At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide top-notch customer service and support to students, staff, and visitors.
- Company: Join a friendly college team focused on community and student success.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, free parking, gym discounts, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hours with a supportive team and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be the welcoming face of the college and make a real difference in people's experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer service and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 27800 - 30000 £ per year.
Position Start Date: 01/09/2026
Contract Type: Part-time
Contract Term: Permanent
Application Close: 23/07/2026 Midnight
Salary: £25,432 (Pro Rata: £12,055.09)
Reference No.: SR2231
Campus: Palmer's
Hours: 20 hrs / week | 39 weeks / year
Job Details
Join our friendly and supportive team as a Customer Service - Front of House. This key frontline role provides a professional point of contact for students, staff, and visitors, handling face-to-face, telephone, and email enquiries while ensuring high standards of customer care.
Main Purpose of the Role
This role is Monday - Friday 8:30am - 12:30pm. To manage all incoming communications and provide excellent frontline support to both new and existing customers, representing the College with professionalism, courtesy, and efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Welcome visitors and provide courteous, professional assistance.
- Handle incoming calls, emails, and messages promptly and accurately.
- Maintain the College telephone system and report faults.
- Record and manage enquiries, including College prospectus requests.
- Keep accurate visitor logs, reception day books, and other records.
- Ensure signing in/out procedures and College security measures are followed.
- Support Health & Safety and safeguarding initiatives, promoting the welfare and wellbeing of students.
- Participate in College CPD, events, and occasional evening or weekend duties.
- Any other duties compatible with the role as required.
About You
- Experienced in a customer service or reception role.
- Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Office and handling telephone enquiries.
- Flexible, reliable, and able to work as part of a team.
- Committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The right candidate will have
- Demonstrates professionalism, initiative, and attention to detail.
- Thrives in a busy, frontline environment, maintaining a positive, welcoming approach.
- Can adapt to a variety of tasks and contribute to a supportive team environment.
Why choose us?
Our strategy is to create a Career Focused, Digital Learning environment, ensuring that the learner experience and our relationship within our community, local and regional employers, are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be selected as finalists for the AoC Beacon awards for effective use of digital Technology in FE. Providing a high achieving, focused learning environment allowing our students to achieve the grades they need for higher educations, or the skills and aptitude required to secure a suitable role in their chosen career. Our college is set in the leafy suburbs of Essex, with easy access to surrounding areas and amenities, we are based in a well-connected location both by road and rail.
What we offer
- A dedicated and friendly team of professionals who are keen to develop and learn.
- Annual Staff Awards.
- CPD days - opportunities to grow and development through mentorship and coaching.
- Free onsite parking.
- Staff appreciation days.
- Onsite Starbucks & Restaurant.
- Electric Vehicle Scheme*.
- Discounted gym membership.
- Hybrid Working available.
- Fully immersive teaching rooms allow simultaneous online teaching at multiple locations.
- Free Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7, 365 days offering legal & financial advice, as well as general support & guidance.
* subject to terms & conditions
All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.
Customer Service - Front of House employer: Essex
At Chase High School, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for our Sixth Form Reception and Administrator role. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we provide generous benefits such as a pension scheme, mental health support, and ongoing professional development opportunities, all while fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Located in the vibrant community of Westcliff On Sea, our school is dedicated to creating a welcoming atmosphere for both staff and students, making it a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Service - Front of House
✨Connect with the Community
Get involved in customer support communities online! Platforms like Reddit and specific Facebook groups can be goldmines for sharing opportunities and tips. You can find out about part-time roles that might not even be advertised yet — it's all about who you know!
✨Attend Local Job Fairs
Job fairs are perfect for snagging part-time gigs! Keep an eye out for local hiring events and career expos in your area. It’s a brilliant chance to meet representatives from companies like Essex and show off your personality in person.
✨Boost Your Visibility
Showcase your skills in online customer support forums or by offering help on platforms like Zendesk Community. A strong online presence can catch the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers looking for genuinely passionate candidates.
✨Apply Directly Through Us!
Don’t forget, applying through our website is one of the best ways to catch our attention. Tailor your application for the part-time customer support role at Essex and let us see your personality shine through!
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Service - Front of House
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, communication is key! Make sure your CV and cover letter highlight your ability to clearly convey information and resolve issues. Use examples that illustrate how you've helped customers or colleagues in the past.
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities:Employers want to see how you tackle challenges. Include specific instances where you resolved a tough issue for a customer or improved a process. Real life scenarios are a great way to showcase your critical thinking and adaptability.
Tailor Your Application to Part-Time Work:Since this is a part-time role, be upfront about your availability in your cover letter. Highlight how you can balance work with your other commitments. It shows you're organised and committed to making the role work for both you and Essex.
Get Familiar with Our Brand:Before applying, take some time to learn about Essex and our approach to customer support. Mention in your cover letter why you're excited about supporting our customers specifically. It’ll show your enthusiasm and that you've done your homework!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
In customer support, being able to communicate clearly and effectively is key. During the interview, make sure to demonstrate your listening skills and your ability to explain solutions simply. Use examples from past experiences where you resolved customer issues successfully.
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with common customer support tools like ticketing systems (think Zendesk or Freshdesk) and chat software. If you’ve used any of these in previous roles or during your studies, be ready to chat about your experiences. Showing you can hit the ground running with these tools will impress Essex.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Since this is a part-time role, emphasise your ability to adapt to different shifts and your willingness to handle varying customer volumes. Share any experiences where you thrived in a fast-paced environment or juggled multiple tasks, which can highlight your time management skills.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Interviewers often love scenario-based questions in customer support roles. Be ready to tackle common customer situations, like how you'd handle an unhappy customer. Practising responses to these scenarios will showcase your problem-solving ability and customer service mindset, which Essex will surely appreciate.
