'Becoming a CEO takes 21 years'

'Becoming a CEO takes 21 years'

16.9.2008

The average person takes 21 years to become a chief executive officer (CEO), despite TV programmes such as The Apprentice encouraging young workers, it has been suggested.

Executive recruitment website TheLadders.co.uk, found that CEO-level candidates on its site all had around 21 years' experience or more.

It has also noticed a peak in registrations between 21:00 BST and 23:00 BST, which is around the time TV programmes such as The Apprentice, Dragons' Den and Secret Millionaire finish, Online Recruitment reports.

General manager of TheLadders.co.uk Sarah Drew said she thought that "reality style TV persuades ambitious managers that they can become a CEO overnight or at the very least expect to be fast-tracked".

Meanwhile, a recent survey by the Trades Union Congress revealed that one in four employees are dissatisfied at work, with three-quarters saying that the opportunity for promotion was important, according to Personnel Today.

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