The business world is full of titles, and often it can be tricky to decode what they all mean. So if you’ve got a dream of having a few letters after your name, or a plaque on your door, here’s a few tips on which title is best suited for your goals, skills, and career ambition.
CEO – The big one. The brass ring of corporate titles. A company CEO, or Chief Executive Officer, is typically responsible for the total management of an organization, reporting only to the board of directors, should one exist. A CEO makes the day-to-day decisions regarding company direction, staffing, and anything else that is critical to the operation of a business. All departments report to you, and you know your business inside and out. Management and core business streams can be the best educational and training route to start your path to the CEO’s office.
President – Also known at times as the COO, or Chief Operating Officer, the President can have a number of possible roles, that of a figure of leadership in a company without as many actual responsibilities, or that of a more short-term, strategic operations management focused leader within a company. A president or COO often reports directly to the CEO and board of directors, with a more of a hands-on approach in regards to tactical decisions and implementation of development, design and improvement. Again, management and core business, as well as specialization in a particular business’ workings, can best lead you to the President’s desk.
CFO – Coming from a more strictly financial area of expertise, the Chief Financial Officer is responsible for managing financial risk and planning for a corporation. Knowledge of numbers, accounting, and financial theory can tailor a job track towards a CFO title, wherein you would be managing a team in charge of keeping financial records, decision-making on new ventures and investments based on risk, reporting financial matters to higher management, as well as working with the financial community at large communicating performance and forecasting for your company.
CMO – With a focus more on the public face of an organization, the Chief Marketing Officer comes from the public relations, communications, sales, market research and customer service avenues of a business. CMOs come from a diverse range of specialized disciplines, allowing you to apply your expertise from a number of fields, from analysis to customer relations, to market trends, to succeed as a CMO.
Vice-President – Vice-presidents are often heads of various branches within a company not handled directly by a chief officer higher up, such as human resources, or customer service. Vice-Presidents often come from within, working their way up in their departments to eventually be recognized as a leader within their company. VPs are often the feet on the ground, managing large teams, working day-to-day with the customers, general public, and workforce of the company at large.
CHRP – Certified Human Resources Professionals know the importance of the human element in any business. Through certification with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), you can obtain advanced standing in the field and show employers that you are the one to handle any human resources issue you could be faced with.
CFP – With the financial industry changing every day, corporations, banks and other financial organizations are looking for expert professionals to bring in clients who are looking for a guiding hand on their finances. By obtaining industry recognition as a Certified Financial Planner, you are showing employers that you have taken the steps necessary to succeed in today’s competitive financial market.
CGA – The Certified General Accountant’s certification allows you to move forward with your career with the strength of the most recognized professional affiliation behind you. Not only are you passionate about numbers and accounting, but you take what you do very seriously, and the certification demonstrates this clearly to all employers, big or small. Many organizations demand certification from their employees, and trust the expertise that industry recognition brings to make their business’ financial decision.
CIM – Obtained through the Canadian Institute of Management, the F.Cim and P.Mgr certifications show that an individual is well-equipped to lead a team in nearly any avenue of business. Ideals of leadership and responsibility translate across disciplines and avenues of business, and working with a professional certification demonstrates to an employer that you are ready to take on any challenge they can offer.
