17 Customer Success Manager Interview Questions and Answers

As a customer success manager, you’re responsible for ensuring that your company’s customers are happy and getting the most out of their relationship with your company. This means you need to have a deep understanding of your company’s products and services, as well as the customer’s business.

In order to land this in-demand job, you’ll need to be able to answer customer success manager interview questions that demonstrate your understanding of both customer needs and company products. You’ll also need to be able to articulate your experience with and knowledge of customer success management practices.

To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some of the most common customer success manager interview questions and provided sample answers to help you craft your own responses.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people to manage customer relationships?

Customer success managers often work with a team of customer service representatives, account executives and other members of their company to ensure customers receive the best possible experience. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working in a collaborative environment. In your answer, explain that you enjoy collaborating with others to achieve goals. Share an example of how you worked well with a team in the past.

Example: “I have always enjoyed teamwork. I think it’s important for everyone on a team to contribute their unique skills and perspectives. When I was working as a sales representative at my previous job, I would regularly meet with my manager and our marketing department to discuss new ways we could improve our product offerings. We eventually came up with some great ideas that helped us increase revenue by 10%.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a customer success manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities they’re looking for in a customer success manager. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important for any type of management position, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills and time management skills.

Example: “Customer success managers need to be highly organized individuals who can multitask effectively. They also need strong communication skills so they can work with their team members and customers to solve problems and answer questions. Customer success managers should also be empathetic people who genuinely care about helping others.”

How would you build relationships with customers to create a positive experience?

Customer success managers must be able to build strong relationships with customers. This question helps employers understand how you plan to interact with their clients and create a positive experience for them. Use your answer to highlight your interpersonal skills, such as active listening, problem-solving and conflict resolution.

Example: “I believe that the most important part of customer success is building relationships with customers. I would start by making sure they feel comfortable reaching out to me if they have any questions or concerns. I also make it a point to learn about each customer’s business so I can provide relevant solutions. For example, when I worked at my previous company, I learned about one client’s new product launch. When they contacted me later in the month asking for help with something, I was able to give them an immediate solution because I knew what they were working on.”

What is your experience working with customers through different channels (phone, email, social media, in-person, etc.)?

Customer success managers often need to work with customers through a variety of channels. The interviewer may ask you this question to learn about your experience working in customer service and how you’ve used different communication methods in the past. Use your answer to explain which channels you prefer and why, as well as any specific skills or training you have that help you excel at each channel.

Example: “I’ve worked in customer service for five years now, and I’ve had the opportunity to use many different communication methods during my career. In my previous role, I primarily communicated with customers over email, but I also frequently spoke with them on the phone. I found that I enjoyed using both methods equally, although I preferred email because it allowed me to respond more thoroughly than I could over the phone.

In my current role, I still communicate with customers mostly via email, but I find myself speaking with them over the phone more often than before. I’m constantly practicing my active listening skills so that I can better understand what customers are saying and provide them with the best support possible.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a customer who was dissatisfied with a company product or service.

Customer success managers must be able to resolve customer complaints and concerns. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience handling these situations. In your answer, explain how you helped the customer solve their problem. Explain what steps you took to ensure they were satisfied with the solution.

Example: “In my previous role as a customer success manager, I had a client who was unhappy with our product’s performance. They said it wasn’t working for them like we promised. After talking with them about their issue, I discovered that they didn’t understand how to use the product correctly. I spent some time explaining the product to them and showing them how to use it properly. Once they understood how to use the product, they were happy with its performance.”

If a customer was considering switching to a competitor, how would you convince them to stay?

This question can help the interviewer assess your customer service skills and ability to retain customers. Your answer should demonstrate that you understand how important it is to keep customers happy and satisfied with their experience.

Example: “I would first try to find out why they were considering switching, then I would offer them a solution or make sure they had all of their questions answered. If there was something we could do to improve our product or service, I would let them know about any upcoming changes or improvements. If they still wanted to switch, I would give them a timeline for when they could expect to see the improvement.”

What would you do if two different departments within the company were arguing about how to best serve a customer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would handle conflict and collaborate with other departments to find a solution. Use examples from your previous experience where you helped two different teams work together to solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Example: “In my last role, I had to facilitate a meeting between two departments that were arguing about which customer should receive a discount. The sales department wanted to offer the discount to customers who purchased more than $1,000 worth of products while the customer service department wanted to give it to customers who called in with questions. After hearing both sides, I decided to create a new discount for customers who spent at least $500 but also asked for assistance.”

How well do you understand our company’s products and services?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the company’s products and services. They want to know that you can help customers with their questions about these offerings. In your answer, explain how you have researched the company’s products and services in preparation for the interview. Show that you are eager to learn more about them if hired.

Example: “I am familiar with your company’s products and services because I did some research on them before my interview. However, I would like to learn more about them as a customer success manager so I can better assist customers who have questions or concerns about them.”

Do you have experience creating customer experience surveys?

Customer experience surveys are a common tool used by customer success managers to gather feedback from customers. This information can be used to improve the overall customer experience and ensure that company goals are being met. If you have experience with this process, share your previous methods for conducting these surveys. If you don’t have experience creating surveys, explain how you would go about doing so.

Example: “I’ve conducted customer experience surveys in my past roles as a customer success manager. I find that surveys are an effective way to get honest feedback from customers. In my last role, I created a survey once every quarter to assess our progress toward company goals. I also asked customers what they liked most about our product or service and what they would like to see improved.”

When is it appropriate to give out your personal contact information to a customer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle customer concerns and inquiries outside of work hours. Showcase your ability to prioritize customers’ needs while also maintaining a healthy personal life by explaining when it’s appropriate to give out your contact information.

Example: “I only give out my personal contact information if I feel that the issue is urgent or if the customer has questions about their account that they need answered immediately. For example, if a customer calls me at home because they forgot their password and need immediate access to their account, then I would provide them with my personal contact information so we could resolve the issue right away.”

We want to improve customer retention rates. What strategies would you suggest?

Customer retention is an important part of customer success. Employers ask this question to see if you can come up with strategies that will help their company retain customers and improve overall sales. In your answer, explain how you would implement a strategy that helps the company achieve its goals.

Example: “I would suggest implementing a customer onboarding program. This involves sending out emails or texts to customers after they make a purchase. The messages include tips on using the product or service and ways to get the most out of it. I’ve seen companies use this strategy to increase customer satisfaction and reduce support tickets by 10%. It’s also a great way to build brand loyalty.”

Describe your process for handling customer support requests quickly and efficiently.

Customer success managers need to be able to handle customer support requests quickly and efficiently. This question helps the interviewer determine how you would approach this task in their organization. Use your answer to highlight your ability to multitask, prioritize tasks and communicate with team members.

Example: “I use a CRM system that allows me to manage all of my customers’ issues and concerns from one place. I also have a process for handling each type of request. For example, if a customer has an issue with a product they purchased, I will first try to resolve it by asking them questions about what they’re experiencing. If I can’t solve the problem, I’ll escalate it to my supervisor or another member of our team who specializes in that area.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this role?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of the skills and experiences that qualify you for this role. Focus on what makes you unique from other candidates and highlight any transferable skills or knowledge you have that will help you succeed in this position.

Example: “I am passionate about customer service and helping customers solve problems. I also understand the importance of building relationships with clients so they feel comfortable reaching out to me when they need assistance. In my previous role as a customer success manager, I increased sales by 20% within six months by implementing new strategies and improving our client retention rate.”

Which customer success managers do you admire and why?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand your career goals. It also helps them see how you might fit in with their team if you’re applying for a job at their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention customer success managers who have similar values or experiences as you.

Example: “I admire my previous manager because she was always so positive and encouraging. She would often send us emails that were motivational quotes or stories about her own challenges and how she overcame them. I think those types of messages are important when working with customers who may be going through difficult situations themselves. Another CSM I admired was my friend’s manager because he was very knowledgeable about our product and could answer any questions we had. He also encouraged his team members to ask him questions and learn more.”

What do you think is the most important thing that customer success managers can do to help the rest of the company succeed?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of customer success and how it can impact the rest of the company. When answering this question, make sure to highlight the value of customer success in helping the company achieve its goals.

Example: “Customer success is one of the most important departments within any organization because it’s what keeps customers happy and coming back. If we don’t have happy customers, then our sales team won’t be able to close deals and our support team won’t have anyone to help. I think customer success managers should always keep this in mind when making decisions about their department.”

How often do you think customer success managers should meet with customers?

Customer success managers need to meet with customers regularly to ensure they’re getting the most out of their software. The interviewer wants to know how often you think it’s necessary to meet with clients and what your process is for scheduling these meetings.

Example: “I believe customer success managers should meet with customers at least once a month, but I prefer to do so every two weeks. This allows me to get feedback from them on how the software is working for them and if there are any issues or concerns that we can address before they become larger problems. It also gives us an opportunity to discuss new features and upgrades that may be beneficial to them.”

There is a bug in a new product release that is causing problems for customers. What is your process for resolving this quickly?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with a team. Your answer should include the steps you would take to resolve this issue quickly, while also ensuring customer satisfaction.

Example: “I would first meet with the product development team to understand what caused the bug and how we can prevent it from happening again. Then I would contact all customers who have reported issues with the new release and offer them a solution or refund for their purchase. Next, I would create a plan with my team to fix the bug as soon as possible. Finally, I would follow up with customers after the release to ensure they are satisfied with the product.”