Devoted to customer service and the principles of exceptional customer services

I know that some of us just need a job and will take anything just to make some money, but there are some things you should ask yourself before applying for or accepting a position in customer service:

Do I have a PASSION for helping people?  Working in customer service is easier said than done.  You will be helping people ALL DAY LONG and if you don't have it in you to be helpful, then pretty soon you'll begin to feel burnt out. 

Do I have prejudices that need to be addressed? You'll be working with many types of people and everybody is unique in their own way.  Can you handle dealing with different types of personalities?

Am I energetic? A position in customer service definitely requires energy.  In certain positions, you'll be standing up for long periods of time.  Irate customers will steal alot of that energy as well.  So, stock up on brain food and energy!

Am I HAPPY?  Happy people do very well in customer service.  People who have many issues in their personal life that bother them tend to carry it over into the work place.  Sure, we all have issues in life, but how do you cope with them?  Do you let it eat you up inside and do personal problems affect how you carry yourself and interact with others?

I know that many customer service jobs don't pay very well - believe me, I know!  So let's say that you've been with a company for quite some time now, you work hard and think that you deserve a raise.  I came across this post at Dorit Baxter's New York Day Spa Blog that offers tips on how to ask for a raise:

A request for a raise should be in the context of job circumstance and performance, not because your expenses have suddenly increased, or because a fellow employee just received a raise.

Relate the request to a change in the circumstances of your job such as an increase in workload, the assumption of more responsibility, an initiative you have recently demonstrated. You might want to preface your request with an e-mail detailing how your job description has expanded.

Who knew that at a spa blog you'd get such good career advice?