executive assistant.

Key tasks of an executive assistant include:

• managing an executive's calendar and schedule: you are the gatekeeper strategically managing the executive's time. You plan their schedule based on their goals and priorities. You also field meeting requests and create a working calendar to ensure the senior manager has time for all appointments.
• receiving phone calls and managing emails: you manage all communication with the senior executive. That includes picking up phone calls on their behalf and organising their email. You also organise their correspondence in order of priority.
• planning and facilitating meetings: your core responsibility involves planning and facilitating client appointments and upper-management meetings. You set up in-person or virtual meetings by finding the appropriate time for all parties and preparing the executive for the meetings. During meetings, you record the proceedings and transcribe them for parties unable to attend.
• coordinating travel: an executive assistant plans all travel for senior-level managers. You ensure a smooth travel experience by organising flights, transportation and accommodation. You also prepare the itinerary and plan your schedule if you accompany the executive.

As an executive assistant, you work primarily in an office environment. You can work alone, but being cooperative and collaborative with other office staff is part of your job. Your usual workplace depends on your executive's location. The travel plans you organise enable you to see the world. You may also work remotely or from home. Expect to interact with all executive staff members as the go-to person from whom they derive information. Since you work alongside top-level executives, you maintain strict professionalism and always wear business attire.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include administration assistants, project managers and operations managers. You might also be working in close proximity to office administrators and office managers, as well as other specialists that could include (but not be limited to) legal secretaries, program administrators and analysts.

The executive members of your company work full-time. Your schedule will adapt to the executives' needs, and some of your work may fall outside ordinary business hours. You tend to have weekends off as you work office hours.

As an assistant, your role is an executive one, and few people reach this level without flexibility. Thus, the time you invest in your job has the potential to overlap with your personal life. Top performers accept some inconvenience when giving their all to the job.

The job outlook for executive assistants is good due to the competitive nature of corporate and executive workloads. Top-level executives find it difficult to maximise productivity without someone helping them handle the smaller tasks. Businesses with executive branches weather economic storms better than small to midsize businesses. The strength of an executive team ensures career opportunities in various economic conditions. Your earnings also increase over time. The longer you hold a position as an executive assistant, the more money you can demand. In your career, you have the potential to work with a single person or lead an entire group.

Finding your executive assistant job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an executive assistant is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

As an executive assistant, you assist high-level employees in accomplishing their duties and responsibilities. For instance, you work closely with business executives to provide the support they require, from managing their calendars to attending meetings on their behalf and preparing reports.

The main task of an executive assistant is to manage office duties on behalf of the executive. For instance, you receive reports from department heads and provide recommendations on various projects. You handle calendar events and set up meetings for your boss. You also perform clerical duties, like answering phone calls, screening visitors, making travel arrangements and organising documents.

As an executive assistant, you require technical and soft skills to excel in your role. You need great multitasking skills to handle various tasks in the company. Your multitasking skills and time management ability help you prioritise tasks. Attention to detail helps keep up with the executive’s busy schedule and avoid missing important meetings.

As an executive assistant, you earn an average salary of $90,000 per year. When you are new in the role, you can receive an annual salary of $80,000. As you improve your skills and qualifications, you can earn over $100,000 yearly.

Being an executive assistant doesn't limit you in any way. There are endless industries, numerous brands and many cities to work in as an executive assistant. The stimulation or satisfaction in your work comes from your decisions regarding your career path. You can change employers and develop your skills when seeking pay raises or better advancement opportunities. You determine how your time is used and how it's valued.

Applying for an executive assistant job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.