Despite a sometimes common misconception that executive assistants are glorified secretaries, they have a wide range of responsibilities that go far beyond clerical duties. This how to guide page will instruct you on how to become an executive assistant for various industries. The median salary for this career is $37,350 per year and can go as high as $55,000 per year.
Although some employers will accept a candidate with only an associate's degree, most require a bachelor's degree. In this guide, you will find some of the most universal education, training and job requirements for the administrative assistant discipline. Likewise, it will provide tips on extra skills and personality strengths that come in handy for executive assistants.
Featured Video: How to Become an Executive Secretary
Edu411 discusses the executive assistant job position in this helpful and concise video clip. It goes over many of the requirements while touching on employer expectation and work climate. Also, the narrator mentions future expectations of people in this career such as moving up to middle management. The running time is 1:46.
Step 1: Education and Certification
Most executive assistants have a degree or experience in the same field as who they are working under. It helps to also study communications, business and computers. Some schools actually offer executive assistant programs. This training is especially popular at online universities. Alongside the usual education path, you can also take the Certified Administrative Professionals and the Certified Professional Secretary exams.
Step 2: Job Requirements
Generally speaking, executive assistants are responsible for organizing their boss' schedule and keeping him/her on task. The following is a list of other possible requirements:
- Keep records
- Handle clients in a professional manner
- Supervise clerical staff
- Make sure messages are organized and transferred to the proper departments
- Schedule meetings and conference calls
- Remind the boss about scheduled appointments
- Collect research and create reports
- Help the office run smoothly and efficiently
Step 3: Useful Skills
Of course, people with a specific personality and skill set do better in this career than others. Below are just some of the characteristics that employers seek for this position.
- Positive attitude
- Good memory
- Excellent communications skills
- Organized
- Calm during a crisis
- Detail-oriented
- Thrives in active work environments
- Persistent
- Pro-active
- Able to interact with superiors and subordinates successfully
References
Fast Facts
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Get as much education and certification as you can. It gives you the opportunity to obtain a higher paying salary.
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Like many occupations, it pays to be current with all technological trends such as the BlackBerry, iPhones and PDAs.
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Keep your skills up-to-date with the industry standard software packages like the Microsoft Office Suite.
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Boost your resume further by taking business law and business math courses.
