Relationship Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of relationship managers 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 relationship managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of relationship managers 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 relationship managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Relationship Managers?
Do relationship managers need a degree? What kind of experience do relationship managers 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 relationship managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Relationship Managers
Jobs Postings for Relationship Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 20,971 (36%)
- No Education Listed: 20,831 (36%)
- High School or GED: 14,274 (24%)
- Master's degree: 2,229 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 312 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of relationship managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 36% of positions. In 36% of job listings no education level was listed and in 24% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Relationship Managers
Jobs Postings for Relationship Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,214 (23%)
- 2-3 Years: 14,469 (47%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,373 (21%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,445 (5%)
- 10+ Years: 1,249 (4%)
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 relationship managers. In 47% of job postings for Relationship Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 21% of job postings for relationship managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Relationship Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for relationship managers, 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 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective relationship managers, and in 2023 a total of 51,815 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 relationship managers.
Top Degree Programs for Relationship Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Relationship Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Credit Management. | 2 |
What Skills Do Relationship Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by relationship managers 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 relationship managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Relationship Managers
Based on 53,296 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Relationship Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 40,681 | 76% |
| Mortgage Loans | 25,949 | 49% |
| Underwriting | 17,444 | 33% |
| Loan Origination | 16,366 | 31% |
| Commercial Lending | 8,071 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Relationship Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,414 | 40% |
| Sales | 20,357 | 38% |
| Customer Service | 19,664 | 37% |
| Management | 14,438 | 27% |
| Real Estate | 10,736 | 20% |
Based on 53,296 job postings related to relationship managers, loans was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 76% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mortgage loans, underwriting, loan origination, commercial lending and marketing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for relationship managers, followed by sales, customer service, management, real estate and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 40,681 | 76% |
| Mortgage Loans | 25,949 | 49% |
| Underwriting | 17,444 | 33% |
| Loan Origination | 16,366 | 31% |
| Commercial Lending | 8,071 | 15% |
| Marketing | 7,815 | 15% |
| Mortgage Loan Origination | 7,506 | 14% |
| Loan Documentation | 7,092 | 13% |
| Finance | 7,067 | 13% |
| Loan Closing | 6,403 | 12% |
| Financial Services | 6,287 | 12% |
| Accounting | 6,193 | 12% |
| Sales Prospecting | 6,036 | 11% |
| Cross-Selling | 5,876 | 11% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 5,671 | 11% |
| Consumer Lending | 4,950 | 9% |
| Business Development | 4,887 | 9% |
| Financial Analysis | 4,736 | 9% |
| Loan Processing | 4,616 | 9% |
| Banking | 4,289 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,414 | 40% |
| Sales | 20,357 | 38% |
| Customer Service | 19,664 | 37% |
| Management | 14,438 | 27% |
| Real Estate | 10,736 | 20% |
| Writing | 9,454 | 18% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,245 | 17% |
| Operations | 8,836 | 17% |
| Problem Solving | 7,284 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 6,598 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 6,431 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 6,291 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 5,929 | 11% |
| Organizational Skills | 5,831 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 5,657 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,476 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 5,361 | 10% |
| Time Management | 5,296 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,647 | 9% |
| Presentations | 4,148 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about relationship managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for relationship managers.
What do relationship managers do?
How much do relationship managers make?
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