At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist customers with tax queries via phone, email, and web chat.
- Company: Join HMRC, a vital organisation supporting the UK's public services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Great opportunities for career progression within a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: No experience needed; just a passion for helping others and good communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 28000 £ per year.
About the job
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC. At HMRC we have a vital purpose. We help people pay the correct amount of tax and provide financial support to families and individuals. We make sure money is available to fund the UK's public services such as hospitals and schools, answering around 50 million calls and handling 15 million items of customer correspondence every year. Our services support customers on behalf of the entire department, dealing with a broad range of different and complex customer enquiries. This is a great chance to start your career with HMRC and we offer real opportunities to progress and develop your career with us or the wider Civil Service if you choose. We're striving to be the best customer service organisation in the UK, and we need enthusiastic people to help us achieve this.
Job description
As a Customer Service Advisor at HMRC, you will be the first point of contact for our customers, providing essential advice and assistance, predominantly over the phone, or email and web chat. Your can-do attitude and passion for helping people will be key, as we fully train you to navigate various conversations and provide clear, quick information. We will invest in you by providing structured training, development opportunities, and a clear path for advancement. You will be responsible for:
- Speaking to customers on the phone, helping them with their questions or issues.
- Helping customers to pay the correct amount of tax at the right time.
- Taking payments by phone and via our online services.
- Creating customer records and keeping them up to date.
- Using webchat and email to support our customers online.
If you are allocated to our Debt Management team your duties will also include:
- Discussing, calculating and collecting interest and penalties for late payments or late filing of tax returns.
We work a variety of shifts between 7:45am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday, to make sure we can help customers when they need us. You will work a maximum of one late shift per week (ending at 8pm) and a maximum of 6 Saturdays each year. HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. The majority of roles within customer services allow you to work from home two days a week if you choose, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time), this includes Saturday and 8 pm shifts. On the days you attend the office, you will be working in the Regional Centre location shown in the title heading of this advert that you are applying for. As a flexible employer, we will consider part-time requests. (Part-time is a minimum of 25 hours per week covering variety of shifts. All shift patterns, working days and hours will be discussed with your manager when you join us. Pay and annual leave will be pro-rata if we can agree your request).
During your induction training programme, which will last between 6 -12 weeks, you will be expected to work full time 37 hours per week and your working pattern will be Monday - Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm. All training will take place in your designated Regional Centre and further details will be confirmed once you start your employment with HMRC. Time off or annual leave is not normally allowed during the first 6 weeks of training.
Person specification
What are we looking for? No experience is necessary as you will be fully trained, but we would like you to be comfortable talking on the phone and discussing debt with our customers. You will also need to be comfortable writing up notes, as this is mainly a phone-based role. We are looking for individuals with the drive and passion to make a difference to people's lives, and need people:
- With great verbal and written communication skills in English (and Welsh where required)
- Dedicated to providing brilliant customer service
- With a can-do attitude and passion for supporting people
- With a resilience to work in a demanding and rewarding environment
- With the ability to provide information quickly and clearly
- Comfortable in handling various types of conversations
- To have basic maths skills.
Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 28,016, HM Revenue and Customs contributes 8,116 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs. We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days. Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary. Family friendly policies. Personal support. Coaching and development.
Diversity and Inclusion
At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues and creating an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people, from all backgrounds, with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. Here at HMRC we want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential.
Customer Service Advisor - Belfast (569R) - Belfast employer: HMRC
At HMRC, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that values diversity and inclusion. As a Customer Service Advisor in Belfast, you'll benefit from comprehensive training, flexible working arrangements, and generous leave allowances, all while contributing to a vital public service that impacts the lives of millions. With clear pathways for career progression and a commitment to employee development, HMRC is dedicated to helping you achieve your professional goals in a collaborative and engaging environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Service Advisor - Belfast (569R) - Belfast
✨Get Chatty at Local Community Events
Dive into local meetups or community events related to customer support. These gatherings are a goldmine for making connections and learning more about what companies like HMRC value in entry-level hires. Just think of it as networking over snacks!
✨Show Off Your People Skills
Create a small digital portfolio showcasing your communication skills. You could include relevant scenarios or customer interactions—real or hypothetical. This isn't just for show; it gives hiring managers at places like HMRC a taste of how you handle customer queries.
✨Leverage Internship Platforms
Don't sleep on popular internship platforms that focus on entry-level roles in customer support. Websites like Handshake can link you directly to companies looking for fresh talent. The earlier you start exploring these options, the better your chances at landing something with HMRC!
✨Join Customer Support Forums
Participate in online forums and communities specifically for customer support professionals. Places like Help Scout’s community or even subreddits can give you insights into what skills are in demand. Plus, it’s a great way to network and discover hidden job opportunities at companies like HMRC.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Service Advisor - Belfast (569R) - Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, clear and friendly communication is crucial. Make sure your CV highlights any previous experience where you've resolved customer queries or collaborated with a team. We love to see examples where you've turned a challenge into a positive experience!
Tailor Your Cover Letter with Enthusiasm:For an entry-level role like this one, your cover letter shouldn’t just be a summary of your CV. Instead, share why you're excited about customer support, and express your eagerness to help others. Let's see your personality shine through—tell us why you're a great fit for HMRC!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Even if you haven't worked in customer support before, include any relatable experiences—like part-time jobs, volunteer work, or internships. Show us how these have equipped you with the soft skills needed to thrive in this role, like problem-solving and patience.
Keep It Simple and Straightforward:Your CV should be easy to read—no fancy fonts or excessive jargon. Use bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements and stick to a clean layout. This helps us quickly see your qualifications and gives a professional vibe, even for an entry-level position!
How to prepare for a job interview at HMRC
✨Brush Up on Your Communication Skills
In customer support, communication is key. Practise explaining complex issues in straightforward language. You might even get role-play scenarios during the interview, so be ready to show off those skills!
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Prowess
Employers love seeing how you handle customer queries. Think of specific instances where you’ve resolved conflicts or helped someone out. Bring these scenarios to the table, as they can help demonstrate your problem-solving capabilities!
✨Familiarise Yourself with Common Tools
Get to grips with popular customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk. Even if you haven’t used them before, being able to talk about them or their features can show you’re proactive about getting up to speed.
✨Express Your Willingness to Learn
As this is an entry-level position, they want to see your eagerness to grow. Highlight your adaptability and enthusiasm for customer support. Share any relevant experiences or coursework that show you’re committed to developing your skills!
