CHICAGO, March 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CEOs:
They're just like us (for the most part). While movies and TV want
us to believe every company's senior executives travel via
chauffeured limousine, eat only five-star gourmet meals and sport
wardrobes worthy of British royalty, the reality for most company
executives is much less extravagant. A lighthearted, newly released
survey from CareerBuilder takes a closer look at the personalities
and preferences of those who occupy the corner office.
The study was conducted online in November to December 2014 by Harris Poll on behalf of
CareerBuilder among more than 500 executives (hiring and human
resources managers in senior leadership positions including CEOs,
CFOs, COOs and Senior VP).
Dressing the Part
Unlike "30 Rock" head honcho Jack
Donaghy, only 1 in 5 executives (20 percent) consider a
business suit typical office attire. Most executives (57 percent)
outfit themselves in business casual clothing, while 18 percent
regularly wear jeans or shorts to work.
Black is the clothing color of choice for 32 percent of
executives, making it the most popular choice for this group. Navy
blue is the second most popular color worn by executives (31
percent), followed by grey (10 percent).
Riding in Cars with Bosses
Don't expect to see the chief executive pulling up to the office
in a chauffeured town car like top dog Miranda Priestley in "The Devil Wears Prada."
Most executives (79 percent) take themselves to work in an
automobile, with 1 in 4 (24 percent) driving an SUV, 1 in 5 (22
percent) opting for a mid-sized sedan, and 1 in 10 (10 percent)
cruising around in luxury sedan.
Nearly 1 in 5 executives (18 percent) use environmentally
friendly ways to get around, with 9 percent taking public
transportation (bus or train), 4 percent driving hybrids, 4 percent
walking, and 1 percent riding their bikes.
Wining and Dining
"Scandal" bigwig Olivia Pope
might have a penchant for red wine and the partners of Sterling Cooper on "Mad Men" may sip whiskey on
the regular, but in reality, more than 3 in 5 of executives (62
percent) abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages at company happy
hours. Instead, they opt for soda (23 percent), water (19 percent),
coffee (13 percent) or nothing at all (7 percent). Thirteen percent
of executives kick back with a beer, and the same number (13
percent) opt for wine, while 8 percent opt for mixed
drinks.
When it comes to their dining habits, nearly half of executives
(42 percent) bring their lunch from home, while the rest opt for
fast food (22 percent) or food from a sit-down restaurant (14
percent). One in ten (10 percent) of executives say they don't eat
lunch on a typical day.
Righties vs. Lefties
Right-handers outnumber left-handers by nearly 7 to 1 (80
percent versus 13 percent); however, 8 percent of executives claim
to be ambidextrous.
When it comes to parting their hair, 3 in 10 executives (29
percent) favor the right side, 19 percent go down the middle, and
15 percent part on the left. One in four (25 percent) don't part
their hair at all, while 11 percent sport a shaved or bald
head.
Working Hard, Working Out
When asked how many hours they work in a typical week, 40 was
the minimum for most head honchos. Fifty-eight percent of
executives say they work 40 to 49 hours a week, and 32 percent work
50 hours or more. Only a lucky few (9 percent) say they work less
than 40 hours a week.
Despite having a packed schedule, the vast majority of
executives (82 percent) are able to squeeze in at least one work
out a week, with 39 percent working up a sweat four or more days a
week. Nearly 1 in 5 (18 percent) say they "rarely" or "never" work
out.
Emulating the CEO: Will It Help You Get Ahead?
They say you should dress for the job you want, but will
dressing and acting like a senior executive help you get there?
"Certainly, getting ahead in your career is based largely on your
performance," says Rosemary Haefner,
chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder. "The way you
present yourself, however, is to many a reflection of how seriously
you take your job." Haefner offers the following tips to dress –
and behave – for career success.
- Follow the leader…The CEO and other senior leaders
should set the tone for how to conduct yourself in the workplace,
so look toward them for direction when it comes to not just
dressing the part, but conducting yourself like a leader as
well.
- Dress for success. But don't get caught in a "who wore
it better" situation. Showing up in the exact same Brooks Brothers
suit the boss wore on Monday could be could be perceived as sucking
up – or simply creepy. Remember who you are as an individual.
Adding accessories like jewelry, scarves or ties to a classic black
pant suit, for example, creates a look that is both professional
and reflects your personal style.
- Be the brand. Even when they're not at the office, CEOs
and senior executives are considered the "face" of the brand;
therefore, even when they're not at work, they are living by the
company's brand values. Take this into consideration when you're
out socializing–and posting on social media. Remember that you're a
representation of your company's (and your personal) brand and how
you act reflects on that brand.
- Ask for what you want. Don't wait around for your
manager to recognize your leadership potential. Take the initiative
and ask your manager for more responsibility. Be clear about your
career goals and see if you can together to create a clear plan for
the future.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Poll
on behalf of CareerBuilder among 552 executives (hiring and human
resources managers in senior leadership positions including CEOs,
CFOs, COOs and Senior VP) ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not
self-employed, non-government) between
November 4 and December 2, 2014 (percentages for some
questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to
certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 552, one
could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results
have a sampling error of +/- 4.17 percentage points. Sampling
error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.
About CareerBuilder®
CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions,
helping companies target and attract great talent. Its online
career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million
unique visitors and 1 million jobs. CareerBuilder works with the
world's top employers, providing everything from labor market
intelligence to talent management software and other recruitment
solutions. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company
and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its
subsidiaries operate in the United
States, Europe,
South America, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit
www.careerbuilder.com.
Media Contact
Mary
Lorenz
773-527-3613
mary.lorenz@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR
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SOURCE CareerBuilder