How to Answer: How would you help a customer who you found difficult to understand due to a language barrier?
21. How would you help a customer who you found difficult to understand due to a language barrier?
How to Answer
Language barriers can be a challenge, primarily if you work in the customer service industry where delivery of expectations is everything.
Here are a few ways that you can overcome a language barrier:
- Use simple-to-understand language
- Use visuals when communicating
- Repeat the essential parts of the conversation
- Remain patient and respectful
Show the interviewer that you can remain professional, even when a situation may not be as simple or easy to get through, as you would like.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"If I had a customer who was challenging to understand I would make sure to repeat the most important parts of the conversation; whether that be one sentence or a single word. It's important to me that my customers clearly understand what I am offering, and that I clearly understand how I can meet their needs."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Admin Example
"I have taken many phone calls in my administration career and have spoken to many people whose native language is not my own. I like to slow the conversation down and then I will follow up with an email to ensure clarity and that we are on the same page. Sometimes reading an email is easier than a verbal conversation when a language barrier is present."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Manager Example
"When I have customers who do not speak the same language as I do or are culturally very different from me, I ask them questions and then carefully dig deep until I know that we are on the same page."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Marketing Example
"If I have a customer who is challenging to understand I will send them our intake questionnaire for them to fill out at their own pace. By allowing someone room to think, I am giving them the space they need to be better communicators. This added time and less pressure can create a much clearer working relationship."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Retail Example
"I feel that visuals often help when the language barrier is strong. If a customer is looking for a specific garment, for instance, I will ask to see pictures, or I will bring pictures up on the store's directory or website. It's amazing what a simple nod of the head, yes or no, can do."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Sales Example
"Repeat, repeat, repeat! This rule is one that I live by when it comes to communicating with customers of all types. I will take the parts of our conversation and repeat them until I am 100% confident that we are communicating as well as possible."
Written by Rachelle Enns
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