A Top Pa Or Executive Assistant Needs A Broad Range Of Skills

In an international city like London the career of PA to a top executive can be both stimulating and very well paid, but it does require a wide variety of both formal and "soft" skills and, often, the patience of a saint.

It is definitely not a job that a newly-qualified candidate can walk into, so the first step is to get at least two years of experience to consolidate and improve on basic secretarial and office skills.

Plainly, basic qualifications in English and Maths are a must as are a good telephone manner and dressing correctly for an office environment.

Correct grammar, spelling and use of English are crucial to written communication, whether it is by e-mail or plain old-fashioned letters, but equally to compiling reports and proposals.

Many executive level secretaries are asked to take on some financial responsibilities, and hence need to also be numerate.

Highly developed attention to detail and computer skills including word processing, database management, spreadsheets, internet research and these days knowing something about social media are also a must.

It is usually the PA or executive secretary who first meets clients, business associates or customers on behalf of his or her boss and is therefore the first impression they have of the company. People skills are also important whether in person or on the telephone.

All of the above are the skills required of a good secretary or PA, but a really top level PA or Executive Assistant needs a good deal more.

They will need to have a reasonably detailed understanding of the company's products and operations and of the image it wishes to project and therefore it is possible that they will need a higher level of education in a relevant discipline, especially if the company is involved in a fairly technical or specific area of business.

Tact, diplomacy and a good deal of understanding are essential since most busy directors and CEOs rely on their PAs to screen calls and requests for meetings for a variety of reasons. It is likely that a good PA will be able to deal with an inquiry without having to consult their boss, who needs to be able to rely on them to handle people courteously, discreetly and competently.

This is a part of excellent diary management and there are other functions that could be included in this, including arranging meetings, itineraries, flights, transportation and hotels.

Often a PA will be asked to screen candidates for short listing before interviews and needs both knowledge of what skills the company is looking for and the type of person who would fit into the corporate culture.

An ability to understand the personal likes and dislikes, habits and needs of their boss is an essential part of this.

Sometimes a PA will be expected to handle social and personal diaries as well as the business diary and will need to keep track of birthday reminders and other routine personal appointments. Again that will need discretion as well as being highly organised.

Finally to stabd out as a really exceptional executive PA it helps to develop a thick skin, quick reactions, a good memory, a sense of humour and a high degree of self confidence and self reliance.


Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers