What Are the Requirements for a Customer Relationship Management Career?

<p>Customer relationship management (CRM) deals with ways that a business can meet the needs of its customers and retain them. It is about keeping the customers that one has and bettering the relationship between the company and the customer rather than trying to find new customers. Customer relationship management focuses on marketing to each customer individually, often by keeping track of their purchases and other information to decide on offers that might appeal to them rather than mass marketing. It is a business strategy, and CRM practices are possible due to IT advances. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutCustomerRelationshipManagementCRMManagers"> Important Facts About Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Managers</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Median Salary (June 2019)*</td><td> $67,600</td></tr> <tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Email marketing, sales, project management, customer service, and operations management.</td></tr> <tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Customer service manager, office manager, operations manager, account executive, assistant branch manager, assistant general manager, and property manager</td></tr> <tr><td>Work Environment</td><td>Typically spend time looking at marketing strategies, training employees, and talking with customers in an office setting</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *PayScale.com</i> </p> <h3 id="section---EducationalRequirementsForACareerInCustomerRelationshipManagement">Educational Requirements for a Career in Customer Relationship Management</h3> <p>There are two sides to customer relationship management: the business side and the technical side. Educational requirements for each are different, so read on for more information on your educational options. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationalRequirementsForBusinessAspectsOfCRM">Educational Requirements for Business Aspects of CRM</h3> <p>To focus on the business aspects of CRM, choose an undergraduate degree in management (promotional management) or marketing. Taking a variety of business courses will give you a strong, fundamental background in business. Some schools offer undergraduate certificate programs in CRM that you may add to your degree. Alternatively, if you have already graduated, an MBA program with a concentration in marketing, which typically includes CRM coursework, or a graduate certificate in CRM may start you on your way. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationalRequirementsForTechnicalAspectsOfCRM">Educational Requirements for Technical Aspects of CRM</h3> <p>CRM relies heavily on IT, since most of the information about customers is stored in databases. A company may use customer relationship management software or create their own programs for keeping track of customers. Individuals who want to be involved in the technology side should consider earning a bachelor's degree in management information systems, which applies information technology to business needs.</p>