Become An Executive

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Working As An Executive

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Getting Information
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Mostly Sitting
Make Decisions
$83,535
Average Salary

What Does An Executive Do

An Executive is a person with senior managerial responsibility in a business organization. They have the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect. Some examples of such positions are chief executive officer, sales executive, chief executive, executive director, and account executive.

How To Become An Executive

Although education and training requirements vary widely by position and industry, many top executives have at least a bachelor’s degree and a considerable amount of work experience.

Education

Many top executives have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration or in an area related to their field of work. Top executives in the public sector often have a degree in business administration, public administration, law, or the liberal arts. Top executives of large corporations often have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).

College presidents and school superintendents are typically required to have a master’s degree, although a doctorate is often preferred.

Although many mayors, governors, or other public sector executives have at least a bachelor’s degree, these positions typically do not have any specific education requirements.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Many top executives advance within their own firm, moving up from lower level managerial or supervisory positions. However, other companies may prefer to hire qualified candidates from outside their organization. Top executives who are promoted from lower level positions may be able to substitute experience for education to move up in the company. For example, in industries such as retail trade or transportation, workers without a college degree may work their way up to higher levels within the company to become executives or general managers.

Chief executives typically need extensive managerial experience. Executives are also expected to have experience in the organization’s area of specialty. Most general and operations managers hired from outside an organization need lower level supervisory or management experience in a related field.

Some general managers advance to higher level managerial or executive positions. Company training programs, executive development programs, and certification can often benefit managers or executives hoping to advance.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Top executives must be able to communicate clearly and persuasively. They must effectively discuss issues and negotiate with others, direct subordinates, and explain their policies and decisions to those within and outside the organization.

Decisionmaking skills. Top executives need decisionmaking skills when setting policies and managing an organization. They must assess different options and choose the best course of action, often daily.

Leadership skills. Top executives must be able to lead an organization successfully by coordinating policies, people, and resources.

Management skills. Top executives must shape and direct the operations of an organization. For example, they must manage business plans, employees, and budgets.

Problem-solving skills. Top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization. They must be able to recognize shortcomings and effectively carry out solutions.

Time-management skills. Top executives do many tasks at the same time, typically under their own direction, to ensure that their work gets done and that they meet their goals.

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Executive jobs

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Executive Career Paths

Executive

Human Resources Coordinator Controller Chief Finance Officer

Chief Finance And Operating Officer

14 Yearsyrs

General Manager Account Executive Sales Manager

District Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Program Manager Operations Director President Of Operations

Executive Vice President Of Operations

10 Yearsyrs

Office Manager Operations Manager

General Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Account Manager Sales Manager General Manager

General Manager/Director

8 Yearsyrs

General Manager Account Manager Operations Manager

Operations Director

9 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Construction Manager

Operations Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Chairperson President Vice President & General Manager

President And General Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Chief Executive Officer Managing Partner Operations Director

Regional Director Of Operations

11 Yearsyrs

Sales Manager Operations Manager

Regional Operation Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Chief Executive Officer President/Chief Executive Officer Business Developer

Senior Director Of Business Development

13 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Program Manager

Senior Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Sales Manager General Manager Account Executive

Senior Sales Executive

9 Yearsyrs

Human Resources Coordinator Senior Manager Marketing Director

Senior Vice President Of Marketing

12 Yearsyrs

Operations Manager Account Executive Director Of Sales

Senior Vice President, Sales

14 Yearsyrs

Operations Manager Operations Director President Of Operations

Senior Vice President-Operations

13 Yearsyrs

Office Manager General Manager

Vice President & General Manager

12 Yearsyrs

Account Manager Senior Manager Director Of Information

Vice President Of Information Technology

12 Yearsyrs

Program Manager Business Development Manager Director Of Sales

Vice President Of Sales & Operations

12 Yearsyrs

Chairperson Project Manager Product Manager

Vice President, Product Management

13 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Owner And Chief Executive Officer 6.8 years
President/Chief Executive Officer 6.6 years
Chief Executive Officer And Operator 5.3 years
Executive Vice President 5.0 years
Director/Manager 4.8 years
Corporate Operations Manager 4.3 years
Senior Managed 4.2 years
Executive Project Manager 4.0 years
Manager Executive 4.0 years
Executive Vice President Of Operations 3.8 years
Director 3.7 years
Executive Director Of Operations 3.7 years
Executive Administrator 3.7 years
Senior Executive 3.6 years
Senior Specialist 3.6 years
Client Executive 3.4 years
Resource Manager 3.2 years
Corporate Executive 3.2 years
Special Projects Manager 3.1 years
Executive 3.0 years
Human Resources Executive 2.9 years
Executive Consultant 2.9 years
Business Executive 2.8 years
Business Coordinator 2.8 years
Programming Executive 2.6 years
Executive Office Assistant 2.5 years
Special Project Engineer 2.4 years

Top Careers Before Executive

Top Careers After Executive

Executive Demographics

Gender

Male
52.9%
Female
44.5%
Unknown
2.5%

Ethnicity

White
73.0%
Asian
12.5%
Hispanic or Latino
10.8%
Unknown
2.7%
Black or African American
0.9%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
44.0%
French
12.2%
German
5.1%
Hindi
4.8%
Mandarin
4.2%
Chinese
4.2%
Italian
4.0%
Japanese
3.1%
Portuguese
2.8%
Arabic
2.6%
Russian
2.2%
Cantonese
1.7%
Carrier
1.6%
Tamil
1.3%
Korean
1.1%
Urdu
1.1%
Gujarati
1.0%
Hebrew
1.0%
Marathi
0.9%
Greek
0.9%

Executive

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Executive Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
17.3%
Michigan State University
6.3%
Liberty University
5.4%
George Washington University
4.8%
Pennsylvania State University
4.8%
Auburn University
4.7%
New York University
4.4%
University of Florida
4.3%
Florida State University
4.3%
Northeastern University
4.3%
University of Houston
4.2%
Temple University
4.1%
Arizona State University
4.1%
Boston University
4.0%
University of Texas at Austin
3.9%
University of Southern California
3.9%
Cornell University
3.8%
Syracuse University
3.7%
Strayer University
3.7%
University of Iowa
3.7%

Majors

Degrees

Bachelors
38.1%
Masters
24.1%
Other
21.5%
Associate
7.0%
Doctorate
3.6%
Certificate
3.5%
Diploma
1.8%
License
0.4%

Executive

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

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Real Executive Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Executive Chairman	Collinear Networks, Inc.	Denver, CO	Jul 15, 2016	$400,000
Security Executive	Accenture LLP	Houston, TX	Sep 02, 2015	$315,000
Security Executive	Accenture LLP	Phoenix, AZ	Sep 02, 2015	$315,000
Security Executive	Accenture LLP	San Jose, CA	Sep 02, 2015	$315,000
Security Executive	Accenture LLP	San Jose, CA	Jun 12, 2015	$315,000
Executive Chairman	Drugdev Inc.	Wayne, PA	Jul 01, 2016	$305,000
Executive Chairman	Drugdev Inc.	Audubon, PA	Jan 20, 2014	$300,000
Executive Chairman	Talentwise, Inc.	Bothell, WA	Jul 01, 2014	$300,000
Executive Chairman	Talentwise, Inc.	Bothell, WA	Jul 07, 2014	$300,000
Executive Chairman, Stewart & Stevenson Power Products	Stewart & Stevenson LLC	Houston, TX	Oct 25, 2015	$228,946 - $400,000
Executive Chairman, Stewart & Stevenson Power Products	Stewart & Stevenson LLC	Houston, TX	Oct 15, 2015	$228,946 - $400,000
Executive Engineer	Intecsea, Inc.	Houston, TX	Jun 04, 2015	$207,000
Executive Engineer	Intecsea, Inc.	Houston, TX	Apr 06, 2015	$207,000
Executive Winemaker, Napa Valley	Duckhorn Wine Company	Saint Helena, CA	Apr 07, 2013	$195,957 - $205,000
Executive	MacQuarie Corporate and Asset Finance Consulting I	New York, NY	Jan 06, 2014	$125,000
Executive	MacQuarie Holdings (USA) Inc.	New York, NY	Aug 04, 2014	$120,000
Executive	MacQuarie Holdings (USA) Inc.	Boston, MA	Jan 06, 2016	$120,000
Metrics Executive Advisor	Wellpoint, Inc.	Parksdale, CA	Jun 11, 2015	$116,688
Executive	MacQuarie America Services Inc.	New York, NY	Jan 08, 2016	$115,000
SAP Executive Liaison To Asug	Sap America, Inc.	Atlanta, GA	Aug 14, 2013	$113,789
SAP Executive Liaison To Asug	Sap Global Marketing, Inc.	Atlanta, GA	Aug 14, 2013	$113,789
Treasurer (Executive)	MOTU NOVU LLC	Boston, MA	Oct 21, 2014	$110,000
Executive Underwriter	Berkley Insurance Company	Chicago, IL	Aug 21, 2016	$94,500
Executive Underwriter	Berkley Insurance Company	Chicago, IL	Sep 05, 2016	$94,500
1 SUN Life Executive Park	Populus Group LLC	Wellesley, MA	Aug 15, 2016	$92,872
Joint Center for Translational Medicine Exec Direc	California Institute of Technology	Pasadena, CA	Jan 07, 2013	$91,800
Joint Center for Translational Medicine Exec Direc	California Institute of Technology	Pasadena, CA	Jan 12, 2013	$91,800
Executive	MacQuarie America Services Inc.	Houston, TX	May 13, 2015	$90,000
Executive	MacQuarie Holdings (USA) Inc.	New York, NY	May 01, 2015	$90,000
Executive	MacQuarie Funding Holdings Inc.	Houston, TX	Jun 05, 2013	$90,000

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Top Skills for An Executive

Top Executive Skills

Financial Statements
Products
Procedures

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Reconstructed financial statements from inception.
Coordinated sales and marketing of speaker units to manufacturers of acoustic products and company's sales offices abroad.
Negotiated pricing with vendors regarding wholesale billing and marketing procedures.
Resolved customer service issues quickly and efficiently to maintain client satisfaction.
Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff, and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.