Insider Q & A: Bob Tenzer shares the Scoop on C3, Now Hiring for 2,000+ jobs in U.S.

At StartWire, we’re all about helping job seekers find work — and get more feedback from employers in the process. We love to share news about employers who hiring in large numbers.

So this week, we’re featuring an interview with C3/CustomerContactChannel, a global firm specializing in customer management. Recently C3 announced they were hiring for 2,000 jobs in the U.S.; you can find listings here or over on the C3 website.

We sat down with Bob Tenzer, SPHR, is a Senior Vice President of Human Resources for C3 to learn more about the company and what they look for when hiring. Over the courseof his career, Tenzer has held senior positions in HR at Veritas Bureau and Nieman Marcus. He’s also helped a previous employer, Precision Response Corporation (PRC) grow from 250 employees to over 10,000.

Tell us about C3. What kinds of services do you provide? What types of industries and employers do you work with? How are services you provide in the U.S. different from the services you provide overseas?

C3 provides turnkey customer management solutions in the areas of customers service, customer acquisition, retention and loyalty.  We do it across a number of channels including outsourced telephone support, email, chat, back office, social media and analytics.  Our services are custom developed for the client and the markets they serve.

I understand you recently announced the creation of 2,000 new U.S. jobs, with 500 or more jobs available per site in Tucson, Salt Lake City, and Waco, Texas. Are all of the jobs you are hiring for inside a C3 facility, or do you hire staff to work onsite as well?

For these markets, our teams work onsite at one of our new facilities. Our employee-focused corporate culture is built around team work, so we make the workplace a fun and inviting place to be.  In certain situations, we may have teams that work at a client location or even from home.

How does a candidate get your attention as a prospective employee? What do you look for?

We love enthusiasm!  Bright, engaged individuals with customer service experience looking for a career and not just a job are attractive to us.  Depending on client requirements, we may also look for specific industry experience or licenses.  Get our attention by applying online at our website, attaching a professional resume with an objective that tells us how we will benefit by hiring you.  

There’s an oft-quoted saying on Customer Service: “The Customer is always right.” Does this run true in the customer service industry across jobs and positions? If candidates for customer service jobs answer that question in interviews will they increase or decrease their chances of getting the job?

It’s really all about the customer experience.  The goal is to give the customer an outstanding experience with clear and accurate information.  Candidates who give us confidence that they will take great care of our clients’ customers increase their chances of getting a job.

Tell me about candidates you recently interviewed – how did they stand out, and why did you hire the ones you did?

We have been delighted at the quality of the workforce in the labor markets we have selected.  Those that stood out to me were professionally dressed, enthusiastic, confident, smiled freely and convinced me that they would make a difference in each customer interaction.

Do you have any “never do” tips for individuals applying for jobs?

I prefer the “always do’s”!  Always be honest in your experience.  Always have a well-organized, error free resume.   Always be prepared to show how you make a difference.  Always smile, be persistent and be prepared to show us what you can do for our clients’ customers.

Any bad assumptions you see job seekers make when applying to C3?

Just don’t assume we are like other call center providers!  We have a culture that is like no other.   We are accountable to our customers and to our employees.  We communicate regularly, openly and honestly and we give back to our employees and the communities we do business in.   We are a place to be for an entire career, not a stopover.

Are there any questions that I haven’t asked that I should be asking? What is your question and what’s your answer?

My question would be:  “What should I do to prepare for an interview”?   Aside from a resume and looking professional, my answer would be to learn something about the company you are applying to.  Look not only at the website but other social media such as Facebook to see what employees say about the Company.   Cultural fit is 75% of success. 

Use it now – actionable – advice for job seekers

Know who you are applying to.   Be prepared to discuss career aspirations, why you left jobs and how your experience is relevant.  Know something about the Company you are applying to.  Review your resume for accuracy and errors.  Most of all – be enthusiastic and show the employer what you can do!