Customer Specialist - Full Time

CarMax Inc.; Joliet (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick time

Paid vacation time

Paid holidays

Job summary

CarMax in Joliet, IL is hiring a Customer Specialist to deliver an iconic, customer-first experience. You will guide customers through sales, appraisals, test drives, financing, and paperwork, ensuring a transparent, smooth process across teams.

Responsibilities include vehicle assessments, inventory checks, and coordinating service appointments, with a focus on honesty and customer care. The role offers variety, autonomy, and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required, along with a valid driver’s license.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities are essential.
• Demonstrated integrity, respect, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance customer needs with business goals and follow processes.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs and read/transcribe data accurately.

Responsibilities

• Guide customers through sales, appraisals, test drives, and financing.
• Document vehicle condition for appraisals and share findings with Buyers.
• Manage vehicle check-in, scanning, and inventory reconciliation.
• Perform cosmetic inspections to meet CarMax Quality Standards.
• Handle paperwork, printing reports, and payments administration.
• Coordinate service appointments and review repair invoices for accuracy.
• Maintain EH&S compliance and keep a clean, orderly work area.

Skills

Communication

Relationship building

Integrity & teamwork

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Data transcription

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Driver's license

Tools

Microsoft Office

Basic computer skills

Job description

6164 - Joliet - 1700 IL Route 59, Joliet, Illinois, 60586

CarMax, the way your career should be!

Position Overview

As a Customer Specialist, you will play a key role in delivering an iconic, customer-first experience that sets CarMax apart. You’ll act as a trusted guide, supporting customers through every step of their car-buying and selling journey. From facilitating appraisals and test drives to managing paperwork and repair orders, you’ll ensure a seamless, transparent process that reflects CarMax’s commitment to honesty and innovation. This dynamic role offers variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to collaborate across teams while making a meaningful impact on every customer interaction.

Why CarMax?

At CarMax, we are the nation’s largest retailer of used cars with stores from coast to coast, and we are still growing. We’re rethinking the way people buy cars – and our associates help us do just that. We believe work should feel meaningful and rewarding, with opportunities to make an impact every day. Whether you’re advancing your career or growing your skillset, we are here to drive you forward.

Role Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional customer service by guiding customers through sales, appraisals, test drives, and financing applications.
• Conduct accurate vehicle condition assessments, documenting details for appraisals and communicating findings to Buyers.
• Manage inventory processes, including vehicle check-in, daily scanning, and reconciliation.
• Perform cosmetic inspections to ensure vehicles meet CarMax Quality Standards.
• Handle administrative tasks such as printing reports, maintaining transaction paperwork, auditing documents, and managing payments.
• Coordinate service appointments, review repair order invoices for accuracy in billing, and collaborate effectively across teams to maintain a smooth, customer-focused experience.
• Follow CarMax Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) requirements and maintain a clean and orderly work area.

Required Qualifications

• Strong communication skills with confidence in representing CarMax and its products.
• Ability to build lasting relationships and create win‑win solutions for customers.
• Demonstrated integrity, respect, and teamwork in a fast‑paced environment.
• Skilled in balancing customer needs with business goals and following processes accurately.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, maintain attention to detail, and meet deadlines.
• High School Diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and accurately read and transcribe data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Sales or customer service experience in retail or similar environments.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

About CarMax

At CarMax, we revolutionized the used car buying experience over 30 years ago by introducing transparency and integrity into the process. Our commitment to customer experience, innovation, and community has made us the nation’s largest used car retailer. With over 250 store locations and over 30,000 associates, we are proud to have been recognized as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and are committed to helping our communities thrive.

As an associate, you are part of an innovative movement to empower the modern customer and drive progress. Your work fuels change—sparking ideas, overcoming challenges, and shaping what’s next. Join us in creating a better future– for our company, our customers, and the communities we call home.

CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

In addition to your hourly rate, this role also includes a monthly team‑based bonus targeted at 25% of base salary, based on store performance vs goal. Customer Specialists earn an average bonus of over $900 per month.

The hourly rate for this position is:

$19.00 - $28.50

Benefits:

Except as otherwise required by state law, CarMax Associates are entitled to the following paid sick, vacation, and holiday time.

Associates that are considered full‑time hourly or commission/incentive eligible:

• To earn up to 48 hours of sick time per year accrued on a per pay period basis and between 80 hours and 200 hours per year of vacation time after a 90 day waiting period depending on years of continuous service with the Company.
• For 8 hours of pay for each of a total of 6 paid scheduled holidays per year plus 1 floating holiday. If such an Associate does work on a scheduled holiday due to business need, they are eligible for Holiday Premium Pay.

Associates considered full‑time salaried are entitled to paid time away with no specified limit as needed for sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, floating holiday, etc. subject to manager approval.

For more details about benefits, please visit our CarMax Benefits website.

Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application