Customer Service & Administration CV writing services

How you present your qualifications should reflect your level of professional experience. Here is the best-practice guide for your Customer Service or Administration CV.

Where to Place Your Qualifications Section

The position of your qualifications section depends on your career stage:

For Early-Career Professionals:
If you have one year of work experience or less, your qualifications are one of your main selling points. Place them near the top of your CV, directly beneath your personal profile or summary.

For Experienced Professionals:
If you have several years of experience, your employment history should take priority. Move your qualifications section towards the end of your CV. However, mention any standout qualifications or certifications in your opening profile summary.

How to Format Different Types of Qualifications

You can either group all qualifications together or split them into Education and Professional Qualifications if you have several to list.

University Education:
List the degree title, grade (in brackets), and university name.
Example: BA (Hons) in Business Administration (2:1), University of Leeds

College or School Education (A-Levels, GCSEs, etc.):
There’s no need to list your school or college name unless it’s particularly well-known. Simply include the qualification type, subjects, and grades.
Example: 3 A-Levels: English Language (A), Business Studies (B), Psychology (B)

Professional or Administrative Qualifications:
Include any relevant certifications or training such as business administration diplomas, customer service awards, or IT qualifications (e.g., ECDL, Microsoft Office Specialist). You don’t need to include the training provider’s name.
Example: Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
Example: Microsoft Office Specialist (Excel, Word, Outlook)

No. You should not include a list of references or the phrase “References available upon request” on your Customer Service or Administration CV. These are considered outdated and take up valuable space without adding meaningful value to your application.

Instead, take a more modern and effective approach by adding a “Recommendations” section to your CV. This gives immediate credibility and social proof from people who can genuinely vouch for your abilities.

Here’s how to do it well:

• Create a dedicated section at the end of your CV titled “Recommendations.”

• Choose two strong quotes from your LinkedIn recommendations or testimonials from previous managers, colleagues, or clients. Select excerpts that are specific and relevant to the type of roles you’re applying for.

• Focus on credibility and relevance. Pick recommendations that highlight key strengths such as communication, organisation, customer care, problem-solving, or efficiency—avoid vague comments like “hard-working” or “friendly.”

• Format professionally. Present each one as a short quote and include the person’s full name and job title underneath.

This approach allows you to use real testimonials to your advantage, giving recruiters and hiring managers a clear, trustworthy insight into your professional strengths—far more powerful than a standard reference list.

The most effective CV format for Customer Service and Administration roles is one that’s carefully tailored to the specific position and packed with relevant achievements that demonstrate your impact.

Start with a clear profile paragraph that aligns you directly with the role you’re targeting, whether that’s Customer Service Advisor, Office Administrator, or Executive Assistant. Use this section to show your professional focus and summarise your overall value to the employer – your value proposition.

Follow with 3 to 4 key strength statements aligned with the job description. These could include areas such as customer support, communication, problem-solving, organisation, or process improvement.

Include a Key Skills section presented in two neat columns, using keywords from the job advert or role description. Examples include CRM systems, data entry, diary management, call handling, complaints resolution, or Microsoft Office proficiency.

Add a Key Achievements section – ideally written in a concise results-based format (such as STAR). Use this section to highlight measurable successes like improving customer satisfaction scores, streamlining administrative processes, or reducing response times.

Then list your Career History, focusing on the past 10 years in reverse chronological order. For each role, include a short description of your responsibilities followed by bullet points that showcase your achievements, not just your duties.

Finish with your Education and Professional Training, such as diplomas, NVQs, or software certifications. You can also include optional extras like voluntary roles, awards, or brief recommendations from past managers or clients.

There are a few common mistakes that can seriously reduce your chances of securing a Customer Service or Administration role.

1. Never lie or exaggerate
It can be tempting to stretch the truth about your experience, job titles, or skills, but it’s never worth the risk. If you’re hired based on false information and can’t deliver, it could lead to dismissal and a short, unhelpful entry on your CV. Always highlight your genuine strengths and achievements instead.

2. Avoid adding unnecessary personal interests
Including hobbies like competitive gaming or extreme sports might seem harmless, but they can sometimes give the wrong impression. Unless your interest is genuinely positive and relatable – for example, volunteering or charity work – it’s best to leave it out.

3. Do not include bland or generic hobbies
Common hobbies such as “socialising,” “watching films,” or “going to the gym” add no real value to your application. Use that space to focus on professional skills, awards, or training instead.

4. Eliminate typos and grammar mistakes
In Customer Service and Administrative roles, attention to detail is essential. A CV with spelling or grammatical errors can make you seem careless. Use spell check and proofreading tools like Grammarly, and ask someone else to review your CV before you send it.

Here are three of the most common and damaging CV mistakes that could be holding you back from landing Customer Service or Administration interviews.

1. Not tailoring your CV to the job
This is the number one issue. Your CV must be specifically tailored to each role you apply for. That means your profile paragraph should align closely with the job title, your value proposition should reflect the organisation’s goals, and your skills should directly match the key requirements in the job advert. You can then support these with relevant examples and achievements. Yet, many people still send out generic CVs that leave hiring managers unsure where they fit.

2. Failing to show achievements
Many CVs simply list duties rather than demonstrating impact. Employers want to see evidence of your success - how you improved efficiency, delivered excellent customer service, supported a busy team, or solved problems under pressure. Without achievements, your CV becomes a list of responsibilities rather than proof of value.

3. Putting in minimal effort
Too many people rush their CV without thinking about their audience. They write for themselves rather than for the recruiter. A strong CV reflects what the reader wants to see: clarity, relevance, and professionalism. For most professionals, two pages is ideal, but ensure every section adds value. With so much competition, a rushed CV simply won’t stand out.

Bonus tip: Avoid typos
Nearly 80 percent of CVs contain typos or small grammatical errors. Use proofreading tools, read your CV aloud, and have someone else review it before sending it. In roles that rely on accuracy and attention to detail, even small mistakes can cost you an interview.