Is Consumer Services A Good Career Path? A Detailed Guide

on Feb 20, 2023

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The changing era has modernized today’s job market rapidly. New roles and careers are shaping the industry in different ways. Here, the consumer services sector also plays a great role among professionals.

Most businesses that revolve around offering services to others fall under this sector. It is why people have started to think about whether consumer services can lead to a good career path or not. If you wish to start a career in this field, have a look at the article below.

But before we proceed, it is important to understand consumer services in detail.

How Do You Define Consumer Services?

Consumer services are businesses, either big or small, that provide different services to consumers. Their primary goal is to make sure that the expectations of consumers are fulfilled perfectly. Many people confuse the terms consumer service and customer service.

However, the difference between consumers vs customers is a prominent one. Consumers are individuals who may not buy a product or service but use it. Customers, on the other hand, may not be the end users of a product or service but buy it for different purposes. Hence, consumers are the users, and customers are the buyers.

Consumer service businesses can be a part of different sectors like healthcare, transportation, food and beverages, retail, banking, and much more. To stay ahead, business owners work harder to satisfy their consumers and strengthen their circle. Providers of these services start by focusing on the target market and audiences to come up with better results.

The Different Types of Consumer Services

There are plenty of consumer services in the market. The most popular ones are discussed below.

1. Transportation Businesses

The primary goal of transportation businesses is to help people travel from one place to another. It can be either in the form of land, air, or water. The different modes of these services include buses, bikes, cars, airplanes, boats, and ships.

2. Healthcare Businesses

The healthcare sector is a huge one as it works for the health and well-being of individuals. It consists of different clinics, hospitals, and medical institutions. Businesses that specialize in healthcare services revolve around primary care, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health care, midwifery, physical therapy, and a lot more.

3. Retail Businesses

Businesses that belong to the retail market sell different products and services to end customers. Most retailers operate through general stores, grocery stores, medical stores, and departmental stores.

4. Tech Support Businesses

Tech support businesses are highly popular among consumers. Providers of such services are responsible for fixing any software and hardware issues related to laptops, computers, and smartphones.

5. Food and Beverage Businesses

The food and beverage business chain is an extensive one. People are always ready to welcome new food items and drinks in the market. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bars fall under the umbrella of food and beverages.

Main Categories of Consumer Services

Consumer services are divided into two different categories.

Essential Consumer Services
Non-Essential Consumer Services

Let us dive deeper to understand the difference between both.

Essential Consumer Services

These are the services that directly impact our everyday lives. Their absence can be altering and annoying for individuals due to their extreme importance. A few primary services like healthcare, food, beverages, and transportation is examples of essential consumer services. These fulfill the vital needs of humans, like medical facilities, food, and travel.

Non-Essential Consumer Services

Consumer services that do not hamper our everyday lives are termed as non-essential ones. These can be considered luxury services as they provide extra benefits to our lives. For instance, movie theaters, gaming zones, amusement parks, and similar entertainment centers. Although these services are not crucial for us, they have a high demand in the community for flexibility and enjoyment.

Different Jobs Available In Consumer Services

Multiple industries combined to establish the consumer services sector. To look for the jobs available in this sector, you can go through these industries and select a role that fits your needs. Some of the most popular ones are mentioned below.

Bank Officers
Accountants
Bartenders
Marketing Professionals
Human Resource Executives
Sales Agents
Insurance Officers
Retail Officers
Service Provider
Service Designer
Service Professional
Website Designer
Receptionist
Waiter

An easier way to enter the consumer service industry is to apply for a customer service job. Starting as an internee, you have the opportunity to upgrade yourself to a managerial position.

List of the Best Consumer Services Jobs

Every consumer service job shares a unique responsibility. Below are a few popular jobs to successfully enter the consumer services sector.

Service Manager

A service manager plays a middle management role in the team. The individual takes complete responsibility to deliver the service to its end users. Also, he or she makes sure that consumers can take complete advantage of the service and come across a smooth experience.

The entire team looks around to the service manager for coordination, training, and support. According to reports, the average salary of a service manager within the USA is approximately $73,000 per annum.

Service Designer

The main role of a service designer is to establish a process for the delivery of a service. He or she follows the process of reverse engineering to understand the service from a consumer’s point of view. It helps in designing the service as per the consumer's needs.

Consumer service firms look out for designers who can enhance the user experience within a limited deadline. The average salary of a service designer is worth up to $98,000 per annum in the USA.

Customer Service Representative

The demand for customer representatives keeps increasing in the market. These individuals represent the entire service and directly deal with the customers. They are responsible for solving all customer queries without leaving any negative impact.

Most of these professionals work at call centers and respond to customers through different channels like emails, calls, and social media networks. Business owners hire presentations more than other professionals as they must be available 24/7. The average salary of a customer service representative is approximately $57,000 per annum in the USA.

Service Provider

A service provider is an essential role in any customer service-providing firm. The baseline to deliver services to consumers and customers mostly depends on this individual. The average salary of a service provider is up to $35,000 per annum in the USA.

Market Researcher

Businesses must stay updated about their target markets and industries to stay in the race. It is why a market researcher is one of the most required roles in every company. The researcheris responsible for updating teams about the latest market trends.

The pattern, design, and delivery of any product or service depend on these professionals. Their dedication and skills can easily boost revenue and ROI. The average salary of a market researcher is approximately $81,000 per year in the USA.

Pros and Cons of Consumer Services as a Career Path

Most people look out for selecting consumer services as a career. However, they worry about the outcomes and struggles of jumping into such professions. After going through different discussions and research, we came up with a few advantages and disadvantages of selecting this career path. Looking around the details of these will help you make the right decision.

Pros of Working in the Consumer Services Sector

The different advantages of working in the consumer services sector are discussed below.

Few Entry-Level Requirements

Plenty of consumer service rules require no experience or skills. These are entry-level jobs that depend on one's willingness to learn. It helps many people to start their careers in this sector. Also, it helps individuals to enhance their skills and interests.

Earn Service-Providing Experience

Working in the consumer services sector helps one to learn about multiple products and services. It is a great way to promote your career to a subject matter expert. Also, it can help you earn expertise in different industries and extend your chances for employability.

Interpersonal Skills Development

A consumer services representative deals with a variety of people every day. While some of them may be cooperating, others can be challenging. It is why one must know how to deal with difficult people professionally. This profession teaches temper management and the skills to handle people politely without overreacting.

Enhance Problem-Solving Skills

Professionals operating in the consumer services sector must know how to solve customer problems. They are bound to come up with solutions that can satisfy the customer without affecting the company’s policies. Doing so helps them in enhancing their problem-solving skills and assists in future endeavors.

Commissions and Bonuses

Business owners offering reward their consumer service representatives with commissions and bonuses. For instance, when an employee upsells a product or service and meets the monthly target in time, rewards are given. These can be in the form of lifetime memberships, credit card bonuses, and signups for multiple loyalty programs.

Cons of Working in the Consumer Services Sector

After going through the different advantages of operating in the consumer services sector, let us take a look at its disadvantages.

Irregular Schedule and Workload

The biggest disadvantage of working in the consumer services sector is the irregularity of working hours. This profession requires commitment outside of the traditional office routine. Professionals are supposed to work late shifts with routines altering every week. Also, companies require employees to work on festivals, weekends, and holidays.

Compliance with Frequent Changes

The company policies for different services and products keep changing frequently. It can be frustrating for employees to comply with these after getting used to the previous one. Initially, these practices irritate individuals. However, after getting used to the profession, one considers it as part of the job.

Stress and Frustration

A consumer service professional must look representative regardless of the situation. This professional is supposed to act friendly no matter what happens. Often people going through stress and their personal lives find it extremely challenging to maintain a friendly gesture but are forced to do so.