How to Be a Successful Personal Assistant
Personal assistants provide help in daily business operations or personal tasks. Business professionals typically employ personal assistants to answer telephone calls, handle correspondence and schedule meetings and appointments. Personal assistants also work for parents with young children or disabled people who require help with daily tasks and personal hygiene. Being a successful personal assistant requires commitment and the ability to pay attention to details. Developing expertise in making travel arrangements, organizing events, placing orders and running errands usually ensures a lucrative career as a personal assistant. Typical requirements include administrative support experience.
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Instructions
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Get certified in your chosen industry. For example, get a credential as an administrative professional. The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP-hq.org) offers formal education, informal reading and certification exams. These offerings prepare you to conduct yourself with confidence, make professional connections and manage change effectively. Self-study options prepare you to perform administrative tasks. The IAAP website also provides access to podcasts to help you keep up-to-date on techniques for staying organized and managing your workload more efficiently.
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Develop good communication skills. Practice active listening by repeating what others say to you to ensure you understand. Paraphrase statements to show that you know what is expected of you. Develop good written skills and check your spelling and grammar before sending any email or publishing any documents. Personal assistants are also typically required to have excellent telephone skills. Practice handling difficult conversations by role playing with a friend or family member.
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Learn how act in an assertive manner by observing other successful personal assistants. Locate a mentor through the SCORE program. Develop skills in creating rapport and influencing others. Learn how to provide personal assistance efficiently. Use social media, such as wikis, blogs and forums to connect with other personal assistants to learn about their best practices.
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Enhance your skills in using technology using free Internet resources. For example, Microsoft (microsoft.com) provides access to training courses on office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You can also download a game to help you improve your skills in a competitive challenge. By using technology effectively, successful personal assistants reduce the number of repetitive tasks required and can focus on providing consulting and advice. This typically increases customer satisfaction.
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Develop your skills in managing information. Find, filter and focus on the information that’s important for your client. Support your client by negotiating effectively, making timely decisions and handling uncertainty. Develop a system for filing reports and other information so that they are easily retrievable.
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