How do you answer this question with no specific example?

Question

I have heard interviewers hate it when you don't give specific examples, so how would you answer this question??

Describe a time where you went above and beyond your call of duty to provide excellent customer service.

Please give me a sample answer. THANK YOU!

Yes Scott, I do realize that they are asking for a specific example - my question was what should I pull out of my *** to make it SOUND as though I have a specific example. I know I excel at everything I do but really don't want to generalize my answer - so I wanted a specific example - or sample answer. Anthony S has the right idea. =)
Many Thanks.

Answer 1

I got stuck on that one too, thanks for asking.

Answer 2

I have a second person example that happened to me last week.

I called a hotel in another state where I will be attending a conference in a few weeks. I asked the desk clerk if he knew of a medical equipment supplier that was near by as I have a broken ankle and need a knee scooter while I am there. He didn't of the top of his head, but took my phone number and said he would look into it. An hour later, he called me back, not only had he found a medical supplier near by, but spoke with them, reserved the device I need and arranged for it to be delivered the day I am arriving.

That was going beyond the call of duty! I'll be taking care of him when I get there!

Answer 3

Are you asking for someone else's customer-service experience so that you can pass it off as your own, or are you just trying to understand what the question means? I can give you an example to help you understand, maybe, but I STRONGLY recommend that you don't use it in your interviews: you'll almost certainly come off as bogus, and that will screw any chance you might have had of getting the job.

So, for purposes of illustration only: in one position I held I had to sign off on documents with deadlines; more than once I stayed late to wait for a last-minute form, sometimes helped make copies so that they'd make the deadline, and even drove the package to the overnight delivery pickup place.

Answer 4

I used to work the phones at Sears. I was a trouble shooter. There was a file on an old lady that they didn't know what to do for her.

3yrs before she purchased a Frankin stove to heat her livingroom. It was instald by Sears and the first time she used it it caugh fire. It burned a hole in the carpet and there was smoke and water damage to most of the room. The lawers where just waiting for it to go to court.

One day I had nothing better to do so I asked if I might try to settle it with her. I called...we talked about what happened..I asked her(something no one would dare to ask) what could I do to make this right?....All she wanted was a new stove and a nice throw rung to cover the burn. Well we did that and we were very happy to do that.

That is in Sears opinion above and bevond. In mine comon sence.

Answer 5

Why don't you just honestly describe a situation when you provided excellent customer service? Seems to be the best answer to the question.

Answer 6

I worked on my own time to research a problem that stymied the co-workers and suggested a possible solution that I was able to implement. You would still have to give your own details in this hypothetical example or a similar scenario of actual services that you provided..

Answer 7

After giving the necessary information, I followed up a few hours later with an email to make sure it took.

Answer 8

That one time when I provided excellent customer service.

Answer 9

By using the phrase "Descibe a time" you are literally asking for a specific example.

Answer 10

"When a multi-billion dollar company was complaining about communication regarding late deliveries, I took it upon myself to begin tracking deliveries for them and providing advanced notice of ones that would be late."

Answer 11

I helped some people out when i didn't necessarily need to, and did more than what my job required.