A collections specialist is responsible for collecting money owed on overdue accounts. Daily tasks include making the initial contact and follow up contacts to clients via phone, email, postal mail or in person. Collections specialists may work in the collection department of a business, or for a third party collection agency.
Skill Sets: Collections specialists need to have strong communication and negotiation skills to perform their daily duties. As most collection work involves contacting clients by phone, good telephone manners and professionalism are also a requirement.
Education: Specific educational requirements will vary from one employer to the next. Some may require only a high school diploma, while others will want a college degree, preferably in a related discipline such as business or accounting. In certain cases, having several years of collections or contact center work experience can be used as a substitute for formal education.
Career Path: To become a collections specialist, acquiring some call center experience, especially in the collections field is recommended. Collections personnel with several years of experience have a higher chance of landing better paying collections jobs, such as those related to commercial accounts.
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