The requirements you’ll have to meet to become a customer relations director likely will depend on the employer with which you seek a job. In many cases, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field to qualify for this position. Most employers also will expect you to have experience working in customer relations jobs and a range of critical qualities, including good communication skills, computer skills, leadership skills and a talent for getting along with others. Additionally, project management skills and the ability to pay attention to detail may prove important when you want to become a customer relations director.
To become a customer relations director, you will typically have to start with earning a high school diploma or an acceptable substitute credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) diploma. Such a credential is typically required for entry into an undergraduate degree program. Next, you will typically need to seek a bachelor’s degree to pursue this career. Some employers will accept a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in just about any major, but many give preference to those who earn degrees in a business-related field. Additionally, some employers may accept people without degrees, provided that they have significant experience or related training that can serve as a substitute.
The amount of experience you will need to become a customer relations director will likely vary depending on the company with which you apply. Many employers, however, will give hiring preference to those who have several years of experience. For example, if you have six years of customer relations experience and other job applicants only have one, you may have a better chance of landing the job. Additionally, you may have even more of a leg up on other job applicants if you also have experience supervising others.
Employers typically look for more than just education and experience in people they hire to become customer service directors. They usually prefer candidates who have skills important for this type of job. This may include communication skills and the ability to get along with others as well as experience using computers and software typically employed in an office setting. Leadership and time-management skills are usually important for this job, as is the ability to analyze problems and create solutions for solving them. Additionally, some employers will give preference to you as a job candidate if you can speak more than one language.
