How to recruit German-speaking customer service representatives
If you have decided to take on new customer service representatives, you may well be looking for German speakers with relevant experience to be among those joining the team.
But once you have decided you need these team members, how do you go about finding the ideal German-speaking customer service advisor with the right linguistic ability and experience in working with and helping customers? It is true that recruiting new hires can feel a daunting, time-consuming business, but our guide to employing German-speaking customer service specialists is here to help.
Let us not forget that having the right customer service team in place is key in today’s marketplace, and to getting and remaining ahead of the competition (according to US business magazine Forbes, 96% of customers say the service they receive is important in their choice of loyalty to a brand).
Define your ideal candidate’s skills and experiences
Think about your perfect German-speaking customer service representative and ask yourself the following:
- Do they need to be native speakers or is a high level of fluency is enough to meet the requirements of your German-speaking customer service jobs?
- Do you need previous customer service experience, or can you train the right candidate?
- Does your applicant already have permission to work in the country in which you are based?
Create a compelling job description to attract German-speaking applicants
Incorporate the key factors from the list above, and stress any training opportunities, plus whether you cover travel and overseas expenses for overseas applicants.
Be clear about what the job involves, including whether you offer hybrid or flexible working arrangements.
How to make your job post reach the best applicants
As you are hiring German-speaking customer service staff, and may well be doing so from outside Germany, it can be helpful to use customer service recruitment agencies who are also multilingual specialists, such as Recruitment Direct, to reach suitably qualified candidates worldwide.
Review application
Look closely at those applicants who have paid most attention to your job post. Look for how candidates have shown their previous experience is relevant and transferable to your vacancy. Use a screening question or the covering letter (or both) to assess their communication and linguistic skills.
Conduct interviews
Obviously, you will do this once you have shortlisted candidates. You may want to incorporate a customer service role-playing exercise or scenario as well as testing their proficiency in German. Look for people showing empathy, emotional intelligence, problem-solving abilities and communication skills.
Still need help?
If you still feel you need help, contact us at Recruitment Direct. We are multilingual specialists with 24 years’ experience in multilingual and call centre recruitment services and have found our clients many excellent German speaking customer service agents over the years.
Check out our clients’ page and submit your vacancy for German-speaking customer service representatives.