Executive assistants are specialized personalized assistants that are assigned to high-level executives to handle administrative tasks, appointments, correspondence, and often confidential issues related to a business. Not everyone is cut out to be an executive assistant, but the individuals who excel with this kind of work can have a huge impact on your professional and personal life.
If you’re looking to hire a new staff member here are the key skills for executive assistants to look for.
Being Resourceful and Adaptable
The role of an executive assistant changes on a daily basis, so the professional you hire must be able to adapt and change as different needs arise. This requires the employee to be resourceful in figuring out the best solutions to issues so that you don’t feel the need to micromanage him or her.
Able to Anticipate Needs
Another one of the top executive assistant skills is being able to anticipate needs before they actually arise. This involves having a good amount of experience in the business world and also enough foresight to know what kind of obstacles commonly stand in the way of certain goals.
A Drive for Productivity
Executive assistants need to be self-motivated individuals who have their own goals and want to put all they have into their work. Therefore, one of the top qualities of executive assistants who are successful have a drive for productivity and desire to be more efficient in their work. Many executive assistants use the ABCDE Method to organize their tasks and boost their productivity.
Tech-Savvy Skillset
In today’s modern world, it’s important to know your way around the latest and greatest technology to serve your clients properly. Being tech-savvy is an essential executive assistant skill to have these days, especially if you are working in a high-tech industry.
Willing to Volunteer for Special Projects
Great executive assistants don’t wait around to be asked to do things. Instead, they take initiative and volunteer to go above and beyond their required duties. Doing only what’s mandatory versus helping out with a little more is what separates good assistants from amazing ones.
A Reflection of Executive Values
An executive assistant should reflect the values and mission of his or her boss for the sake of company continuity and cohesiveness. It is important for executives and their assistants to be on the same page in order to establish a unified front and guide the rest of the company by example.
Helpful in Building Community Culture
The reflection of values ties into the need to build a community culture and creating common ground for all employees to agree upon. Another one of the key skills for executive assistants is a willingness to build a community culture and help bosses and colleagues determine what that culture should be.
Find Your Own Executive Assistant
If you are ready to hire an executive assistant with all the right qualities and qualifications, Household Staffing International can help. We specialize in pairing highly qualified executive assistants with business professionals to create long-lasting partnerships that further company goals.
On our website, you can browse potential executive assistant candidates and fill out our online form to tell us more about your needs. You can also call us at 212-889-6609 with any questions you have about the hiring process. We look forward to serving you!
