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Do you have excellent business acumen, are customer-centric, and tech-savvy? If so, then consider a career as a technical account manager. There is no specific job prediction for Technical Account Managers. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Systems Managers are predicted to grow by 16% through 2031.
What You Should Know to Get Started as a Technical Account Manager
What is a Technical Account Manager?
Technical Account Managers may work as part of the account team in which, the responsibilities are primarily addressing the customer's technical issues. As this is typically a technical-based role, you will communicate technical requirements and descriptions to an audience that may or may not be technical by trade Since you are considered a SME, you should be familiar with the product that your account uses as well as stay abreast on any supporting documentation that may require updates and upgrades to certain features and services. You may also liaise between sales, technicians, and project/program managers.
Is a career as a Technical Account Manager worth it?
Yes as technology continues to evolve and new products are being introduced just about every day; organizations and their product development and sales teams need experts to help consumers learn how to use products as well as be able to assist them throughout the lifecycle of their services.
What do I need to get started to learn about this career path?
When you are conducting your research, you will find most articles referencing having a bachelor's degree in either a direct or related field i.e. business, IT, computer science and etc. But, there is no direct path to becoming a technical account manager as it is solely dependent upon the company, and their specific job requirements as a TAM responsibility could differ based on that. However, it is important that you have the following: knowledge of project management, understanding of the technical aspects of various systems and software, exceptional customer service, effective communication, and empathy.
Certifications to consider:
There's no specific certification needed for this profession; however, if you are interested in this career path, you may consider starting off with the following:
ITILv4 - an entry-level certification that provides the basic framework for providing end-to-end service delivery to customers in a digital era.
*As you become more comfortable in your role then you may consider more advanced certifications such as the PMP and organization or product-specific such as Microsoft, AWS, Google, IBM, RedHat, HPE, and more.
To learn more about the role of a TAM, check out the resources below:
TechPods Youtube - "A Day in the Life of an Account Manager"
Amazon Web Services Youtube - "Meet Pawan, Technical Account Manager, AWS"