A day in the life of an executive assistant

Being a personal assistant isn't just about diary management; PAs are organising global events and managing budgets. 

A typical day

For a PA, no two days are the same; there are often several different projects and tasks to be worked on at any one time – multitasking is crucial! Predominantly, PAs act as a gatekeeper for their boss; often organising their diary, international travel and liaising with both internal and external contacts on his or her behalf for any upcoming meetings and events. 

Skills required

Personal assistants and executive assistants work across multiple industries. Key skills include the ability to prioritise, strong organisational skills, adaptability and good communication skills. Relationships are important and good working relationships will help you to progress, increase your internal network and make life easier on a day-to-day basis. The one-on-one PA role is based on chemistry. You must be a ‘change advocate’ as things move quickly and at short notice. You always need to be good at anticipating your boss’ needs, using your initiative and tenacity to get the job done.

Benefits

PAs are at the heart of organisations; working side-by-side with chief executives and leaders, playing a key role in supporting decisions. When supporting senior members, it is likely that a PA will be involved with events, investor relations and marketing and stakeholder management. Every day is different and there is never any time for clock watching!   

Aspiring executive assistants

Hard work gets you noticed, although, you won’t be praised daily. Always be forthcoming, get involved and don’t be afraid to ask for more responsibility. Boss’ often take recommendations from their executive assistant on business decisions. You will experience a variety of different work and with the opportunity to improve and implement new processes. 

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