Young professionals keen to climb the career ladder have been advised that it takes an average of 21 years to become a chief executive officer (CEO), according to findings.
Executive recruitment website TheLadders.co.uk said that candidates looking for CEO-level positions on its site all have around 21 years' experience or more.
It also believes that TV programmes such as Dragons' Den, Secret Millionaire and The Apprentice are encouraging younger job-seekers, onrec.com reports.
TheLadders.co.uk has seen an increase in traffic between 21:00 BST and 23:00 BST, which is when these programmes have usually just finished airing.
General manager Sarah Drew said the company thought "reality-style TV persuades ambitious managers that they can become a CEO overnight" and people should be "prepared to put in the time".
In related news, a recent survey by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working Conditions found that Brits are working an average of 41.4 hours per week, compared to the European average of 40, according to Personnel Today.
Digg 
Delicious 
Reddit 
StumbleUpon 
Google 
Technorati 
Netvouz