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Job outlook for client specialists in the United States
Client specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected client specialist job growth rate is -4% from 2018-2028.
About -105,300 new jobs for client specialists are projected over the next decade.
Client specialist salaries have increased 11% for client specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 31,371 client specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 210,757 active client specialist job openings in the US.
The average client specialist salary is $41,368.
Are client specialist jobs in demand?
Client specialist job and salary trends over time
Client specialist jobs over time
Client specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,371 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 31,890 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 32,858 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 32,320 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 31,154 | 0.01% |
Average client specialist salary over time
Client specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,368 | $19.89 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $40,075 | $19.27 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $38,966 | $18.73 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $37,973 | $18.26 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $37,292 | $17.93 | +1.8% |
Client specialist jobs by state
Most common states for client specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 830 | 43% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 277 | 40% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,067 | 37% |
| 4 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,026 | 35% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 466 | 35% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 323 | 34% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 196 | 34% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 205 | 33% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 976 | 31% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 637 | 31% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,815 | 30% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 405 | 30% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 315 | 30% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 2,068 | 29% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,016 | 29% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 492 | 29% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 883 | 28% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,461 | 27% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,323 | 27% |
| 20 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,209 | 27% |
Most common cities for client specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 2 | 4% | $34,770 |
| 2 | Germantown | 3 | 3% | $57,026 |
| 3 | Schaumburg | 2 | 3% | $54,954 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 9 | 2% | $46,139 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $57,271 |
| 6 | Tampa | 4 | 1% | $37,478 |
| 7 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $42,886 |
| 8 | Knoxville | 2 | 1% | $37,689 |
| 9 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $34,096 |
| 10 | Saint Petersburg | 2 | 1% | $37,472 |
| 11 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $55,074 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $43,231 |
| 13 | Austin | 4 | 0% | $44,151 |
| 14 | New York | 4 | 0% | $68,485 |
| 15 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $57,323 |
| 16 | Columbus | 2 | 0% | $40,387 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $38,388 |
Client Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of client specialist experts
University of the Virgin Islands
Paul Smith's College of Arts & Sciences
University of Richmond
Salem State University
University of Nebraska- Lincoln
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Central Arkansas
Alverno College
Rowan University
The Ohio State University at Lima
Albertus Magnus College
Marymount Manhattan College
North Carolina Central University
Montclair State University
Duquesne University
Forsyth County, Georgia
Ashland University
New Mexico State University
Baylor University
Stonehill College
Francisco Depusoir
Associate Professor of AccountingUniversity of the Virgin Islands
School of Business
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Francisco Depusoir: The following skills could open the door to various opportunities for an accounting graduate on their resume.
-Excellent analytical skills
-Knowledge of Microsoft Excel
-Knowledge of Quickbooks
Joe Conto
Associate ProfessorPaul Smith's College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Business & Hospitality
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Specialists?
Joe Conto: As a hiring manager in high-end hotels and country clubs, I paid little attention to most technical skills. If an applicant possesses the soft skills outlined above, I was typically certain that training could provide the necessary technical skills. Therefore, I always advise students to "work on purpose" during internships and other work experiences in order to not only learn hard skills but also develop the soft skills listed above.
What soft skills should all Client Specialists possess?
Keith Webb: Oral and written communication skills are critical. Also, the ability to work within a team orientation, flexibility, and adaptability, to name a few.
What skills will help Client Specialists earn the most?
Keith Webb: While it depends on the industry, I believe students who develop and enhance their skill set in data analytics will ultimately reap significant incomes and longevity.
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Keith Webb: Academically, we prepare our students for numerous opportunities, whether they are pursuing opportunities as business analyst interns, investment banking interns, consulting interns, etc. Generally, relevant experience is a plus. However, transferable skills stand out as well.
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingSalem State University
Accounting & Finance Department, Bertolon School of Business
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.: In my opinion, the skills that recent university graduates need to succeed professionally in a time of the pandemic, i.e., mostly remote office work, are 1) communication skills, 2) research skills, 3) data analytics skills, and 4) adaptability. A newly hired graduate in an accounting firm or in the accounting department of a non-accounting firm needs to write concisely, to the point, and error-free. Bad writing projects a weak professional (and company) image to clients, suppliers, and others. Communication skills do not extend only to writing emails and reports; asking questions when clarification is needed also is very important for a smooth work process. No one is born knowing everything, but one can research topics of interest and learn new things. Nowadays, there are plenty of library books, magazines, databases, search engines, online forums, massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as Udemy, EdX, and Coursera, and other resources available at our fingertips. Knowledge has never been available so widely and so cheaply, often for free. I call this the democratization of knowledge. Curiosity is an important characteristic of acquiring new knowledge and skills. New knowledge and skills lead to upskilling, especially if acquired regularly. The future belongs to those willing to get out of their comfort zone, upskill, and adopt a lifetime learning worldview. This is a matter of values and priorities. We see lifetime learning in action in business, too - Netflix and SpaceX, for example, have adopted innovative business models that no one had thought of before, and they have not stopped innovating. These companies did not rest on their laurels. Likewise, graduates need to be proactive, do research, and find the answers the company is looking for. "Data" is all around us and is valuable. Learning the basics of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI and getting certified in them can be very useful, too. For more advanced software features, the makers of these programs have online classes, support, and user manuals. Learning data analytics skills may take some time, but it will save a lot of time and effort in the long run. Finally, adaptability.
My native country, Bulgaria, for example, has seen an influx of workers from Latin America, North America, the rest of Europe, and other places since the mid-2000s. Big Western pharmaceutical and software companies, among others, have offshored their offices there because the cost of labor and the income taxes are lower than those in Western countries. A low cost of labor corresponds to a low cost of living, too. Today, recent graduates should stay open-minded as to the location of their employer. We live in a global village that constantly changes. Sometimes, one's ideal job is far away from home. Accepting a job opportunity abroad requires flexibility and the long term in mind. It may come with nice surprises - a generous foreign earned income tax credit (for U.S. citizens working abroad), college debt forgiveness or postponement (for jobs with the Peace Corps and the Fulbright Commission, for example), new places to see, new languages to learn, and new friends to make. When one door shuts, another one opens.
Ozgur Araz Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Supply Chain Management & AnalyticsUniversity of Nebraska- Lincoln
Supply Chain Management & Analytics Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Specialists?
Ozgur Araz Ph.D.: Data processing, modeling, and analyses are important technical skills.
What soft skills should all Client Specialists possess?
Ozgur Araz Ph.D.: Collaborative management and leadership skills are most important.
What skills will help Client Specialists earn the most?
Ozgur Araz Ph.D.: In almost all business disciplines, data analytics skills help most to stand out for salary negotiations.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Jim McClenahan: It continues to be a balance of soft skills and technical skills. Perseverance and Grit are things to highlight. Adapting to changing environments is something not advertised, but everyone is looking for with the times we are in. With adapting to change, empathy is very important. For students, employers want to see levels of engagement. A high GPA is not enough. What clubs were you involved in? What part-time jobs did you hold? Finally, technical skills will never go out of style. A little coding is nice, and Excel mastery in any position dealing with data is vital.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Specialists?
Jim McClenahan: Sometimes this is job-dependent. Generically, Excel is the go-to tool for entry-level data analytics. Knowing one coding language, typically Python is a great start if your career ranges into the technical side. Business development and sales are the most demanded skills and experiences with the jobs we see. Not traditionally classified as hard skills, but not really soft, they underly so many things students see in first careers.
What soft skills should all Client Specialists possess?
Jim McClenahan: As I said, soft skills are desired more than ever. Angela Duckworth describes Grit as "Perseverance, effort, and skill." We can teach the skill; the other two have to come with the new hire. Empathy is important as someone grows in their career-you can't be an effective leader and not have empathy in your skillset.
Anthony McMullen
Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, vUniversity of Central Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Anthony McMullen: This will depend on the specific field. Business is an incredibly broad area. Anyone with a business type of degree will at least obtain basic knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. These skills should be highlighted. But when thinking about a resume, workers should think about (and participate in) experiences that allow them to use these skills. And once they have these experiences, they should be able to articulate how they used these skills on a resume. Don't just say, "I did ______." Say, "I used _________ in order to accomplish __________."
What soft skills should all Client Specialists possess?
Anthony McMullen: Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the phrase "soft skills" v. "hard skills," as some might take such phrases to imply that soft skills are not as important or are easier to obtain. That being said, to answer the question, communication and critical-thinking skills are essential to a successful career. Communication skills (both oral and written) are necessary to convey messages. It does not matter how much technical expertise someone has if that person is unable to convey that expertise to others. Critical-thinking skills are important because skilled workers need to know how to think through problems. The answer will not always be readily apparent. And even when it is, workers need to ensure that they can analyze it to ensure that it is trustworthy. Maybe the information found is outdated, doesn't apply to the situation, or is just flat out wrong, and a skilled worker needs to be able to make that determination.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, adaptability is also necessary to be successful. So many jobs have changed (and will continue to change). Many people left their respective industries during the pandemic because they couldn't (or did not want to) adapt to change. Those who can, or at least try, will find more opportunities in the workplace.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Specialists?
Anthony McMullen: Generally, the most valuable hard skills are going to depend on your field. So, it is hard to identify a specific "hard skill" that is most important. The current "buzz words" in business education is data analytics, or the ability to use tools to analyze and present data. Our society is increasingly data-driven. How do people wade through all of this information and provide something useful? Those who can do this well will have the upper hand.
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Business and Management, MBA Faculty Director, Associate - School Sisters of St. FrancisAlverno College
Business and Management Department
What skills stand out on Client Specialist resumes?
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.: The skills or competencies that stand out are those that add value to an organization. They complement the skills of those already working there and advance the organization's products, services, or culture. Transferrable or timeless skills transcend industries and stand out on resumes. They include leadership, teamwork, project management, and collaboration. Of course, individuals who list these skills on their resumes should effectively demonstrate that they have developed and are proficient in these areas. Business specialists should be ready to provide examples in writing/print or audio-video media, such as links to their work.
What soft skills should all Client Specialists possess?
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.: Today's business environment is complex and continues to evolve. Creativity, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage or lead in turbulent times are essential twenty-first-century skills. Critical and strategic thinking, organizing, and planning are also salient skills. Business specialists with these skills make important contributions to their organizations. They often lead when no one else can or wants to. Communicating and being visible throughout one's division, department, or organization are important to the well-being and prosperity of the organization and the individuals who work there. Business specialists can develop and practice these leadership skills on-site or remotely. Internal and external relationship-building leads to trustworthy and mutually beneficial relationships and/or partnerships.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Specialists?
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.: Respectful communication, including email and video conferencing etiquette, is most important across all settings. Different business functions and roles require different skill sets. What is hard for some can be easy or relatively easy for others. Becoming proficient in office productivity software/applications and presentation platforms is vital to one's career development. The ability to effectively network online is also important. I encourage my students to keep their professional profiles on LinkedIn current. If they need to develop their time management skills, I encourage them to use a calendar or scheduling tool.
What skills will help Client Specialists earn the most?
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.: My experience has been that it depends on the position, organization, and industry, among other variables. Digital and information literacy are key to researching, analyzing, and evaluating credible information, in this case, skills that are in demand and could lead to well-paying jobs. I would emphasize, however, that there are intrinsic benefits that sometimes eclipse salary as the primary consideration. It depends on the individual and how they want to improve their quality of life, earn incentives, or be compensated. For many, contributing to an organization that promotes humane and positive interactions, allows for flexible work arrangements, and aligns with one's personal values is paramount. I encourage business specialists to stay vigilant and knowledgeable about developing industry or marketplace trends. Embrace continuous learning, upskilling, and workplace training to remain relevant in the post-pandemic world.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Client Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Specialists to find work opportunities?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Usually, urban areas of bigger cities and southern states, such as North Carolina, have many openings. Maine, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Texas are the most open positions.
What general advice would you give to a Client Specialist?
William Aniskovich JD: Work hard, be honest, choose a job you love doing with a company that makes your community a better place. Everything else, money included, will take care of itself.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Client Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
William Aniskovich JD: Well, it's the nature of modern technology that we can't possibly imagine what that might be! It will change, and it will change fast, that's for sure. However, on balance, I think it's safe to say that the field we call "analytics" will play an increasing role in how we work (and play!). The application of new technologies to how we make decisions in the workplace (from recruitment to hiring and even retention strategies) will undoubtedly continue to be an essential part of every job sector.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Client Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
William Aniskovich JD: That's a tough one! There are a variety of factors that play into this. First and foremost, getting the economy back to the pre-Covid growth rates. That said, I think there will continue to be lots of pressure on wages, both private sector and public sector pressure, and that will be good news for graduates. This field will continue to expand as companies need expertise in navigating a fast-changing and highly regulated economy.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Client Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Vandana Rao Ph.D.: Skills related to technology will be in great demand. More jobs require a higher level of mastery in designing remote work, learning, and collaborating tools.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Client Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Vandana Rao Ph.D.: There will be a need for grads with a high degree of comfort with technology - the ability to innovate and adapt and thrive, even amidst uncertainty, will be invaluable.
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Client Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
What experience really stands out on Client Specialist resumes?
Dr. Melissa Gutworth Ph.D.: This depends on the job or industry, but there are some broad skills that companies tend to look for. Leadership experience, of any kind, seems excellent. This doesn't have to be from a full-time job necessarily, but could also be through an internship, part-time work experience, or student organization. Many companies also look for signals of dependability, reliability, and commitment, such as whether someone has worked at a particular place for a while, or whether someone has been recognized for their dedication to their work. Communication skills are also crucial, so students should highlight any public speaking or presentations they may have done in their past jobs, or even in clubs or classes, if they did not have these experiences at work.
What Client Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Melissa Gutworth Ph.D.: I know that there is a lot of talk about gap years now, but I do not recommend this. Most travel isn't safe, or even possible, and unemployment rates are high, leaving fewer job opportunities. Gap years can lead to students losing the motivation to finish their degrees and lengthening the amount of time it takes to obtain well-paying, satisfying work. I would recommend that students either continue with their degree, if they are in the middle of one, or consider a graduate program. There are many options for students to advance their degrees, depending on their current situation.
For example, the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University has a 4+1 program (where students can earn their Bachelor's degree and MBA in a total of 5 years), online or hybrid MBA programs, and accelerated programs, like 12- a month or 17-month MBAs. There are also certificate programs that are designed to train specific skills in a shorter time frame. By earning an advanced degree or certificate, students will be better able to stand out among the increased job market competition. They will be more likely to pursue a successful career.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Client Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Melissa Gutworth Ph.D.: In regard to technology, remote work will be here to stay, so we will likely see more technology designed to facilitate that transition. New software and tools that enable people to be more productive while working from home are likely, such as better time management programs, virtual communication platforms, project management tools, and other software that better enable collaborative remote work. Despite how ironic it is, we might see more technology designed to help us limit current technologies.
As more people spend most of their time at home, we are likely to see problems with people being unable to separate work and non-work time and unable to disconnect from technology. This is already creating all sorts of mental and physical health problems for employees currently working from home. I think we will see more technology in the future that helps us reduce screen time, be more active at home, and be more present and engaged with others. Virtual reality was also already on the rise before the pandemic. Still, we are likely to see this being used even more as companies adopt it to train remote workers, enable remote workers to interact in virtual spaces, and generally enable people to experience situations that they're unable to engage in physically.
How do you envision technology impacting Client Specialists in the next 5 years?
Richard Longo: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will, by far, have the most significant impact. As this grows and develops, businesses will need to have the requisite skills and mindset to pivot away from traditional working ways. Skills will be needed to train and educate the work to be better equipped to move from human-focused work culture to a more robotic one.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
What type of skills will young Client Specialists need?
Joan Kalamas: To successfully enter the workforce, I believe new graduates will need to have a solid base of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities in their chosen fields such as finance, marketing, supply chain, human resources, etc. Yet they will also need effective "soft skills," such as critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communications, teamwork and collaboration, emotional intelligence, digital technology skills, professionalism, and a solid work ethic. Soft skills are equally as important, if not more important, than technical skills, states Joan Berry Kalamas, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, an H.R. professional with 30 years of business, leadership, and H.R. experience and now serving as a full-time faculty member, teaching H.R. undergraduate and MBA courses at Ashland University.
From experience, I know that most employers will select candidates who possess and demonstrate emotional intelligence, effective oral and written communications, and other "soft skills" over those candidates that possess just the technical skills. Students need to learn about real business practices and challenges and then learn practical, applicable, "real-life" technical and soft skills to deal with various situations that occur in organizations. An "it depends" answer is usually a response that allows students to look at the variables, analyze the facts, and use critical thinking skills to determine the appropriate course of action to take. The goal should be to teach students how to think, not what to think. I feel very fortunate to have been in the business world, as I can help develop in our students the types of skills and abilities employers are seeking from new graduates.
Ms. Berry Kalamas also serves on the Ohio SHRM State Council, an affiliate of The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), an organization of over 300,000 HR and business executive members in 65 countries that is an expert in H.R. practices. A new initiative regarding "Young Professionals" is being introduced from SHRM all across the country as SHRM has identified and understands the energy, passion, and work ethic this new generation of employees bring to organizations, and SHRM is providing guidance to assist that next generation of H.R. leadership.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Specialists to find work opportunities?
Joan Kalamas: I think it really depends on the field that a college graduate is hoping to enter, whether it be manufacturing, technology-oriented, service-oriented, medical, government, or some other field.
However, in an April 2020 article written by Ben Geier, CEFP, SmartAsset analyzed data from 155 of the largest U.S. cities looking at ten metrics across three categories: jobs, affordability, and fun. In the job category, overall unemployment rates, unemployment rates for bachelor's degree holders, average earnings for college graduates, and the number of job listings on Indeed were reviewed. Affordability included reviewing median monthly rent costs and the cost of living. Fun included reviewing dining and entertainment establishments as a percentage of all establishments, percentage of the population from the ages of 20-29, Yelp ratings for restaurants in the area, and average Yelp ratings for bars in the area. After analyzing the data, the top 10 best cities, in order, for new college graduates were:
-Cincinnati, OH
-Lexington, KY
-Milwaukee, WI
-Nashville, TN
-Columbus, OH
-Kansas City, MO
-Madison, WI
-Indianapolis, IN
-St. Louis, MO
-Birmingham, AL
Seven of the top 10 cities for new college graduates are listed in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Twelve of the cities located in the bottom 25 of their study were located in California, due to affordability.
Business Insider published an article written by Andy Kiersz in May 2019 titled "The 20 Best Cities for College Grads Looking To Start Their Lives". Five indicators in 260 metropolitan areas were analyzed, including young-adult population share, the share of young adults with at least a bachelor's degree, young-adult unemployment rate, the cost of living relative to the national average, and young adult median earnings. This study identified totally different cities as the best cities for new graduates to start a career - of course; different indicators were used. The top 5 cities from this study were in order:
-San Jose, CA
-Ithaca, NY
-Iowa City, IA
-Bismarck, ND
-San Francisco, CA
Again, I believe it depends on the field the college graduate is trying to enter.
How do you envision technology impacting Client Specialists in the next 5 years?
Joan Kalamas: Technology is rapidly changing with robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is used, and that will change the skills employees will need to be successful. Of course, having technology be able to perform some of the more manual tasks will free employees up to perform more creative and strategic work, two key means to remaining competitive and sustainable in the future.
Rob Davis states in an article he wrote for ITProPortal in January 2020, "By next year, it is expected that over one-third of skills (35 percent) that are considered important in today's workforce will have changed". In addition, Millennials are expected to make up almost 75% of the workforce by 2025 and have grown up with technology making them "tech-savvy." They understand that technology is a major driver for change, that life-long learning will be critical, that there is a need to be flexible and adaptable. Effective communication will also become more necessary as more employees work from home and often use Zoom or GoToMeeting to hold video conferencing meetings. Tasks that may have once been performed by employees can now be successfully performed by technology so employees must adapt, react, and be prepared.
In an article published by SHRM in October of 2019, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center with 1,400 technology and education professionals determined that young adults need to "learn how to learn" if they hope to adapt to the changes in the world of work. Some human tasks will be able to be performed by new technology, but new graduates seeking work will still need to learn, develop, and demonstrate the soft skills listed above to be successful.
Argie Hernandez
Division AdvisorNew Mexico State University
Business & Public Services
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Specialists to find work opportunities?
Argie Hernandez: Fire Fighters (FF) are needed everywhere, from small towns to big cities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), FF employment is projected to grow by 6% from 2019-2020! Per BLS, states with high demand for FF are California, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, and Texas.
What type of skills will young Client Specialists need?
Argie Hernandez: -Problem Solving
-Computer skills
-Writing and Communication
-Critical Thinking
-Team Player (very important)
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Client Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Sara Perry Ph.D.: Video conferencing will need to get even easier to use and richer in terms of communication abilities with options to hold both informal and formal interactions to substitute for 100% in-person interactions. Will also see enhancements to tools that allow for secure and remote collaboration.
Glen Ilacqua
Associate Professor of Accounting, Accounting Program DirectorStonehill College
Department of Business Administration
What general advice would you give to a Client Specialist?
Glen Ilacqua: Accounting students have to prepare themselves for their accounting career during their college years and continue that learning process after graduation. Accounting, like many industries, changes over time. If you don't change with the times, you will have problems later on in your career. We help accounting students prepare themselves by showing them that their accounting education at college and after college has three components.
The first part is the problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills they need. At Stonehill, they get this through their classes in the cornerstone program and apply their knowledge in all categories. The second component of their education is the technical skills they learn in the accounting and business program. The third component does deal with technology. They need to build their resume with data analytic type courses and other technology type courses.
The three of these together will make them more valuable to future employers. If they have not taken data analytical type classes during their college career, they should take some as they enter the business world. They need to continue to grow as the accounting field changes as the world changes.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Client Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Glen Ilacqua: The starting salaries are above average, and the job prospects are also above average. The accounting majors tend to move up rather quickly, and the wages are above average all along the way.