At a Glance
- Tasks: Help people with housing queries and provide excellent customer service every day.
- Company: Join Places for People, the UK's leading Social Enterprise focused on thriving communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, comprehensive training, and a range of employee discounts.
- Other info: Opportunities for career progression and a supportive team environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building a rewarding career.
- Qualifications: No prior housing experience needed; just bring your passion for helping others.
The predicted salary is between 28500 - 29000 £ per year.
Are you looking for a career that makes a real difference in peoples' lives? A job in Housing could be for you. We are Places for People, the UK's leading Social Enterprise. We build, manage, and maintain Communities across the UK, where everyone is welcome and can thrive. We're looking for applicants to come and join us in our Customer Contact Centre.
Starting as a Customer Service Advisor, you will gain experience and exposure to a world of knowledge and opportunities within the Housing Sector. The opportunities from joining our Customer Contact Centre are endless! At Places for People, we believe in investing in your future, that's why we offer our team a wealth of opportunities to develop their skills and climb the Housing Sector ladder. In the last twelve months, we've helped many Customer Service Advisors to progress their careers into roles within our Supporting Housing, Digital Inclusion, and Customer Focus teams. We've even had Advisors develop into senior management roles.
Want to know the best bit? You don't need to have previous Housing experience to thrive in this role. We recruit hard-working people who show the right behaviours and align with our values especially with handling difficult conversations (such as anti-social behaviour). We then train you to become a well-rounded Housing Professional and provide opportunities for career progression.
Shifts will range from 8am - 10pm, working 7.25 hours per day and 36.25 hours per week. Please note: We are recruiting for 14 roles. We will be holding Assessment Centres on Tuesday 4th August, Wednesday 5th August and Friday 7th August.
More about your role: We pride ourselves in delivering first-class customer service to everyone that we come in to contact with, and we want you to be a part of it! You will join our award-winning Customer Service Centre, which has been operating since 2001. Our customer service team are going through a period of massive growth. To ensure that our customers receive the best possible service we are recruiting for additional Customer Service Centre Advisors to support our team during this exciting phase.
In our Customer Service Centre, no two days are the same; one moment you could be assisting a customer with a housing application, managing low level anti-social behaviour, or even diagnosing repair issues - but don't worry we'll teach you everything you need to know. The team you are joining are passionate about providing an excellent customer experience and we roll up our sleeves and work together to make things happen.
For us to support and effectively train you in your new role, the first six months in post will be office based. Following this, the role can become hybrid (two days from home and three days from the office) to support a work-life balance; however, it can be fully office based for applicants that are not able to work from home. The office is accessible by local bus routes and free onsite parking is provided.
If you feel like you can make a difference, download our job profile, and make an application. This role also includes working bank holidays and over the Christmas period.
More about you: Do you enjoy speaking to people? Do you want to work in a lively social environment where customers are at the heart of what you do? If so, this may be the job for you. Any successful applicants will be joining an innovative team where we value your ideas and opinions on better ways of working and enhancing our service. Experience in triaging complex related contacts in relation to Home Repairs and diagnostics is preferred.
About us: We are Places for People, the UK's leading Social Enterprise. We believe that it's more than just homes that make a community - it's the people. That's why we change our Customers' lives every day by creating and supporting thriving communities. Our business consists of complementary companies that are market leaders in the placemaking, property investment, development, leisure, and management sectors. Combined, they have the expertise to create and manage whole communities, providing homes, services, support, and infrastructure that ensures our customers and their communities thrive.
The markets we operate in include:
- Affordable and supported housing
- Development
- Property management
- Leisure management
- Fund management
But we aren't your typical company. We apply the same philosophy to our People as we do to our communities, ensuring our team is appreciated and supported. At Places for People, you're more than just a number - you're a part of our cause. We want you to join the Places for People Group and the nearly 11,000 other colleagues on our journey - colleagues who have helped to build, manage, and maintain places that people are proud to call home.
Benefits: We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to help colleagues save money or make their lives a little bit easier which can include:
- Full training provided
- Hybrid working - 3 days in the office and 2 from the comfort of your own home
- Overtime
- Excellent holiday pay and sick pay
- Ability to buy or sell leave
- Access to our WPA cash plan - which can save you up to £500 on dental, GP prescriptions and eye care
- Pension with matched contributions
- Future career opportunities
- Extra benefits including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more
Safeguarding: At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect. We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment. By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities.
Customer Service Centre Advisor - Preston employer: Places for People
Places for People in Birmingham is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises community engagement and exceptional service delivery. With flexible working arrangements and health memberships, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while also having access to numerous growth opportunities within the leisure and hospitality sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Service Centre Advisor - Preston
✨Get to Know the Company Culture
Before jumping into applications, it’s super helpful to understand the vibe at Places for People. Check out their social media, read reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and see how they engage with customers. It'll give you clues on their values and help tailor your conversation during interviews.
✨Join Customer Support Communities
Dive into online communities like those on Reddit or LinkedIn where customer support pros hang out. Participating in discussions or asking questions can make you more visible to potential recruiters and help you learn about job openings at companies like Places for People before they even post them.
✨Attend Job Fairs or Networking Events
Look out for local job fairs or events specifically for customer support roles. This is your chance to meet hiring managers face-to-face, and you might even get the opportunity to interview on the spot!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Customer Interactions
In the customer support world, showcasing your communication skills is key. Consider creating a short video introducing yourself or even doing a mock call to showcase your abilities. It's a memorable way to stand out, especially if you can share this during your interview process!
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Service Centre Advisor - Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, clear communication is key. Make sure your CV highlights any experience you've had in customer-facing roles and your ability to resolve issues. Don't shy away from including specific examples of how you've gone above and beyond to help customers – this really shows your potential in the role.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Places for People:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you want to work at Places for People specifically. Mention any unique aspects of our company that resonate with you and how your skills can enhance our customer support. This personal touch will set your application apart from the rest!
Highlight Any Relevant Tools or Tech Skills:If you've used customer support software like Zendesk or Freshdesk or have experience with CRM systems, make sure to mention these in your application. Being familiar with industry-standard tools can be a big plus for us when we’re reviewing applications, as it shows you can hit the ground running!
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:Customer support roles often require a knack for problem-solving. In your application, share examples of past experiences where you've tackled tough situations or resolved conflicts effectively. This will give us a good sense of how you handle challenges—an essential skill for success at Places for People!
How to prepare for a job interview at Places for People
✨Show Off Your People Skills
In customer support, it's all about communicating effectively. Prepare to share instances from your past experiences where you handled difficult customers or resolved conflicts. We want to hear how you empathised and found the best solutions, so think of specific examples to back up your stories!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with common customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk, and make sure to review how you’ve used any similar systems in the past. During the interview, being able to discuss your hands-on experience with software or ticketing systems can really set you apart from the competition, so don’t skip this prep!
✨Show Genuine Enthusiasm
As this is a full-time role, employers want someone who isn’t just looking for any job, but wants to grow within customer support. Make sure to express your enthusiasm for helping customers and your desire to develop your skills. Show them why you're passionate about this field!
✨Practice Common Scenarios
Be prepared for role-playing scenarios where you might have to reassess a solution with a frustrated customer or explain a complex process in simple terms. Practising these common scenarios can help us feel more confident and demonstrate our practical skills effectively during the interview.
