Temp to Perm: How One Woman Made It Happen

[The Muse](  CAREER STORYJune 07, 2017   [Hero]( [LEARN AS YOU GO]( When I met Javay Tucker, a customer service coordinator at [S'well]( the designer water-bottle company, I immediately developed a deep appreciation for this essential type of work. In spite of dealing with challenges throughout the workweek (think: listening to people complain), Tucker explains that the positive feedback her team receives "is always a breath of fresh air, and reminds me why I'm doing it." Even though she wasn't planning on a career in customer service, she's enjoying it for now and is especially content working at the fast-paced startup, which she describes as closeknit. "I was able to get close to all of my co-workers and the CEO, and see how passionate everyone was about making the company successful." Read on to see how Tucker landed her role at S'well and where she sees herself in the future. Can You Take Me Through Your Career Beginnings to Where You Are Now? Technically, I view S'well as the beginning of my career. I'll start with college though. My freshman year I attended The University of Southern Mississippi to study fashion merchandising. After a year, I knew I needed to transfer to a school that was a bit more well-versed in fashion studies. That's when I decided to transfer to Savannah College of Art and Design, starting back over as a freshman. Whoo! During my time there, I worked in retail and stumbled upon work with a wholesale company, where I traveled as an exhibitor when I wasn't studying or in class. After graduating in 2015 I worked for six months as a fashion apparel and marketing intern, before moving to NYC. What Made You Move to NYC? I went to New York on a trip with the apparel company where I was working. I'd never been and never thought I'd move there. If anything, I figured I'd go to the west coast and soak up the sun. To my surprise, New York was everything to me. I felt like it was a city you could get lost in, and the opportunities were endless. So, in April of 2016, I moved here on a whim. What Happened Next? Did You Find a Job Right Away? I did a lot of temp work, and that's how I started out at S'well—in a temp role on the customer service team. I helped wherever I was needed—responding to customer feedback, answering their emails and phone calls, creating invoices, and assisting with getting orders from the warehouse customized and then into the customers hands. Even though I wasn't convinced that I wanted to work in this area forever, I loved the company and knew I had to take the job. What's Your Favorite Part of Being a Customer Service Coordinator? I truly love helping people and seeing customers happy. I've worked a few retail jobs in my past, and, like now, it's most rewarding when I know I've done everything in my power to provide a great experience. You can't have a successful business without customers, and I value having such an integral role in their satisfaction. I also really like that I get to do some social media stuff: About three times a day I check our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter page, and answer customers' questions or comments. It's fun for me because people say the craziest things—they get really creative, which allows me to be creative with my responses, whether I'm answering to a complaint or compliment. Oh, and we also get fan mail from students! It's always fun reading the letters they write and crafting a response. If the letters are impressive, I'll send them a S'well on us. Do You Have an Answer to "Where Do You See Yourself in Five or 10 Years?" I am still figuring out exactly what I want to do. In 10 years I hope to be doing something I love...whatever that is! I will say that I definitely believe what I'm doing and learning now will help me in the future, even if I veer away from customer service or social media work. Ultimately, I see myself somewhere in marketing or branding. That field requires knowing who your customers are and what they want, so I'm grateful to be getting a first-hand understanding of that. What Career Advice (If Any—I Know You're Still Pretty Early on in Your Journey) Do You Have for Others? Everything is a learning experience, even if it's not exactly what you want to do. Patience is key. I know that's easier said than done though! Want to turn your temp job into a permanent one? Muse Career Coach Rajiv Nathan [shares his best advice]( on making it happen. Whether you're eager to move up where you are or just figure out what you [want to do with your life]( don't forget that you're learning and growing along the way. [Share on Facebook]( [Share on Linkedin]( Customer Service Coordinator at a Glance SKILLS Effective written and verbal communication, ability to build and maintain relationships with customers, effectively work towards several goals, and manage time efficiently. DAY-TO-DAY My job is to provide a high level of customer service for an organization. This includes interacting with consumers to answer and obtain feedback regarding inquiries about products and services. 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