that test your problem-solving and customer interaction skills. Practising answers to common role-play questions can really help you shine in interviews—trust us, it makes a difference!
✨Make the Most of Job Boards
Use industry-specific job boards like Glassdoor or Indeed to find temporary roles. Don’t forget to set up alerts for customer support positions at companies like City of Portsmouth College. The earlier you apply, the better your chances, so keep your finger on the pulse!
We think you need these skills to ace Sessional Customer Service Assistant in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Communication Skills:In customer support, top-notch communication is key. Make sure your CV showcases any previous experience where you’ve had to clearly convey information or resolve issues. If you’ve handled customer queries via email or chat, mention it! Let’s see those strong verbal and written skills shine through.
Showcase Problem-Solving Experience:Employers love to see how you've handled tricky situations. Include examples in your application where you’ve tackled customer concerns or had to think on your feet. It's all about proving you can keep cool under pressure and find solutions—something super important in a temporary customer support role!
Tailor Your Approach for Temporary Roles:Since this is a temporary gig, make sure your cover letter emphasises your flexibility and eagerness to dive right in. Mention that you're ready to hit the ground running and are adaptable to new tools or systems—this shows that you understand the urgency often needed in temporary positions.
Proof of Customer Satisfaction:If you’ve got any quantifiable achievements from past customer support roles, like improved customer satisfaction scores or successful project completions, make sure to include them. Numbers speak volumes! This not only shows your capability but also gives us a reason to believe you'll bring that same success to City of Portsmouth College.
How to prepare for a job interview at City of Portsmouth College
✨Master the Customer Interaction Game
In customer support, we need to showcase our people skills. Prepare for role-playing scenarios where you'll demonstrate how to handle difficult customers or resolve complaints. Think about the types of issues common in City of Portsmouth College's industry and how you can respond empathetically and effectively!
✨Know Your Products Inside Out
For a temporary role, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the products or services City of Portsmouth College offers. Brush up on key features, common issues, and FAQs. This knowledge will enable you to respond quickly and confidently to customer queries, showing you’re ready to jump in at a moment’s notice!
✨Flexibility is Key - Emphasise Your Adaptability!
Since this is a temporary role, we're looking to convey how quickly we can adapt to new systems or processes. Be ready to share examples of how you've quickly learned new tools or adjusted to changing environments in past roles. Show them you're the go-to person when the pressure's on!
✨Prepare for Quick Conversational Q&A
You might face a rapid-fire round of questions about customer service principles or how you'd handle specific situations. To ace this, think through different customer scenarios ahead of time, and practice your responses to ensure they're concise and impactful. The aim is to demonstrate your quick thinking and problem-solving skills!
