Requirements

Chief executives or senior official - requirements

Chief executives and senior officials are responsible for the success of an organisation. They oversee the coordination and direction of a company, working with managers to organise resources and operations. It’s a high-level, yet demanding job. This guide tells you all about it.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a chief executive or senior official?

For most roles, you’ll need an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that is relevant to business management or in a subject area relevant to your organisation.

Subjects to consider include:

Some opportunities for master’s degree apprenticeships in senior leadership are available.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a chief executive or senior official?

A postgraduate degree will take you a long way, especially if it’s relevant to the work of your organisation.

Examples of courses at postgraduate level include:

Business
Business administration
Economics and strategy for business
Global business

What skills do you need to be a chief executive or senior official?

Chief executives and senior officials need a lot of business skills and a determination to help an organisation succeed.

Hard skills usually include:

Ability to lead and manage all business operations
Up-to-date knowledge of how businesses work
Deep understanding of your organisation and industry

Soft skills include:

Decision making and problem solving
Leadership and communication
Ability to manage and motivate staff
Passion and ambition
Persuasion and negotiation

Do you need work experience to be a chief executives or senior official?

At a minimum, you’ll need several years of experience working in an organisation at a senior level, like as a manager or director. In most cases you'll need extensive experience and a strong track record at a senior level.