If you have strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, then a career in the field of Customer Service would be ideal for you. Skim through this article to learn about the Customer Service degrees that you can obtain to kick-start a rewarding career.
What Is Customer Service?
Customers need help, support, and advice before and after buying a product. Customer service is the support that the company provides to its customers during the buying process, and after the purchase has been made. This support can be delivered via text message, social media, online chat, email, and phone.
Individuals working in this field are required to have a number of skills. Some of these include attentiveness, patience, listening skills, problem-solving skills, and computer skills.
What Can You Do with a Customer Service Degree?
After graduating with a Customer Service degree, individuals can work as Call Center Agents, Client Relations Associates, Client Service Coordinators, Customer Service Representatives, Receptionists/Front Desk Associates, Sales Representatives, Technical Support Representatives, and Social Media Customer Care Associates.
The career projections and income estimates for some of these positions are mentioned below. These figures have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2019.
Customer Service Representatives
These professionals interact with different customers to answer their queries, process their orders and transactions, and resolve complaints. They are employed in almost every other industry.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $34,710 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | -2% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $37,320 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | Texas | 291,550 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | District of Columbia | $46,390 |
Receptionists
These professionals are responsible for receiving and greeting visitors, answering phones, transferring phone calls, scheduling appointments, and maintaining records.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $30,050 (Receptionists and Information Clerks) | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 5% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $31,250 (Receptionists and Information Clerks) | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | New York | 95,590 (Receptionists and Information Clerks) |
| State with the Highest Salary Level, 2019 | District of Columbia | $40,050 (Receptionists and Information Clerks) |
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives
These professionals sell goods for manufacturers or wholesalers to government agencies, businesses, or other organizations. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has divided this main occupational category into two subcategories. We will be using figures for the subcategory of “Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products.”
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $59,930 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 2% (Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives) | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $71,110 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 147,310 |
| State with the Highest Salary Level, 2019 | New Jersey | $84,170 |
What to Expect from a Customer Service Degree?
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business with a focus on Customer Relationship Management introduces students to a range of modules such as Introduction to Retailing, Introduction to Customer Service, Professionalism in Customer Service, and Leadership in Customer Service.
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Customer Relationship Management requires completion of around 128 semester hours. The credit requirements generally vary from school to school. As part of the program, students are required to study several interesting topics such as Business Communications, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Service, Services Marketing, Services Management, and Consumers & Marketing.
A Master’s degree in Customer Service is rare; therefore students who want to learn more about the best practices for customer relationship management can earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Sales Leadership. This program can be completed in as few as 15 months and requires completion of around 33 credit hours.
How to Choose a Customer Service Degree?
Before deciding which Customer Service degree to opt for, it is advised that you consider a range of factors. These include the following: the program’s reputation, tuition cost, length of the program, the curriculum of the program, accreditation status, scholarship opportunities, and internship opportunities.
Customer Service Degree Admission Requirements
To get admitted to a Customer Service program, individuals will be required to send an admissions application to the college/university they want to apply to along with the supporting documents. These include recommendation letters, transcripts, and personal statement. You will also have to pay an application processing fee.
*Please note that every degree has its own specific set of admission requirements. So, it is advised that you conduct your own research to find out more about the admission process.