It takes 21 years to become a CEO

In the age of Dragonís Den, The Apprentice and Secret Millionaire, it still takes 21 years to become a CEO.

TheLadders.co.uk finds that whilst business TV shows may be fuelling Boardroom ambitions, the average tenure for board level executives is 21 years.

Dragonís Den and The Apprentice may be fuelling bright ideas and CEO aspirations across the country. However, according to TheLadders.co.uk, the UKís leading senior executive careers site, the average tenure of Board level executives registered on the site is 21.7 years.

The site which deals only with 50K plus job-seekers and positions, discovered TV driven peaks in registrations from younger job-seekers hungry for the Boardroom perks, however when analyzing site data found that nearly all of its CEO level candidates had 21 years plus experience.

Says General Manager Sarah Drew: ìWe are sure that reality style TV persuades ambitious managers that they can become a CEO overnight or at the very least expect to be fast-tracked and we see a peak in traffic from 9pm-11pm when these programmes have been running. But our message is be prepared to put in the time.î

Recognising the ambitions of job-seekers, TheLadders.co.uk has asked a panel of senior executives from its US and UK business to give golden tips on becoming a CEO candidate. The list of the ten most common tips from the top are as follows:

1. Ensure you have a good knowledge base from different businesses and industries.

2. Network, network, network. Online and offline, a good network is invaluable.

3. Leadership skills that have been challenged.

4. Dedication. Job hopping from one position to the next for more money or a title does not always reflect favourably on the individual.

5. A profile. PR yourself and your work. Win accolades for your business and demonstrate your worth.

6. Be brave! Senior executives who have made big career moves when they were young, have often managed to hang on and be part of a companyís big succession plan.

7. Work across different industries, taking-on different positions to show you know how a business works from all aspects of the chain.

8. Having a broad range of skills. This means that you will be well equipped to handle most situations thrown at you.

9. Listen. To your teams, to your peers, to your predecessors. This is not a natural skill for an entrepreneur which is why the best ones work alongside a CEO.

10. Stick at it!

Sarah Drew continues: ìWeíre hoping that some wise words from C executives will encourage our ambitious job-seekers to make the right moves in the job search and careers and not believe everything they see on the TV!î