Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Chiefs Of Staff
Andrew, a Chief of Staff, notes that dedicated entry-level chief of staff roles are rare, suggesting instead that "any kind of entry level role" building skills like "organization, prioritization, operating with limited information" is crucial. Andrew's own path, including sales, project management, and customer success, exemplifies the diverse backgrounds suitable for this "jack of all trades" role, with corporate strategy, operations, or project management providing strong stepping stones.
Project Management, Problem-Solving, Organizational Skills, Communication, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Andrew La Follette
Chief of Staff, Finance
PagerDuty
University of Arizona, 2012
UCLA MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in fields like sales, project management, and customer success can provide valuable skills for a future Chief of Staff role.
2. A Chief of Staff role requires strong organizational and prioritization skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to operate with limited information.
3. Many Chief of Staff professionals come from diverse backgrounds, including corporate strategy, operations, and project management, highlighting the versatility of the career path.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
To date, I have not seen any specific entry-level chief of staff roles, though they might exist. Chief of staff can mean a number of different things depending on the company.
My advice for someone wanting to get into a chief of staff role is to find any entry-level position that will give you the necessary skills. These include organization, prioritization, and operating with limited information. Finding roles where you can practice these skills is critical.
I started in sales, project management, and customer success. I had my own unique path to the chief of staff role, which can generally be described as a "jack of all trades" position. Ensuring you have core foundational skills in any entry-level role will be extremely helpful.
As you progress from entry-level to mid-career, many people in corporate strategy, operations, or project management gravitate towards chief of staff roles. They already possess the problem-solving and organizational capabilities required. However, many chiefs of staff come from diverse backgrounds, which is why I love the role. It allows for people from all walks of life, making it a great role to grow into.