How Do I Become a Chief Customer Officer?

To become a chief customer officer, you should have at least five years of experience in customer service as well as a bachelor's degree. A higher level management degree, such as a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), will often be required. Executives in a customer service role have usually learned to develop key business traits, such as professionalism, promptness, and clear communication skills.

If you want to become a chief customer officer, you will often need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. There is no specific subject that you should major in because customer service is a field that is better learned on the job. No matter what major or concentration you choose, it should be one that requires you to think analytically and develop strong writing skills. Some popular majors for this position are in the social sciences, such as business, sociology, and psychology.

Landing relevant internships are an integral part of gaining experience in the field of customer care. Undergraduates can usually start off with a junior level call center position or a technical support position. In these kind of jobs you will get the chance to learn how to manage customer expectations, communicate the business's service or product capabilities, and be polite. As you gain more experience speaking with customers and assisting them with their problems, you will be well equipped to handle most situations that may come your way when you become a chief customer officer.

Some people who are interested in this position will enroll in a graduate business degree program after getting their bachelor's degree. The chief customer officer position is a managerial and executive role, so going to business school and obtaining an MBA degree can go a long way in teaching you about how to effectively manage a group of people. In business school you will take many classes concerning leadership and team management in a business environment. Learning these soft skills is just as important as learning any financial or accounting skills.

The professional who would like to become a chief customer officer should be comfortable communicating ideas with any level of employee as well as a wide variety of clients. Having advanced speaking and writing skills is key to succeeding in this position. Behaving as a business leader includes being on time and making firm decisions, which are also favorable traits to have.