An area service manager oversees a team of individuals who are responsible for handling customer service issues and meeting the needs of the firm's clients. Someone wishing to become an area service manager must have completed high school, and some firms prefer to employ managers who have completed college degree programs. Additionally, as with many supervisory roles, someone planning to become an area service manager may have to gain some experience working in the service department in a junior level position.
People who plan to work in management often complete undergraduate degree programs in business administration, personnel management or related topics. In some instances, an area manager may have to oversee a team of employees who work in more than one region or nation. Therefore, someone wishing to work as an area service manager may need to possess second language skills; some employers require applicants for such roles to have completed foreign language degree courses.
Automotive firms, retailers, banks and various other types of companies employ service managers and the people occupying these roles are tasked with ensuring that clients receive the services that they have paid for. Many firms only hire managers who have in-house experience working in a servicing role. A candidate looking to become an area service manager for an automotive firm may have to spend some time working as a mechanic, while a bank employee applying for such a role may need to spend some time working as a teller or personal banker. Time spent working in junior roles gives applicants for supervisory positions an insight into the day-to-day challenges that are faced by employees. To perform well in customer-facing roles, individuals must develop good problem solving and interpersonal skills and these attributes enable many of these people to become strong leaders.
While service managers do not typically have to contend with sales or revenue goals, these individuals are responsible for managing departmental budgets and in many instances, a single manager may have multiple direct reports each of whom manages the budget and service operations of a specific work location. Therefore, someone wishing to become an area service manager may work as a departmental supervisor to gain experience setting and managing staff budgets. Additionally, area managers must decide how to allocate human capital between work locations and many people prepare to take on this responsibility by balancing staffing needs and budgetary constraints as a departmental supervisor.
In many instances, customer service issues are addressed by entry-level associates but major problems may be referred to the area manager. Consequently, people employed in these roles must have the right temperament to handle such matters in a professional manner. An existing employee who hopes to become an area service manager must act professionally, dress appropriately and follow company procedures for dealing with service problems.
