Client Executives: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of client executives about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for client executives to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of client executives expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for client executives.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Client Executives?
Do client executives need a degree? What kind of experience do client executives typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for client executives to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Client Executives
Jobs Postings for Client Executives By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 66,591 (50%)
- No Education Listed: 36,776 (28%)
- Master's degree: 19,651 (15%)
- High School or GED: 5,602 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,832 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of client executives. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 50% of positions. In 28% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Client Executives
Jobs Postings for Client Executives By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,547 (5%)
- 2-3 Years: 12,574 (16%)
- 4-6 Years: 30,106 (38%)
- 7-9 Years: 15,004 (19%)
- 10+ Years: 17,170 (22%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for client executives. In 38% of job postings for Client Executives, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 22% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 10+ years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for client executives.
What Kind of Degree Do Client Executives Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for client executives, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective client executives, and in 2021 a total of 189,529 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective client executives.
Top Degree Programs for Client Executives
Top 5 Degree Programs for Client Executives (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 59,346 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 51,511 |
| Information Technology. | 31,478 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 14,182 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 11,636 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 59,346 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 51,511 |
| Information Technology. | 31,478 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 14,182 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 11,636 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 4,000 |
| Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. | 3,745 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,305 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,004 |
| Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician. | 1,955 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 1,880 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 1,755 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,437 |
| Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. | 887 |
| Data Science, General. | 526 |
| Management Information Systems and Services, Other. | 476 |
| Cloud Computing. | 386 |
| Data Science, Other. | 15 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 5 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Client Executives
Design, implement and manage cloud solutions with Franklin’s online, transfer-friendly B.S. Cloud Computing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Client Executives Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by client executives to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for client executives, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Client Executives
Based on 109,516 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Client Executives
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 41,474 | 38% |
| Computer Science | 31,249 | 29% |
| Data Warehousing | 26,719 | 24% |
| Data Modeling | 25,637 | 23% |
| Data Management | 25,512 | 23% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Client Executives
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 43,256 | 39% |
| Management | 39,227 | 36% |
| Leadership | 28,426 | 26% |
| Operations | 25,000 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 23,651 | 22% |
Based on 109,516 job postings related to client executives, sql (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 38% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for computer science, data warehousing, data modeling, data management and data analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for client executives, followed by management, leadership, operations, problem solving and troubleshooting (problem solving).
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 41,474 | 38% |
| Computer Science | 31,249 | 29% |
| Data Warehousing | 26,719 | 24% |
| Data Modeling | 25,637 | 23% |
| Data Management | 25,512 | 23% |
| Data Analysis | 23,650 | 22% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 23,505 | 21% |
| Data Architecture | 23,180 | 21% |
| Amazon Web Services | 19,753 | 18% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 19,510 | 18% |
| Agile Methodology | 19,382 | 18% |
| Data Governance | 18,433 | 17% |
| Project Management | 18,303 | 17% |
| Microsoft Azure | 17,005 | 16% |
| Automation | 16,895 | 15% |
| Data Quality | 16,360 | 15% |
| Database Administration | 16,267 | 15% |
| Business Intelligence | 14,992 | 14% |
| Business Requirements | 14,316 | 13% |
| Relational Databases | 12,286 | 11% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 43,256 | 39% |
| Management | 39,227 | 36% |
| Leadership | 28,426 | 26% |
| Operations | 25,000 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 23,651 | 22% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 18,997 | 17% |
| Planning | 18,389 | 17% |
| Writing | 15,760 | 14% |
| Research | 14,323 | 13% |
| Governance | 14,311 | 13% |
| Information Technology | 13,564 | 12% |
| Detail Oriented | 12,609 | 12% |
| Presentations | 12,180 | 11% |
| Innovation | 12,084 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 11,278 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 10,445 | 10% |
| Influencing Skills | 10,153 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,095 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 9,606 | 9% |
| Microsoft Excel | 9,578 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about client executives? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for client executives.
What do client executives do?
How much do client executives make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.