Executive Assistant

Executive assistants perform more than administrative tasks; they are often the executive’s “right-hand person” who enables them to advance company initiatives and goals. They filter and attend to the day-to-day functions that are part of the executive’s role so that the executive can focus on the high-level leadership and strategy functions.

Your job description should include a brief overview of the company and the position’s key functions, as well as detailed information about responsibilities, skills and qualifications and benefits.

Executive Assistant Responsibilities

Your job description should include a list of the executive assistant’s key responsibilities. Since each executive works differently and will likely have their own priorities, it is important to be as specific as possible regarding the responsibilities so you can find the most qualified candidates.

Feel free to get more specific in your job responsibilities, but the following are some of the most common executive assistant responsibilities:
• Manage scheduling for company executive(s)
• Draft, review and send communications on behalf of company executive(s)
• Organize and prepare for meetings, including gathering documents and attending to logistics of meetings
• Answer and respond to phone calls, communicate messages and information to the executive
• Prioritize emails and respond when necessary
• Coordinate travel arrangements
• Maintain various records and documents for company executive(s)

Executive Assistant Skills and Qualifications

Executive assistants typically have a high school diploma or GED, but some companies will prefer that applicants have a bachelor’s degree, as well. Some of the key skills for an executive assistant are:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Time-management skills
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Organization skills
• Ability to multitask
• Basic understanding of frequently used computer software and programs, such as Microsoft Office
• Interpersonal skills