Chief of Staff

[Dolphin78]

I’m looking at an industry pivot to Chief of Staff from VP of OPs right hand to CEO and COO and the job descriptions are very similar to the strategic roles I’ve been in which I’ve lived. Been out of work for a couple of months and my industry is niche and not hiring…

Anyone had experience of this sort of switch?
Are already a COS and might have advice?
Have any recommendations for recruiters?
Thanks!

This kind of role is one that is head hunted for

why have you been out of work for a few months? Have you been applying for roles?

I can only go on DH's current recruitment (he's a CEO) and one of the issues is that different places have different things that they call Chief of Staff - for instance, their group HR said his EA job description would be a Chief of Staff, but in the company I was in Chief of Staff was what others would call a Strategic Assistant to Cxx. He's currently recruiting a Strategic Assistant and it seems the wobbly job titles in this area is an issue for people searching.
Are you leaving your current industry or pivoting within it?

I’ve been in media for a long time and got made redundant last year there are very few roles at my level which is also a bit niche. I don’t want to leave the business but it’s time as I’ve never seen so many people out of work even the head hunter/recruiters I know have been laid off. I’ve been working with the former CEO he’s in the US and he suggested I go for COS as that’s what I’ve been doing really.

I work in a role where I come accross lots of people with a CoS job title. Like PP said it’s immensely variable. It could be trusted PA, a junior bag-carrier who accompanies the big boss to make sure she doesn’t lose her coat, a strategy head, or effectively a deputy who can swap in for the boss in many situations.

The link is that they’re all highly trusted, and often known before they got the job. I can’t think of many that wouldn’t be an internal move.

You can tell from the job descriptions if it’s an EA or strategic for example if diary management is mentioned it’s not a strategy role. In theory I’ve done the job working as number 2 for COO and CEO in two big organisations and had a chat with a couple of recruiters about the term being used for EAs. I understand the job was just wondering if anyone had any direct experience but thanks anyway!

You are asking this on Mumsnet?

well I read it I assume there must be others like me in the work section 😎

Your current role (ie senior in Ops) seems a common-ish career trajectory to CoS. I only have seen the more strategic Chief of Staff in the places I worked in (tech and finance), EAs are definitely different.
I have not seen both roles COO and Chief of Staff to the ceo in the same place.

Ideally he will recommend you to recruiters he knows

And why not?
It’s an interesting discussion.

I think many underestimate the number of very capable, professional women on here.

Apparently we’re all just making it up… 🤷‍♀️

Interesting update have an interview for COS on Friday for a role I applied to yesterday with my new improved CV!

Congrats! I’m an EA and find the whole PA / EA / CoS confusion and overlap interesting. CoS seems to be quite a new concept for the UK? I only know one, she was a senior ops person who the CEO decided would be his CoS so promoted internally.

@orangelion66 thank you!
It’s definitely a conundrum, as the use of titles is so arbitrary. I’m happy to be called anything as long as I get paid (I was going to say and “know what I’m doing”, but being comfortable with ambiguity seems to be a new essential requirement).

I’ve done a CoS role for the CFO and I see CoS roles on LinkedIn. I think they want a lot for the salary personally but don’t ask don’t get I guess!