Hiring An Account Manager 4 Essential Traits to Look For.

Account managers bear the responsibility of building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with very important customers. They work hard every day to fulfill all of the client’s needs as soon as possible. To do this job well, account managers need to possess a wide variety of skills.

There is no one specific type of personality that would make a perfect account manager. Some of them are analytical and laser-focused, while others are extroverted and social. No matter what working style they prefer, some skills are non-negotiable when it comes to working effectively with an important client.

When you’re in the market for an account manager, you should look for these four traits:

1. Responsible for Preparation

Managing a client account requires a ton of preparation day in and day out. Account managers need to keep up with every detail of the account and should be more than prepared to answer any questions or concerns that may come up in a meeting or a simple call.

Preparation is an important quality that will help maintain a consistent, efficient workflow. These days, it’s much easier to keep up with even the most detail-heavy customer accounts with software and management tools. Still, the best account managers can answer most questions without having to look through too many documents or notes.

2. Expert Communicators

Account managers juggle many tasks and need to keep track of a wide variety of information. Sometimes, they can get lost with all the data they need to keep track of. The good ones maintain seamless communication channels to ensure transparency at all times.

Now that remote work is a more widespread setup for many companies, open communication is more critical than ever. Staying in frequent contact with the customer is crucial in maintaining a good relationship. Whether they want multiple email check-ins a day or would prefer a weekly video call, an effective virtual account manager can easily adjust to the client’s preferred communication style. There are much fewer surprises and much more confidence in your company when your account managers over-communicate.

3. Hunger for Knowledge

It may be too much to expect an account manager to become an expert in their client’s field overnight, but they work very hard to be as knowledgeable as possible. They should hold a wide range of meaningful client-related information, from the minutiae to the big picture.

A good account manager understands their client’s business goals and what they need to reach them. They know how all campaigns are performing and all the key metrics that come with it. Knowledge is power, and knowing all the details can also improve internal and external communication.

4. Flexibility in Different Niches

Every client has unique capabilities and goals, and a good account manager is very flexible when it comes to building campaigns and strategies. In this digital world, many industries are ever-changing and have varying requirements in an effort to keep up with their competition. An account manager should be the source of high-quality expertise that will apply specifically to the client’s needs.

Conclusion

Managing customer relationships can be very complex, and it requires balancing many different duties at once. When hiring an account manager for your company or agency, you need to screen for these four important qualities to keep your clients satisfied with your service. The best account managers can stand out in any environment.

If you’re looking for a virtual sales account manager that can capably take over client-facing tasks, RepStack is here for you. Our virtual sales account managers are highly educated, long-term oriented, and handpicked by our experienced hiring managers. Book a discovery call with our account management experts today!