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What does a Retention Specialist do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 4 min read

A retention specialist is responsible for keeping customers or clients satisfied with a company's products or services. They may contact customers who are at risk of leaving and attempt to resolve any issues that may be causing them to consider switching to a competitor. In some cases, they may offer incentives, such as discounts or freebies, to convince customers to stay.

Retention Specialist job duties include:

  • Answer inbound customer calls and take appropriate action to resolve customer inquiries
  • Retain customers through active listening and identifying customer needs
  • Build strong relationships with customers to foster loyalty and trust
  • Use up-selling techniques to promote additional products or services that may benefit the customer
  • Process customer orders and cancellations accurately and in a timely manner
  • Handle customer complaints in a professional and courteous manner
  • Keep abreast of changes in products, services, and policies to ensure accurate and timely responses to customer inquiries
  • Escalate complex customer issues to supervisors or other appropriate personnel as needed
  • Document all customer interactions in company database

Retention Specialist Job Requirements

A Retention Specialist is responsible for ensuring that customers remain satisfied with a company's products or services. They may contact customers who have cancelled their service or subscription, identify the reasons for the cancellation, and attempt to persuade the customer to reinstate their service. A Retention Specialist must have excellent communication and customer service skills. They typically have at least a high school diploma, although some companies may require postsecondary education or certification. Previous experience in customer service or sales is helpful but not always required.

Retention Specialist Skills

  • Analytical skills
  • Communication skills
  • Creativity
  • Data analysis
  • Detail oriented
  • Organizational skills
  • Patience
  • Persistence
  • Problem solving skills
  • Research skills
  • Time management

Related: Top Retention Specialist Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Retention Specialist

There are many reasons why someone might want to become a Retention Specialist. Perhaps they have a background in customer service and want to use their skills to help a company keep its customers. Maybe they are interested in psychology and want to help people overcome the challenges that can cause them to leave a company. Whatever the reason, becoming a Retention Specialist can be a rewarding career.

There are a few things that someone interested in becoming a Retention Specialist should do. First, they should research the position and learn as much as they can about what it entails. They should also try to get some experience working with customers or in customer service. This will help them understand the challenges that customers face and how to best address them. Finally, they should consider getting some formal education in psychology or another related field. This will give them the knowledge and skills they need to effectively help people overcome the challenges that can lead them to leave a company.

Becoming a Retention Specialist can be a great career choice for someone who is interested in helping companies keep their customers. With the right skills and knowledge, they can make a real difference in the lives of others.

Related: Retention Specialist Resume Example

Related: Retention Specialist Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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