How to Become an Executive Advisor
You provide business consulting services to management teams or company founders as an executive advisor. Your duties include studying organizational goals and strategies to identify potential changes that could improve operations. Ideally, you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field. Several years of industry experience and excellent communication and problem-solving skills are also required for this career.
Qualifications
Executive advisors help companies and other organizations implement their policies and plans. They guide a range of subject matters and study drafted plans and policies to ensure they align with organizational goals and strategies.
Typical qualifications for an executive advisor include a bachelor’s degree and several years of industry experience. They may also have earned certification in a particular industry or profession.
The salary of an executive advisor can be very high. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chief executives earned a mean annual salary of $193,850 in 2019, while general and operations managers made $123,030.
The educational qualifications for an executive advisor vary by position and industry, but a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, public administration, or liberal arts is the minimum. Some industries, such as retail, allow those without degrees to work their way up from entry-level positions.
Experience
As an executive assistant, you’re likely tasked with various responsibilities, from ensuring your boss is on time and in the right place to keeping up with the latest gadgets and gizmos thrown at your desk. Some execs have been known to get on mobile phone a little too much, so being able to decode text messages and faxes are a must if you want to stay on the cutting edge of your field. A bachelor’s degree in business administration, a solid work ethic, and a spiffy pipsqueak office space are prerequisites for this job title.
Education
The education needed to become an executive advisor can vary widely, but a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field is generally the minimum required. A master’s degree in a specific study area, such as management or leadership, maybe a plus for some employers.
You might be interested in this career if you have a passion for consulting and a keen eye for detail. You’ll need to be able to conduct thorough research, analyze data and draw conclusions that are relevant to the business you’re working for.
You’ll also need to be able to perform the functions of your job well, including scheduling meetings and events, taking notes, and preparing reports. In addition, you should have good listening and analytical problem-solving skills to ensure your boss is getting the best possible service. It’s also wise to keep an eye out for opportunities to learn new tricks and gain experience in the field you’re interested in, even if it’s only for a few years.
Skills
As an executive advisor, your job is to help your client develop and implement an improvement plan. This is a very confidential career that requires excellent listening and analytical problem-solving skills.
The BLS states that a bachelor’s degree is the most common degree required for this career, but some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree. Experience is also essential.
You provide high-level support to company executives, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, and managing the boss’s calendar. Your duties also include preparing reports and conducting research.
You must work effectively under pressure and prioritize tasks without distraction. It would help if you also had good communication and interpersonal skills. Understanding your executive’s business goals and values is essential, so you can make the right decisions to achieve them.