Who Are Executive Assistants?
An executive assistant is a highly skilled professional hired to help or support corporate executives such as the COOs and CEOs whose work is very demanding and they are busy most of the time. He ensures that the offices of the CEOs and COOs are running smoothly.It is a challenging position that needs someone who can work extra hard to ensure that the organization are running profitably.
Duties and Responsibilities of Executive Assistants
Duties and responsibilities of executive assistant might vary slightly depending on the culture of a company as well as the specific duties assigned by the corporate executives who serve as their immediate supervisors.In general, the executive assistants help the corporate executive with some of the administrative roles so that they can have much time to focus on matters that are more important.
Some of the very important duties and responsibility that most executive assistants do include:
- Preparing reports and presentations that the corporate executives might need
- Receiving, screening and transferring calls that are intended for the CEOs
- Managing the budget as well as other financial matters
- Project coordination, which will require them to work with other internal and management staff of various levels as well as external ones
- Managing the calendar of the executives as well as booking appointments, meetings and ensuring the venues are ready.
- Booking airline, hotels and rental cars whenever the executives travel
- Doing research on various matters that concern the company and updating the executives to ensure that they are up-to-date
- They also perform clerical jobs such as drafting and proofing letters on behalf of the executives, being their correspondence and handling other office work
- They are also responsible for making some of the crucial decision and coming up with company policies that the executives present while in meetings
- Forecasting and preparing action plan for management to adopt
Skills and Qualities of Executive Assistant
From the duties and responsibilities already mentioned above in this executive assistant job description, it should be clear that this is a very demanding job. To be very successful, one needs to have some vital qualities and skills. Some of the most important skills include the following:- They should be very efficient
- Have strong decision making and problem resolution skills
- Have organization and prioritizing skills
- Be able to work well in dynamic environment that are fast paced
- Have excellent interpersonal skills
- Have good listening and communication skills, both verbal and non verbal
- Have good calendar and time management skills
- Hold high standards and be very confident always
Other desirable qualities that might be sought in an executive assistant might be specific to the special duties and responsibilities that the person might be doing.
Academic Qualification of Executive Assistants
Academic qualifications of executive assistants vary greatly from one organization to another. Most of the executive assistants begin as secretaries or administrative assistant where they have to do secretarial and administrative assistants programs. Some of the qualifications that might be required include- A diploma from secretarial program or school
- Executive assistant certificate, a program that takes around 12 months to be completed in community and business schools
- Associate and bachelor’s degrees though this might not be a must requirements
- These professionals might require updating computer and office technology skills from time to time.
Some of the certification that the executive administrative might have include Certified Administrative Professional, CAP given by International Association of Administrative Professionals.
Another professional association that executive assistants might join is the Association of Executive and Administrative Association, which will give those who are members an upper hand.
Salaries and Wages for Executive Assistant
The exact amount of money that executive assistants earn will differ depending on the academic qualification and experience that an individual has.Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate on average, there professionals earned $40,030 per year with the lowest 10% earning an average value of $27,030 while the top 10%had $62,070 per in the year 2008.
You should be clear about executive administrative career. It is certainly a well paying career opportunity.