Chief Executives
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $62K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $114K
Median Salary: $185K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $208K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $208K
Demand
Core Tasks
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.
Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites.
Preside over, or serve on, boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards.
Make presentations to legislative or other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets.
Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.
Refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions.
Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes.
Direct or coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying or selling investment products or financial services.
Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints or violations of laws, or testify at such hearings.
Deliver speeches, write articles, or present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, or accomplish objectives.
Direct non-merchandising departments, such as advertising, purchasing, credit, or accounting.
Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.
Administer programs for selection of sites, construction of buildings, or provision of equipment or supplies.
Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials, and ensure that bylaws are enforced.
Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups.
Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations.
Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees.
Direct or conduct studies or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility.
Represent organizations or promote their objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so.
Organize or approve promotional campaigns.
Nominate citizens to boards or commissions.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Administration and Management
95%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service
82%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
82%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Personnel and Human Resources
82%
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Law and Government
79%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Economics and Accounting
74%
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Mathematics
68%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security
66%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Education and Training
65%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Sales and Marketing
65%
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Top 10 Skills
Judgment and Decision Making
90%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
88%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking
88%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
88%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination
85%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources
85%
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Social Perceptiveness
85%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
83%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Management of Financial Resources
83%
Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Monitoring
83%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
90%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
88%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
85%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning
83%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Speech Clarity
83%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
83%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Expression
83%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
80%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Problem Sensitivity
80%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Fluency of Ideas
78%
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
95%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information
95%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
95%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
93%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
92%
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Developing and Building Teams
91%
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Developing Objectives and Strategies
90%
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
90%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
89%
Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Analyzing Data or Information
88%
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Detailed Work Activities
Analyze impact of legal or regulatory changes.
Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
Direct financial operations.
Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.
Analyze data to assess operational or project effectiveness.
Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Develop organizational policies or programs.
Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
Prepare operational budgets.
Direct sales, marketing, or customer service activities.
Negotiate contracts for transportation, distribution, or logistics services.
Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
Prepare staff schedules or work assignments.
Manage human resources activities.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Prepare operational progress or status reports.
Resolve employee or contractor problems.
Direct administrative or support services.
Present information to the public.
Liaise between departments or other groups to improve function or communication.
Communicate organizational policies and procedures.
Coordinate with external parties to exchange information.
Manage construction activities.
Represent the organization in external relations.
Coordinate special events or programs.
Promote products, services, or programs.
Draft legislation or regulations.
Work Context
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Structured versus Unstructured Work
To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Coordinate or Lead Others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
100%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
77%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Social
53%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
39%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Investigative
29%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic
19%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Leadership
100%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Integrity
96%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative
95%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Stress Tolerance
95%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Dependability
93%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Achievement/Effort
91%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Independence
91%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Self Control
91%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attention to Detail
90%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Analytical Thinking
89%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Work Values
Independence
100%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
100%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Achievement
91%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
91%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
