customer success managers

Customer success (CS) managers are the cornerstones of any thriving subscription-based business. They nurture relationships with clients, ensure product adoption, and ultimately drive customer retention and growth. But with the rising demand for skilled CSMs, how do you identify the ideal candidate for your team? This comprehensive guide delves into the key steps involved in hiring a customer success manager, from defining the role to assessing skills and selecting the perfect fit for your company culture.

Understanding the Customer Success Manager Role

The first step is to clearly define the responsibilities and expectations for your CSM position. 

Here’s a breakdown of some core CS manager functions:

  • Onboarding & Education: Helping new customers get acquainted with your product and navigate its features effectively.
  • Relationship Management: Building strong, long-term relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor and advocate.
  • Product Adoption & Usage: Encouraging customers to utilise the full potential of your product and identify areas for value maximisation.
  • Retention & Growth: Proactively identifying customer churn risks, mitigating them through proactive communication and support, and fostering upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
  • Data Analysis & Reporting: Leveraging analytics to understand customer behaviour, product usage patterns, and identify areas for improvement in the overall customer experience.

Beyond these core responsibilities, consider the specific needs of your business.  Do you require a CSM with a technical background to handle complex products?  Perhaps an individual with strong communication and relationship-building skills is a better fit for your customer base.

Identifying the Ideal Candidate Profile

Once you’ve defined the role’s parameters, it’s time to identify the ideal candidate profile. Here are some key qualities to look for:

  • Customer Focus: A genuine passion for customer success, with a strong desire to build long-term relationships and ensure client satisfaction.
  • Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling them to clearly explain complex product functionalities and articulate solutions to customer challenges.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify customer issues, analyse root causes, and proactively develop solutions.
  • Data Analysis & Reporting: Experience in utilising data to understand customer behaviour, identify trends, and measure the success of customer success initiatives.
  • Technical Proficiency: A level of technical expertise that aligns with your product’s complexity. They should be able to grasp customer inquiries and guide them effectively.
  • Organization & Time Management: Exceptional organisational skills to manage multiple customer accounts, juggle priorities, and meet deadlines efficiently.
  • Teamwork & Collaboration: The ability to collaborate effectively with internal departments like product development, sales, and marketing to ensure a seamless customer experience.
  • Adaptability & Growth Mindset: The agility to adapt to industry changes, embrace new technologies, and continuously learn to enhance their skill set.

Don’t underestimate the value of soft skills. Look for candidates who demonstrate empathy, patience, and a positive attitude.  They should be team players who can build rapport with colleagues and create a collaborative working environment.

Crafting a Compelling Job Description

A well-written job description is crucial to attracting qualified candidates. Here’s what to include:

  • Company Overview: Briefly introduce your company, its mission, and its values.
  • Role Description: Clearly outline the responsibilities and expectations of the CSM position.
  • Required Skills & Qualifications: List the essential skills and experience needed for the role.
  • Benefits & Perks: Showcase the attractive incentives your company offers to potential hires.
  • Company Culture: Describe your company culture to attract candidates who resonate with your values and work style.

Use clear and concise language, emphasising the impact the CSM role can have on your company’s success and the candidate’s career growth.

Selecting the Perfect Fit: A Multi-Stage Process of Hiring CSMs

Now that you’ve attracted qualified candidates and identified the ideal profile, it’s time to select the perfect fit for your team. Here’s a breakdown of the key stages involved:

  1. Resume Screening: Review resumes against the defined criteria, shortlisting candidates with the necessary skills and experience.
  2. Skill-Based Assessments: Utilise online assessments or technical tests to evaluate candidates’ proficiency in specific areas relevant to the CSM role.
  3. Phone Screening: Conduct a brief phone interview to assess communication skills, basic product knowledge, and overall fit for the company culture.
  4. In-Depth Interview: Schedule in-person or video interviews with shortlisted candidates. This is where you delve deeper. Ask scenario-based interview questions to assess their problem-solving skills and approach to customer challenges.
  5. Reference Checks: Contact previous employers or references to verify the candidate’s skills, work ethic, and performance in past roles.

Pro Tip: Consider incorporating a take-home assignment that simulates a real-world CSM scenario. This allows candidates to showcase their problem-solving skills and demonstrate their understanding of your product.

top tier CSMs

The Different Types of Customer Success Managers: Tailored Roles for Success

Customer Success Managers (CSMs) play a critical role in the subscription-based business world, but not all CSMs are created equal.  Different companies have varying needs, and within the realm of customer success, various specialisations have emerged.  Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common types of CSMs and their distinct job functions:

1.  The Onboarding Specialist:

  • Focus: Guiding new customers through the initial product setup, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Conducting product walkthroughs and training sessions.
    • Assisting with data migration and account configuration.
    • Troubleshooting initial product usage issues.
    • Setting expectations and establishing clear communication channels.
  • Skills: Excellent communication, patience, deep product knowledge, and the ability to explain complex features in a user-friendly manner.

2.  The Relationship Manager:

  • Focus: Building strong, long-term relationships with established customers, acting as a trusted advisor and advocate.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Regularly communicating with customers, understanding their needs and challenges.
    • Proactively identifying potential issues and recommending solutions.
    • Monitoring customer health metrics and identifying churn risks.
    • Fostering a sense of community and loyalty among customers.
  • Skills: Exceptional interpersonal skills, active listening, problem-solving abilities, and a customer-centric mindset.

3.  The Growth Hacker CSM:

  • Focus: Maximising customer lifetime value by identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Analysing customer usage data to identify areas for expansion.
    • Recommending additional product features or services that align with customer needs.
    • Negotiating contract renewals and upgrades.
    • Tracking revenue generated from existing customer accounts.
  • Skills: Strong analytical skills, data interpretation, negotiation abilities, and a keen understanding of revenue generation strategies.

4.  The Technical CSM:

  • Focus: Supporting customers with complex technical issues and product functionalities.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Providing in-depth technical support and troubleshooting assistance.
    • Collaborating with the product development team to ensure customer needs are met.
    • Staying updated on the latest product updates and technical advancements.
    • Creating technical documentation and knowledge base articles.
  • Skills: Advanced technical expertise relevant to the product, problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate technical concepts into understandable language for clients.

5.  The Enterprise CSM:

  • Focus: Managing high-value enterprise accounts, requiring a strategic and consultative approach.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Developing and implementing customised success plans for large, complex accounts.
    • Collaborating with various stakeholders within the enterprise client organisation.
    • Identifying potential roadblocks and proactively mitigating risks.
    • Providing strategic guidance and executive-level communication.
  • Skills: Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, the ability to manage complex relationships, and excellent presentation skills.

Remember, these are just some of the most common CSM specialisations.  The specific roles and responsibilities may vary depending on the company, industry, and product complexity.  

By understanding these different types of CSMs, you can identify the specific skills and experience that best aligns with your unique business needs, ensuring you hire the perfect candidate to champion your customer success initiatives.

What is the Average CSM Salary in the US?

The average salary for a Customer Success Manager (CSM) in the US can vary depending on several factors, including:

  • Experience: Entry-level CSMs will naturally command a lower salary than those with several years of experience.
  • Location: Salaries tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas with a high cost of living.
  • Industry: The specific industry can also influence salary. Tech companies, for example, may offer higher salaries for CSMs compared to other sectors.
  • Company Size: Larger, well-established companies might offer more competitive salaries compared to smaller startups.
  • Specialisation: As discussed previously, different CSM specialisations (e.g., Technical CSM, Enterprise CSM) may have different salary ranges.

Here’s a glimpse into some resources that provide insights into CSM salaries in the US:

It’s important to note that these are just averages, and the actual salary you can expect will depend on the factors mentioned above.  

For a more precise estimate, you can utilise job search platforms that allow you to filter based on location, experience level, and company size.

What is the Average Customer Success Manager Salary in the UK?

Here’s a breakdown of some resources for understanding CSM salaries in the UK:

Remember, these are just averages, and the actual salary you can expect will depend on the specific factors mentioned above.

Here are some additional tips for researching CSM salaries in the UK:

  • Job Boards: Utilise job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to search for CSM positions in your desired location and filter by experience level. Many job postings will advertise the salary range.
  • Salary Surveys: Look for salary surveys conducted by recruitment agencies or industry publications that specifically target the customer success domain in the UK. These surveys can provide more in-depth insights into current salary trends.
  • Professional Networking: Connect with CSM professionals on LinkedIn or attend industry events. They can offer valuable insights into current salary expectations based on their experience and specialisation.

By using a combination of these resources and considering your specific circumstances, you can get a more accurate picture of the average CSM salary in the UK and how it might apply to your situation.

What To Ask a CSM During an Interview?

Finding the ideal Customer Success Manager (CSM) is crucial for any subscription-based business.  Beyond a well-crafted resume, a well-designed interview process allows you to assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and cultural fit. Here are some essential interview questions categorised to help you identify the perfect CSM for your team:

Understanding the Candidate’s CSM Philosophy Interview Questions (General CSM Skills):

  • Tell us about a time you went above and beyond to ensure a customer’s success. What was the situation, and what steps did you take? (This assesses their problem-solving skills, initiative, and customer focus.)
  • How do you stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices in customer success? (This evaluates their commitment to continuous learning and staying relevant.)
  • How would you approach handling a customer who is frustrated with your product? (This assesses their communication skills, conflict resolution abilities, and empathy.)
  • Describe your experience with customer success metrics. How do you measure success in your role? (This evaluates their analytical skills, understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs), and data-driven decision making.)

Assessing Product Knowledge and Technical Expertise of CSM (Tailored to your product):

  • Walk us through your understanding of our product’s core features and functionalities. (This assesses their product knowledge and ability to learn new technologies.)
  • How would you explain a complex product feature to a customer with limited technical background? (This evaluates their communication skills and ability to simplify technical concepts.)
  • Can you describe a situation where you had to troubleshoot a technical issue for a customer? How did you resolve it? (This assesses their problem-solving skills and technical competency relevant to your product.)

Uncovering Strategic Thinking and Growth Mindset (For Growth-Focused CSM Roles):

  • How would you identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities for our existing customers? (This assesses their understanding of your product suite and their strategic thinking for customer growth.)
  • Can you share an example of a time you proactively identified potential churn risk for a customer? What steps did you take to mitigate it? (This assesses their ability to analyse customer behaviour and proactively prevent churn.)
  • How do you stay informed about market trends that might impact our customer base? (This evaluates their awareness of industry dynamics and their ability to adapt strategies accordingly.)

Gauging Teamwork and Collaboration (For All CSM Roles):

  • Describe a situation where you collaborated with another team (e.g., product development, sales) to achieve a customer success outcome. (This assesses their teamwork skills and ability to collaborate across departments.)
  • How do you communicate effectively with stakeholders who have different priorities? (This evaluates their communication skills and ability to navigate diverse interests.)
  • How would you approach requesting assistance from other departments to resolve a complex customer issue? (This assesses their problem-solving skills and ability to build cross-functional relationships.)

Remember, these are just a starting point. Tailor these questions to your specific CSM role and company culture.  Additionally, consider incorporating scenario-based interview questions to assess a candidate’s problem-solving approach and decision-making abilities in real-world CSM situations.  

By asking the right questions and carefully evaluating responses, you’ll be well on your way to hiring a CSM who becomes a champion for your customers and drives long-term success for your business.

Hiring the right CSM requires a well-defined strategy, a focus on both skills and cultural fit, and a commitment to finding the perfect match for your customer success team. By implementing the tips and questions outlined in this article, you’ll be well-equipped to identify a top-tier CSM. A CSM  who excels at building relationships, fostering product adoption, and driving customer loyalty – all essential ingredients for a thriving subscription-based business. With the right CSM on board, you can watch your customer success soar to new heights.

how to hire a customer success manager

Unlocking the Ideal Employee with Serand

Comprehensive Candidate Profiling

 “Serand doesn’t simply check skills off a list. Our assessments generate in-depth personality profiles, measuring crucial traits like integrity, attention to detail, and adaptability. This provides insights no traditional interview can match.”

Situational Judgement for Real-World Success

“Technical knowledge is only part of the equation. Serand’s job-specific situational judgement questions put candidates into realistic accounting scenarios. Their responses reveal how they think, prioritise, and handle challenges – critical for long-term success.”

Cutting Through Social Desirability Bias

“Serand’s assessments incorporate subtle measures of social desirability, helping pinpoint candidates who are genuinely trustworthy and ethical. This adds a layer of security to your hiring process, vital when handling sensitive financial data.”

Identifying Hidden Potential

Serand’s personality profiling might uncover high-potential candidates whose resumes don’t reflect their full capabilities.

Beyond the Resume

Assessments reveal how candidates think under pressure, their communication style, and their ethical compass. These intangibles are impossible to gauge from a resume alone.

Ready to find employees with not just the right skills, but the right mindset? Discover how Serand’s assessments unlock a deeper understanding of candidates. Ask us a question.