How To Become A COO (Chief Operating Officer)

The path to becoming a good chief operating officer (COO) isn’t easy, but with hard work and dedication, you could land your dream job working side by side with a chief executive officer (CEO).

At Arielle Executive, we offer bespoke services and intensive coaching for senior leaders, C-level executives, and board members.

Below is a quick guide explaining how you can get started on your journey to becoming a COO.

(Related: Top Executive Resume Writing Service In The U.S.)

What Does A COO Do?

The primary responsibility of a chief operating officer is to oversee day-to-day operations and act as the driving force behind an organisation’s success.

Generally, COOs report directly to the chief executive officer and play an integral role as their right-hand person. A

As a C-level executive and leader, a COO often develops strategies and solutions to enhance the company’s growth, productivity, and profitability. Alternative job titles for COOs include:

• Vice President of Operations.
• Operating Director.
• Managing Director.

Common job responsibilities of a COO include the following:

• Leading critical business activities.
• Overseeing daily and internal operations.
• Taking orders or directions from the CEO.
• Communicating business policy and strategy to employees.
• Delegating tasks to other employees or departments.
• Developing strategies for reducing costs and increasing profits.
• Maintaining organisational efficiency through changes.
• Leading business operations like sales marketing, human resources, and internal affairs.

COOs have a high-pressure job that requires hard work, commitment, and long hours. However, COOs earn an excellent pay grade in return.

The salary for a COO in the United States ranges from $421,892 to $160,088, with an average of $624,655.

In addition, many COOs receive excellent benefits, like bonus cheques, stock options, paid time off, health savings accounts, retirement accounts, and more.

(Related: How To Negotiate An Executive Compensation Package)

How To Become A COO: Get Started On A C-level Executive Path.

The exact path you take to become a COO will vary depending on the industry or field you want to work in. However, every COO must follow the same general steps to earn their spot as a C-level executive:

1. Go To University And Earn A Bachelor’s Degree.

A prerequisite for every potential COO is to go to university and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Of course, your major will vary based on the industry you’d like to work in. However, many COOs complete their four-year degrees as business majors.

The skills you’ll learn as a business major are often transferable or applicable across many industries and include organisational skills, project and operations management, and market research.

2. Consider Obtaining A Master’s Degree or MBA.

While there’s no hard rule that says every COO must have a master’s degree, you should seriously consider this educational path.

With a master’s degree, you can stand out from other applicants who only have an undergraduate degree.

Earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a popular choice for many COOs and usually takes around two years to complete. It involves learning a diverse range of business concepts and skills. Plus, obtaining your MBA doesn’t just increase your chances of landing the job you want.

People with advanced degrees often command higher salaries than their less-educated counterparts.

3. Start Gaining Industry Experience.

After completing your education, the next step is to get out in the real world and start gaining on-the-job experience.

We won’t sugar-coat it: most COOs spend at least 10 to 15 years working in their respective industries before gaining enough experience to reach a C-level executive position.

As we stated earlier, honing your skills and knowledge enough to become a successful COO requires time and effort, and you’ll need in-depth knowledge of how a company operates.

In addition to developing hard skills, gaining real-life experience helps you sharpen your soft skills, like problem solving, leadership, project management, etc.

Of course, you should strive to gain experience by working in jobs related to the industry in which you want to have a career.

4. Expand Your Skill Set And Professional Knowledge.

The experience you’ll gain in the workplace is invaluable and will help you on your career path to becoming a COO. However, you shouldn’t stop there.

You should immediately take any opportunity that comes your way to keep learning new skills, expanding your knowledge and gaining experience.

For example, you may want to take extracurricular courses or classes that will help you hone your technical and soft skills. Here are a few examples:

• Leadership training programs.
• Organisational leadership courses.
• Management executive certification.
• Project management certification.
• Industry-specific courses (human resources, product management, sales, etc.).

It’s also important to keep track of any relevant accomplishments, accolades, and successes you achieve in the workplace.

Many people tend to forget their professional impact as the years pass by. However, companies want to see applicants with a proven record of leadership skills, operational efficiency, and leadership experience.

Keep a record of specific examples of your accomplishments, such as how you’ve cut costs, increased profits, and streamlined operations.

5. Start Establishing A Professional Business Network.

Another important aspect of your COO career path is building a network of professional relationships and business connections. Of course, the more professionals you know within your industry, the more likely you are to find job opportunities. In addition, this strategy showcases your skills, knowledge, and what you bring to the table.

One way to start establishing a business network is by connecting with your current colleagues and reaching out to other professionals in the same industry. You can connect with others via social media or by attending professional conventions and networking events.

Pro Tip! Seek out a mentor. Finding a mentor who has experience as a COO or in a similar executive position is one of the best things you can do to learn the ins and outs of the role. A good mentor will also guide you on how to progress in your career.

6. Apply For Available COO Positions In Your Chosen Field.

After earning a degree and spending years gaining valuable experience and skills, it’s finally time to start applying for available COO jobs in your industry.

While many companies choose to promote from within when filling C-level positions, this is not always the case.

You may want to lean on your business associates and professional network once you start searching for a job. You can also look online for available job openings or ask your current line manager whether there are any opportunities for advancement.

Don’t forget, creating a compelling and exceptional resume is an important aspect of applying for a job, particularly a high-performance, C-level executive position. You may want to consider investing in professional resume and job coaching services, as this will give you the best possible chance of landing the job you want as a COO.

Start Your Career Path As A COO With Arielle Executive.

At Arielle Executive, we know the pressures and obstacles that every applicant faces in today’s hypercompetitive job market. For people who want to learn how to become COOs, the challenge increase exponentially.

As a C-level executive, you’ll need a strong education, operational expertise, and the commitment required to work in a high-pressure, high-performance job.

If you’re struggling to find your way and learn how to become a COO, we can help.

Our team provides bespoke resume and job coaching services for executive professionals, helping you gain the skills you need to develop and succeed.