Show Customer service workshop Cleova Williams Feature Page Editor Trades from automotive to banking banking banking bank bank- ing to medical to criminal justice need employees with professional skills to represent their company or org organization Every job has a customer customer customer cus cus- tomer and businesses are lacking customer customer customer cus cus- tomer oriented employees is offering Customer Service Workshops for students and the community at ato o large The Fall schedule offers a three credit class at three different times Along with the classes on campus workshops on customer service are taken into local busi busi- nesses They improve employee skills in problem solving phone technique time management and managing conflict Participants learn to deal with even difficult customers The classes are backed by a research research research re re- re- re search committee from local businesses businesses businesses busi busi- nesses including executives from American Express Blue Cross Blue BlueShield BlueShield BlueShield Shield and Delta Airlines Committee members are experienced business personnel and add real world input into the classroom material The research committee has strongly indicated a need for employees to have customer service skills Businesses that stay close to their customers understand customers understand their preferences and cater to their wants wants- are more successful A recent study related to consumer trends shows that sales to new customers cost 14 times more than sales to returning es established established established es- es customers Individuals looking for jobs have a better chance of getting one if they have acquired customer service training train train- ing Patricia Coffey assistant corporate corporate corporate cor cor- training manager for said that employers want to hire trained employees That the class is good supplemental training that will enhance on the job training raining Individuals Individuals Individuals In In- will stand out as being more professional they will have better promotion-ability promotion and receive higher pay Students taking this class fulfill a work related project specialized to their company's needs These projects have enhanced several students positions positions positions with their current employers Many others have benefited through raises and other rewards Along with the obvious skill enhancements enhancements enhancements en en- students acquire a better better better bet bet- ter understanding of their own importance importance importance im im- im- im to their company Their jobs become elevated to professional stasis As they increase their skills their pride increases Students at have become role models for others within their departments They are teaching customer skills to their peers by their example American Express originated and funded the Customer Service Course on the campus Currently it is a successful self supporting program WI II F k a lj 4 F J I 1 A student from the Customer Service Workshop Julie Ripley practices her newly learned skills at her job in |