We surveyed 1,214 COOs to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical COO. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a COO?

Low

High

Working as a COO typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that COOs are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.

Can I learn to become a COO?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a COO typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a COO?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a COO.

Info

Do COOs work full-time or part-time?

93% of COOs work in full-time roles while 7% work part-time.

Is being a COO stressful?

Low

High

Stress is not uncommon amongst COOs, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.

Is being organized important as a COO?

Low

High

Some level of organization is generally required to be a COO.

How competitive is the workplace for COOs?

Low

High

COOs see mild competition in their workplace.

Does being a COO require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

COOs will see frequent time pressure on the job, likely contributing to an occasionally stressful work environment.

Are COOs allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

COOs are afforded a certain level of ability to express themselves creatively, compared to other careers.

Do COOs have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

COOs have high flexibility in the direction of their work, allowing them a lot of freedom in how they accomplish their goals.

Is being a COO physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as a COOs is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.

Are COOs exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

The workload of a COO changes frequently, with their day-to-day rarely being the same.

Does being a COO require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for COOs.

Does being a good COO require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as COOs.