what is an executive assistant?

The job of an executive assistant is an important role that involves assisting senior managers within the organisation. In this position, you work closely with the managers you support and need to learn what their personal preferences are. What sets an executive assistant apart from other assistants and administrators in the workplace is who you report to. You report directly to the managers, the CEO and the board.

As an executive assistant, you’re also a mediator, reading through executives’ speeches, taking calls from clients or partners, and preparing press materials. Your job is to make things easier for the executives, handling the more day-to-day administrative tasks, so the executives or the CEO can instead focus on their primary mission.

Even though the role of executive assistant is subordinate to a managerial position, you are in a position that allows you to advise managers on more important matters. With your valuable knowledge and insight, you will also influence internal policies and be in a position to guide team leaders, middle managers, as well as advise other colleagues. In some cases, the role of executive assistant can be personal, with a certain insight into the manager’s private life.

Would a job as an executive assistant suit your strategic and organisational side? Then read on to learn more about the skills and qualifications required to succeed in a role as an executive assistant.

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1

average salary as an executive assistant.

In many organisations, an executive assistant plays a central role in keeping things running smoothly. Without executive assistants, managers cannot do their jobs as efficiently as they would like. This means that the salary for an executive assistant can be very good.

There are executive assistants in many different companies and industries, and salaries can vary greatly depending on the employer. There are also executive assistants with differently designed roles, with more or less complex areas of responsibility and tasks. That in itself will also affect the salary. The average salary as an executive assistant can be anywhere between 29 000kr and 35 000kr. However, the salary is influenced by various factors.

which factors can affect the salary as an executive assistant.

An executive assistant has good opportunities for a strong negotiating position when it comes to salary negotiations. By performing at their best, including having good industry knowledge and insight into how the company's operations are progressing, one can increase their chances of getting a higher salary. In many companies, executive assistants play such an important role that they become difficult to replace, as they make work easier for senior managers and keep the daily operations running smoothly.

Even the executive assistant who has greater responsibility, more authority to make decisions and handles more complex tasks, is better positioned to receive a higher salary. In addition, someone working as an executive assistant in a larger company, such as one operating in a multinational market, can earn more in salary. Your work experience is always relevant, both from your current workplace and from previous jobs.

2

different roles of executive assistant.

It is possible to work as an executive assistant in many different organisations and companies. The role is about providing support to senior managers and the management team when the company's objectives are to be achieved. In small companies, an executive assistant may work closely with several different managers and be an important bridge in daily communication and workflow. In larger companies, it is common for an executive assistant to work closely with a specific manager. It can also be a role that involves having personnel responsibility and communicating directly with the employees in that department.

If you’re responsible for personnel in the role of executive assistant, you’ll spend a large part of your working hours managing the day-to-day operations. This also means you’ll handle some of the manager’s own tasks that require responsibility, such as attending certain meetings on the manager’s behalf. It may also involve making certain decisions. In such a role, as an executive assistant, you’re an important sounding board for the manager and make sure all parts of the operation run as they should.

Close up - Smiling female holding a mug while talking to someone.
Close up - Smiling female holding a mug while talking to someone.
3

working as an executive assistant.

As a personal assistant, you often have fully booked days that require focus and planning. This means you need to be flexible and adaptable, and skilled at planning and organising, so you don't miss anything important.

Read more below about the common tasks and areas of responsibility you need to handle in the role of executive assistant, as well as what the future prospects look like.

4

education and qualifications.

In order to get a job as an executive assistant, the following qualifications are required.

  • Education: In almost all cases, the requirement to get a job as an executive assistant is to have a relevant academic education, either a bachelor's or a master's degree. This could be a qualification in administration, business, economics or other fields of study related to business. The education provides you with many important tools to be able to work as an executive assistant.

  • Learning period: A certain period of training is to be expected to become an executive assistant. Either as a dedicated assistant at a lower level within the same company, or in other responsible roles within the same or another organisation. Getting the chance to improve your skills is important in order to be able to handle a job as an executive assistant later in your career.

  • Work experience: It is essential to have relevant work experience before taking a job as an executive assistant. It gives you the training and skills needed, but it also adds merit to your CV. Work experience is also a good way to make contacts that may become important.

5

knowledge and skills.

There are some important skills that an executive assistant should have.

6

frequently asked questions about working as an executive assistant.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about working as an executive assistant.

7

monitor jobs for executive assistant.

By creating a job alert with us, you make sure you don’t miss the perfect job for you. You set the criteria and we’ll email you when we get jobs that match your preferences.

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