Types of Personal Assistant Jobs

The personal assistant provides administrative and sometimes domestic support to his or her employer, usually a professional person. Working under the employer's direct supervision, the assistant provides all necessary business and personal support and is responsible for a variety of tasks

Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant may greet office visitors, answer telephones, respond to requests and forward messages to his supervisor. He serves as a liaison between his supervisor and other staff members. He maintains his supervisor's office supplies, makes travel arrangements, performs basic office duties (typing, filing, faxing and maintaining incoming and outgoing correspondence), keeps his supervisor's calendar and organizes meetings. He provides ad hoc duties upon request.

Executive Assistant

An executive assistant performs all of the duties of an administrative assistant but usually for a top-level executive. She often performs personal duties as well. She may be a liaison with her supervisor's household staff and coordinate personal activities for her supervisor, such as arranging personal travel, maintaining a personal calendar and coordinating the running of her supervisor's household activities (e.g., scheduling cleaning, coordinating auto repair and recruiting household staff).

Legal Secretary

A legal secretary manages all administrative activities for attorneys, including scheduling hearings, drafting correspondence, maintaining court dockets and preparing legal documents. She maintains the calendar of her managing attorney, scheduling court hearings, client appointments and other engagements. She serves as a liaison between her managing attorney, other members of the staff, and the court system. She also generates all correspondence, transcribing of legal dictation and meeting minutes. She creates, logs and maintains all office files, records and any other data related to the work of her managing attorney.

Educational Requirements

Though a college degree is not required to become a personal assistant, in many instances it is preferred. Within some Fortune 500 companies, a four-year degree may be mandatory for employment. The successful candidate must possess excellent typing skills. He should be extremely well versed on all office software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet and data management computer programs). When supporting a senior-level professional, candidates are typically required to have prior administrative support experience.

Average Compensation

According to Salary.com, in 2009 the average entry-level administrative assistant working in the United States earns an annual base salary of $35,606.

References

• Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals
• International Association of Administrative Professionals
• Salary.com