When most people think of executive careers, they immediately think of the prestigious positions held by top executives in the corporate world. The world’s top executives are paid well and they hold a variety of titles, such as chief executive officer, chief operating officer, or chief financial officer. In addition, there are many other executive careers that deserve recognition. Executive secretaries, executive recruiters, executive chefs, and executive editors can all be included among the broad topic of executive careers.
People looking to become a top executive should expect long hours, work-related travel, and plenty of stress, yet they should also expect to be well compensated for their pressures. A chief executive officer (CEO) establishes a corporation’s or organization’s policies and goals. She usually works hand-in-hand with a board of directors to make sure that the strategies she implements are followed successfully. She is given the highest level of accountability.
A chief operating officer (COO) is another position held by a top executive. She is typically given the authority to supervise the day-to-day activities of the company. The COO works to ensure that the company or organization is running successfully in its daily ventures. A chief financial officer (CFO) is in charge of a company’s finances, specifically its financial goals. A CFO may oversee how assets are invested, manage risks, and communicate ways to raise capital.
Most top executives cannot functions without the help of their executive secretaries. Executive secretaries give high-level, in-depth administrative support to the entire office, but mainly to specific top executives. They may not perform as many clericalduties as a traditional office secretary, but have other duties, including managing information. For example, they may set up conference calls, review incoming documents to determine their level of importance, prepare agendas, and arrange for meetings.
In order for top companies or organizations to grow and flourish, they must continue to hire new employees. Many times the employees are sought out by executive recruiters. These recruiters may attend college, law school, or business school functions and persuade the top students to work for a particular business. They may also contact top executives at other companies who have indicated that they are interested in a change of employment. They conduct the initial screening process of interested candidates, and then let the company make the final hiring decision.
Beyond the corporate world, there are plenty of other executive careers. Executive chefs are responsible for running entire food service operations. They may supervise all of the kitchens in a resort or a chain of restaurants. In a corporate dining setting, they may determine serving sizes, order food supplies, or plan menus.
An executive editor is another of the executive careers that is outside the realm of top business executive. Executive editors are important in the world of writing, television, and radio. They typically make the final decisions about which stories should be published and how they should be depicted to the public. Executive editors usually supervise several assistant editors, who determine who will be given a particular story or topic.