National Small Biz Week – Starts with good people.  Here are some great new hiring questions to ask.

What type of theatre experience have you had?

That’s one question I believe that is missing in the hiring process.   If not theatre, continue with sports, chorus, band, cheerleading, even Girl and Boy Scouts.

Each of these include and require TEAM work.   And there are many parts of each:   Example: Acting – stage manager – props – grip – lighting – sound – and more.  No one play, or movie can be done without each of these parts.

I have a professional theater background and it has helped my career thrive immensely in the customer service arena.

Now, it doesn’t mean if you don’t have some sort of theater background you won’t be good in customer service. But it does mean you’ll probably understand the mentality of customer service faster and even better.

Some things you’ll learn in theater and the other jobs listed above, that can be applied to customer service are:

• Learning how to say something even when you forget your lines or script.
• Learning to work well with others, even if you don’t like them.
• Knowing the “applause” is for everyone, not just you.
• Keeping your lines sounding fresh no matter how many times you’ve said them- repeatedly. Remembering it’s usually the audience’s first time hearing them.
• Getting it right ‘the first time’.
• Knowing full well there is no “I” in the word TEAM.
• Realizing that PRACTICE can make perfect.

There’s more, but these will get the ball rolling.  Enjoy