What competencies should an executive assistant have?<\/h2>\n
If you want to become an executive assistant, you need to be organized and forward-thinking.<\/p>\n
Interpersonal skills such as excellent listening and professional communication<\/a> will be valued, especially as you manage the office and act as the first point of contact on behalf of an executive.<\/p>\n Computer and software proficiency is essential, as you will need to work with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and emails on a regular basis. You may also play a public relations<\/a> function, where you could strategically manage your business or executive\u2019s reputation across key stakeholders. You could also be asked to develop and implement crisis management plans.<\/p>\n Though an executive assistant certificate is not mandatory, obtaining one through training and courses can help give you an advantage over your competition.<\/p>\n As an executive assistant, you have a unique perspective of the business or industry from an executive level. You\u2019ll learn the inner workings of an organization across all areas and interact with high-level stakeholders on a daily basis. The role has built-in opportunities for networking and skills development<\/a> \u2013 your insider knowledge and strong connections can help you identify and move into areas you\u2019d like to be more involved in.<\/p>\n Earning potential in executive support will depend on your professional designation, work experience, and any skills training you\u2019ve done that adds value to your role.<\/p>\n Discover the median salary according to years of experience of executive assistants in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, using the GetSmarter Salary Navigator<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re aiming for a future in executive support, you won\u2019t need a university degree. Get training in the following areas to help set you up:<\/p>\n Executive assistants are often required to have a number of years\u2019 experience in a secretarial or junior assistant role. If you put in the years and build your abilities, it\u2019s just a matter of time before you could qualify to move into an executive post.<\/p>\n Online courses that focus on skills development, such as professional communication<\/a> and public relations<\/a>, can help you stand out in a competitive job market. In addition, explore the University of Cape Town\u2019s Executive Support<\/a> 10-week online course to kick-start a career as an executive assistant.<\/p>\n Begin your executive assistant career with an online skills course<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Executive Assistants are the right hand of their employer, providing individualised support to high-level executives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":44510,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[122,127],"article-format":[],"class_list":["post-13711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-advice","tag-business-management","tag-career-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the career path of an executive assistant?<\/h2>\n
What is the potential salary for an executive assistant?<\/h2>\n
What are the education and training requirements for an executive assistant?<\/h2>\n
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Expand your portfolio of skills<\/h3>\n
![\"School](\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/UCT_logo.png\"){kind=logo}
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\n \n Executive Support online short course <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n ![\"Read](\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog\/assets\/icn_arrow-circle_right.svg\"){kind=icon}
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