How to Get a Job as an Executive Assistant
The members of the Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals (who wish to remain nameless) have plenty of advice for aspiring executive assistants. "Employers are looking for someone who can handle change, challenges, and tasks with an open mind and willingness to adapt to the surroundings," says one member. A bachelor's degree, administrative certifications, and prior experience will also help applicants to land a job. But what most AEAP members stress is honesty. "Be confident, not arrogant. Be who you are, not who you think they want you to be. Be respectful," advises another member. AEAP members say honesty and trustworthiness are key traits for which employers are looking. However, here's what one member wants to remind all aspiring executive assistants of: "Your appearance counts for a lot. Make sure you look sharp."
Interview Questions Submitted by Real Executive Assistants
"How do you fit in with Google culture?" - Google Administrative Assistant Candidate (New York, NY)
"Tell me about your background. Where you went to school, how you ended up there, and what you studied" - Parametric Technology Administrative Assistant (Needham, MA)
What is the Job Like?
As full-time employees, executive assistants are expected to work at least 40 hours a week, but the work week could be longer depending on the executives' schedules. There are some physical drawbacks: Assistants will spend much of their time sitting at a computer, which can cause problems such as eyestrain, back pain, and repetitive motion ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome. Executive assistants also encounter stress on a regular basis, since the job involves a lot of multitasking. However, executive assistants rarely experience boredom while at work, as their daily tasks vary broadly.
Real Reviews From Executive Assistants
+ "It's never boring, and it's a stable job in which you are able to help people stay well." - Walgreens Executive Assistant (Milwaukee, WI)
+ "Total compensation, key word being total...tremendous amount of paid time off, intelligent colleagues, challenging work, high performance expected, name recognition, firm festivities, networking." - PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Assistant (Chicago, IL)
- "Administrative opportunities are very limited if you do not work at the Redmond campus. It was very hard to move up career wise in the administrative community there." - Microsoft Executive Assistant (San Francisco, CA)
Review information and interview questions supplied by Glassdoor.
