Discussing The Executive Assistant Resume
Executive assistants are the hubs around which all the activities of the office revolve. They are multi-taskers, constantly juggling office duties like typing, taking calls, scheduling meetings and much more. Their life is high speed and this career a rewarding one.Key Responsibilities
The core responsibility is to perform and coordinate the administrative activities of the office. This requires storing, retrieving and integrating information for the staff and the clients. Thus executive assistants act as the information and communication managers of the office. Their other duties include planning and scheduling meetings and appointments, organizing and maintaining both hard and soft files, managing projects, conducting researches and disseminating information through telephone, mail, email and websites. They are often required also to handle travel and accommodation arrangements.
Because of increasing office automation, they are required to run a variety of office equipment like fax machines, photocopiers, scanners, printers, telephone and video-conferencing systems, computer desktop publishing and digital graphics. Using these, they compose correspondence, manage databases, create spreadsheets, presentations, reports and other documents. Many times they may be asked to negotiate with vendors, obtain and maintain leased equipment, purchase supplies and manage stockrooms or corporate libraries.
With organizational restructuring and office automation, the responsibilities of executive assistants have greatly expanded and they are now increasingly called upon to assume responsibilities of the managerial or professional staff. On the other hand, many responsibilities which were earlier performed by executive assistants are now being handled by managers and professionals themselves such as taking phone calls and keyboarding.
Level of Education Required
Until recently, formal education was not considered necessary for the job of an executive assistant. However, two-year and four-year college and university courses are now available to train students specifically for careers as executive assistants. These colleges or universities can confer an Associate or a Bachelor"s degree and/or some type of professional certifications. Courses typically cover the basic skills required to succeed in a professional setting, like typing, software applications including MS Office, Word, Excel and Power Point, communications and speech, Business Writing and Grammar, office management, accounting and bookkeeping. Good customer service and interpersonal skills have come to acquire great importance for the career of executive assistants today. Industry specific skills are learned through on-the-job training and experience.
Career Path
Offices in every industry require the services of executive assistants. Entry-level positions in this career are highly competitive due to the number of applicants, but formal training and education can set a candidate apart in the crowd. However, this position considered a dead-end job by many as opportunities for career advancement are often limited and one may go on doing the same job year after year. Career progression is mainly through changing employers and joining more prestigious companies as one gathers more experience.
Summary
When discussing the÷ Executive Assistant Resume, it is a time honored career providing good job prospects, good earnings and also an aura of power. Though no formal qualification is necessary for it, courses providing specific training in office management skills are available and should be taken to gain a lead over others. Career advancement opportunities in the career are mainly confined to joining larger and more prestigious organizations.