Personal assistants are often the backbone of businesses and corporations. Managers depend on them to support them in various areas of both their business upkeep and private lives. Personal assistant skills are thus in high demand in the workplace, and these skills include having to act as an office manager, administrative assistant and much more. The ideal personal assistant is versatile, quick on their feet, and able to handle a variety of situations under pressure. What skills do you need to be a successful personal assistant? While different industries may require different industry-specific skills, the 6 skills that we list here are standard ones that any personal assistant should possess. If you need resume tips (and other job-hunting resources) while preparing your application for a personal assistant position, centering these skills can increase your chances of getting an interview.
Communication Skills
Personal assistants are the liaison between managers and other personnel. Exceptional communication skills are therefore a must, as you will have to create partnerships, adapt to any situations, and ensure that your managers are updated on important information. Since you will be in contact with many stakeholders, it is necessary for you to be able to absorb information and disseminate it effectively on short notice.
Interpersonal Skills
Part of being a good communicator is having excellent interpersonal skills. Whether you are performing secretarial duties or helping in various aspects of your manager’s personal life, you need to have confidence while interacting with a large range of people.
Time Management Skills
Being organized and efficient is key for any successful personal assistants. Planning your – and your manager’s – time and schedule is an important part of the job. Not only do you have to ensure that your own duties are always completed thoroughly and on time, you have to ensure that the schedule you set up for your manager can allow them to complete their business duties as well.
Organizational Skills
On that note, possessing organizational skills is also a key requirement for personal assistants. Part of having good organizational skills is the ability to adapt to any situation. You need to be able to know how – and what – to prioritize; while some people have this skill intuitively, others need more experience.
Multitasking
Not only will you provide your manager with administrative support – you must also schedule meetings, answer phone calls, organize their diary, deal with liaison duties, and much more. You likely also have to accomplish all these tasks at once, so it is important that you are able to work well under pressure. A personal assistant performs multiple roles, and each one must be handled thoroughly.
Precision
The most successful personal assistants never miss a thing. They have impeccable attention to detail and are incredibly meticulous and thorough about their work. This skill comes in handy both when organizing large events and going through the details – for instance, ensuring that everything in your manager’s travel itinerary is locked in, from the flight timetable to hidden travel expense policies to dietary requirements when it comes to restaurant reservations.