You don’t become a top business executive overnight and it is not something you achieve by accident either.
If you ask virtually any top executive who now holds an exalted position within a large business or a global brand, they will almost certainly be able to demonstrate a career roadmap that they followed to get where they are today.
It takes a combination of several different things to open the door to success and personal development with regular learning updates is one of the cornerstones that will build the foundations of an executive career.
You can find out more about management training if you visit Simplilearn.com and here is a look at what it takes to become a top business executive.
Is it what you want to do?
Not everyone wants to make the deep commitment in terms of working hours and a potential lack of quality family time that can often typify the profile of a top business executive, but aside from the amount of hours you will likely be spending on the job, there is also the question of whether you have what it takes.
Being a business executive means that you are holding a senior position within an organization and make a meaningful contribution towards the general management of the company.
The term business executive is a generic one that is used to describe someone high up in the hierarchy of a company and this means that you could be a Chief Executive Officer, Manager, or a range of different positions that are relevant to the size and type of business you are working for.
Understanding what is expected of you in terms of qualifications, leadership qualities and experience, will help you to determine how to map out the career path that you want to follow.
Career requirements
There is definitely a typical profile for a business executive and although you may be able to achieve a good career without possessing all of these main attributes and qualities, it is highly likely that you will need to have most of the following on your resume.
You will need a bachelor’s degree, which is a qualification that is a huge help in getting you started on the right career path and will help your career advancement as you climb the corporate ladder.
A degree in business administration would be a good qualification to have and a grounding in economics and accounting combined with project management skills would certainly be some of the key skills that you will be expected to possess.
Education matters
Unless you are the founder of your own business, the chances are pretty slim that you will make it to a top job without a degree and a commitment to furthering your education and qualifications as your career develops and progresses.
If you take a look at the profile of just over half the current Fortune 100 CEO’s, you will discover that one common denominator, despite the different industries that they are involved in, is that they hold a degree in business, accounting or economics.
Gaining further knowledge as your career progresses doesn’t just help you to get the opportunity to take an executive position it also helps you to maintain a higher level of confidence in what you are doing, which often inspires confidence in you from others.
Understanding the dynamics of a career path
One thing that is often the same in many large organizations is that they have fairly complicated hierarchal systems which is often difficult for people outside of the business to understand and appreciate.
This is a primary reason why the selection process for an executive position often favors somebody within the business already rather than an outsider.
This is not to say that you can’t achieve a promotion to an executive position by applying to a company other than the one that you are currently working for but if the business where you currently work is sufficiently large enough to offer management opportunities, the career path is infinitely more visible.
Many CEO’s are great networkers and there are plenty who have moved around to different businesses in order to fulfill their career ambitions, so work on your connections and always take the view that you are trial when interacting with external executives.
You never know, they might just invite you to apply for an executive position if they like what they see.
Understanding how to map out your career path and gaining the right qualifications will often be key to your success.
Chandana is a Senior Content Writer for Simplilearn.com. She has a M.A. in English Literature from Gauhati University and is PRINCE2 Foundation certified. Her unique and refreshing writing style continues to educate and inspire readers from around the world.
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