Customer Success Managers

High School

Customer success managers spend a lot of time interacting with clients via e-mail, through video chats, on the telephone, and during in-person meetings, so you should take as many English, writing, and speech classes as possible to hone your communication skills. Taking a foreign language will increase the number of customers you can assist, and increase your value at your company. Other recommended classes include computer science, business, and social studies.

Postsecondary Education

Many companies require job applicants for customer success management positions to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Typical majors include marketing, sales, computer science, and business, although CSMs have degrees in a wide range of fields. Some companies prefer applicants who have master’s degrees.

Some colleges and universities, such as Drexel University, offer minors in client development and customer service. Classes in Drexel’s minor include Customer Service Theory & Practice; Client Relations Management; Interpersonal Skills for Virtual Teams; Selling and Sales Management; and Brand and Reputation Management.

Additionally, online learning platforms offer classes in customer success management. For example, Udemy offers Customer Success Manager 101, which provides information on job duties for CSMs and how to break into the field.

Certification

A few colleges and universities offer certificates in customer success management, while many offer certificates in marketing, sales, and business management. For example, RMIT University in Australia offers a graduate certificate in customer success management to students who complete courses specific to the program. Contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs, some of which are available online.

Other Education or Training

Online learning platforms such as Udemy offer classes in customer success management and related fields. Professional associations such as the American Marketing Association, Association of Support Professionals, and the Sales Management Association offer in-person and Web-based continuing education opportunities that will also be useful.