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7 Things Administrative Assistants Hate About Their Bosses
April 27, 2012 by William FriersonAdministrative assistants (aka executive assistants, or secretaries if you’re stuck in the Mad Men days) are essential for any successful business to run properly. They epitomize the phrase “in the trenches” because they’re the ones getting their hands dirty by doing all the things that need to be done that no one else can do quickly and efficiently. All the creative planning and brainstorming is great, but it’s the administrative professionals who turn pie-in-the-sky pipe dreams into reality.
But because they’re so reliable and always there, it’s easy to take them for granted. Case in point, if you’re a manager and completely unaware this week is Administrative Professionals Week, you likely fall into the aforementioned category. But even though you should be giving your assistant a gift this week, we thought we’d turn the tables and do something different. Continue Reading
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How to Become a Personal Assistant
January 05, 2010 by joel cheesmanif you’re wondering how to become a personal assistant, there are several things you can do to further your path to a future career.
While most employers don’t require you to obtain a specific certification to become a personal assistant, there are some training courses you can take – such as those offered by ProAssisting – that will better prepare you for the position.
In the long run, however, it seems that who you know and the right timing are the key factors in securing a personal assistant opening. In addition, there are several essential skills you can include on your resume to make you a good candidate.
Here are six steps, as compiled by eHow.com, to becoming a personal assistant:- Know how to save your employer time – It’s a personal assistant’s job to help a busy employer complete their daily tasks, streamline communication and prioritize important responsibilities. Therefore, you should be able to save your employer time by combining obligations into an achievable target.
- Have the necessary skills to do the job – You should have current computer skills, good telephone manner, excellent communication style, great problem-solving ability, the ability to manage time effectively and the focus stay organized.
- Be efficient in written and oral communication – This is important, because you will be responsible for writing letters, accepting invitations, politely rejecting unsolicited social or business proposals, creating speeches and reports, making agendas and sending reminders for meeting dates.
- Network – Personal assistants are often hired because of who they know, so it’s important to establish and maintain a network of people important to your industry. Your network can help you stay on top of business trends, take-overs, new entrepreneurs and competitors. Knowing where to find the services important to your employer also is important.
- Be personable – Your employer will be looking for someone they can get along with, so it helps to be observing, charismatic and ambitious, as well as to take initiative.
- Be proficient in a foreign language – While this isn’t a necessity, it can help you stand out from other applicants. As personal assistants are often asked to travel with their employers, knowing another language can be a huge asset and advantage.
Once you feel comfortable with the skills you’ve obtained, your network and your attitude, you can start applying and interviewing for personal assistant jobs.
