DEVELOPMENT evolving role as a leader means they need their assistants to operate as true business managers .
As such , here is my key advice for EAs looking to build their career this year :
How to upskill post-pandemic
The market for EAs was undoubtedly affected by Covid-19 but appetite to hire has returned and high-calibre PAs are very much in demand , says Roddy Adair . Make sure you ’ re at the top of the hiring pile …
THE EXPERT
Roddy Adair is national specialist director for personal and executive assistants at Hays . Since he joined in 1999 he has managed dedicated teams providing expert temporary and permanent recruitment services for a wide range of sectors but since 2017 has led EA recruitment , providing strategic leadership to more than 200 consultants .
As a high-level EA , you ’ ll know all about upskilling . But in a post-pandemic world , things look a little different . The duties done by and skills needed from an EA have changed as the role has evolved into a much more strategic and influential position .
We ’ ve seen some organisations take the chance to change the name of these roles into business support , team assistants or business manager . And now we see specific requests for specialist skills .
Without the volume of typical activity during the Covid-19 , such as travel booking and diary management , EAs were freed up to excel at a managerial and strategic level , adding more value to an organisation . As companies adapted to home-working , many of you upskilled to support on areas such as office management , HR , health and safety and internal communications , making EA remits much broader than they were before .
How can EAs build upon their skills now ? Employers are looking for professionals who can offer strategic support to executives whose own
Look to gain specialist expertise
1 Employers are increasingly adding to the traditional EA remit with responsibilities in specialist functions , such as HR and finance . A background in these areas will provide you with the opportunity to add insight and business acumen to your day-to-day role , as well as traditional PA support .
Don ’ t have a background here ? Try to get involved in projects that enable you to work closely with specific functions – and pay attention to what makes different areas of your organisation tick . This will stand you in good stead for a competitive salary and put you well ahead of the competition .
Embrace new technology
2 Automation is revolutionising the world of work and organisations sped up their digital transformation efforts during the pandemic . For EAs , it could transform careers for the better , freeing up time from administrative tasks , such as diary management , allowing you to be more analytical and managerial .
Pre-empting how new technology will potentially affect both your organisation and your own day-to-day role is an important step for using automation to its best advantage . Taking responsibility for innovating your role will also stand you in good stead , allowing you to free up your time for more strategic duties .
Take advantage of as many tech training opportunities that you can . This will help you futureproof your skillsets and remain adaptable to the implementation of any new tech tools or software .
Hone your soft skills
3 Despite accelerating technological innovation , soft skills such as communication , emotional intelligence and relationship building remain key . They allow you to build strong alliances with the teams and individuals you support , and help you align with other departments across your organisation . In turn , this will help you better understand how you can add value and discover where you are most needed .
So , identify which soft skills you need to work on and upskill in these areas . Applying for a new role ? Be prepared to show how your soft skills have helped achieve wider organisational objectives . S hays . com . au
Winter Issue 2022 | Executive PA 63