Most employees aspire to one day become an executive. The nice office, the hefty paycheck, the executive assistant and the reserved parking space all are perks of making it to the top rung of the corporate ladder.

It's no free ride, however. It takes hard work and determination to get there. Executives earn that corner office with a view by going above and beyond, time and time again, to ensure the company is operating at its full potential.

Their titles might be different: chief executive office, executive director, president, chairman of the board; but people who work in an executive position carry a lion's share of responsibility. Being an executive means accepting the pressure that accompanies that position. Long hours including evenings and weekends come with the territory of being an executive. Those working hours aren't spent in the office or on the golf course; as subordinates might think when they see the lights off in the executive's office. Considerable travel to company branch offices, to meet with customers, or to represent the company at conferences is also on the list of an executive's job duties.

Executive jobs are coveted by those inside and outside the company. When an executive position becomes open, the competition can be intense thanks in part to the stature and salary that comes with being an executive. Employers looking to hire somebody for an executive-level position carefully scrutinize candidates, looking for leadership, experience, and the ability to meet goals set by the company. It can take months to fill an executive position, but it's among the most important personnel decisions a company can make.