It often takes persistence and a friendly temperament to remain in a customer service representative position for long. For many, turning customer service experience into a management role presents an enticing opportunity. Customer service managers work in call centers, chain stores, online ordering centers, and on help desks at banks, online companies, and government agencies. You'll be asked to recruit, train, and oversee customer service representatives in developing their efficiency.
How to Prepare For a Career in Customer Service Management
Having customer service representative experience can be a critical component in building a management career. Nothing substitutes for direct customer-company interactions in sales, shipping, returns, technical support, and in the operations of customer care software that tracks your transactions.
Customer Service Management Education Requirements and Degrees
You can enroll in online customer service management degree programs while you continue to work. Many organizations help some of their employees pursue online masters in management or MBA degrees. Or you may be required to attend ongoing customer service management classes after completing your bachelor's or master's degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that employers prefer managers with advanced training in sales management, human resources, information technology, and leadership.
Salary Ranges for Customer Service Managers and Job Outlook
The BLS reports that the median annual wage in 2008 for service managers was $73,520, with top-tier earners drawing $129,770. According to BLS projections, jobs for customer service managers will grow by 12 percent between 2008 and 2018. New managers will need to direct the work of 400,000 customer service representatives expected to take jobs during the decade.