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An executive assistant differs slightly from administrative assistant in the connotation of supporting an officer of a company, either public or private, who carries the authority to make crucial decisions affecting the direction of said organization, and is therefore a sought-after resource in decision-making and policy setting. The executive assistant performs the usual roles of managing correspondence, preparing research, and communication while also acting as the "gatekeeper," understanding in varying degree the requirements of the executive, and with an ability through this understanding to decide which scheduled events or meetings are most appropriate for allocation of the executive's time.
An executive assistant may from time to time act as proxy for the executives, representing him/her/them in meetings or communications.
An executive assistant differs from an administrative assistant or secretary also in that he or she is expected to possess a higher degree of business acumen, as well as the capacity to influence others on behalf of the executive. A certain amount of project management is commonly required of an executive assistant, as well as the ability to accept the delegation of less consequential executive tasks.
Some executive assistants and administrative assistants may work together as a team. The role of the administrative assistant varies widely between and even within organizations. In some cases, the executive assistant delegates work to the administrative assistant based on competence, experience, knowledge of the context, confidentiality, priority, urgency and availability. Some administrative assistants tend to focus on mundane tasks planning travel, meetings and expediting routine emails. Others act as project leaders or office managers and undertake complex tasks. Both positions can be a dead end or a stepping stone to a gratifying management career. Think of leading companies such as Carly Fiorina (Lucent, Hewlett-Packard), Colleen Barrett (Southwest Airlines) and Robin Eisenbrei (Morrison Metalweld).
Professional associations
There are a number of organisations representing the needs of EAs and PAs globally. In the UK one is the Association of Personal Assistants (APA) - a not-for-profit organisation representing the professional needs of PAs. The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is a US professional association for EAs and AAs. IAAP also has a certification program for both EAs and AAs.
In most organizations, EA is one of the most sought-after job-role. EAs to top management in Fortune 500 companies need an Ivy League MBA, usually with substantial experience. Most EAs are on a fast-track career path and take significantly less time to become Strategy/Business Heads than their counterparts.
See also
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