How Much Experience Should Your Executive Assistant Have?

It’s easy to assume that more experience is better, but the punchline is that you’re better off defining what you need from an assistant before you jump straight to years of experience.

After all, if only you need someone to format reports for you, hiring an assistant with 10 years of experience just doesn’t make sense! And vice-versa — if you’re a leader looking for a strategic partner, you’re going to want an assistant who has done similar work before, maybe even in the same industry.

So what kind of an assistant should you look for? How much experience should you pay for?

Every situation is different. Fortunately, when it comes to choosing the right kind of assistant, there’s an easy way to know what you need.

What Counts As A Lot Of Experience For An Executive Assistant?

The question of how much experience is needed to be considered a seasoned executive assistant (EA) is often debated. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, let's dive into what typically constitutes significant EA experience.

Quality Over Quantity

However, it's essential to remember that experience isn't solely measured in years. The quality and nature of the experience matter significantly. An EA who has worked for several years in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment might have more valuable experience than someone with more years in a less demanding role.

Key Skills and Responsibilities

A truly experienced EA possesses a wide range of skills, including:

• Strategic Thinking: Anticipating needs, problem-solving, and offering proactive solutions.
• Project Management: Handling multiple tasks, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
• Communication: Building strong relationships, both internally and externally.
• Confidentiality: Maintaining discretion and handling sensitive information.
• Technology Proficiency: Mastering various software and tools for efficiency.

Industry and Company Size

The complexity of the role can vary based on the industry and company size. An EA supporting a CEO of a tech startup might require a different skill set than one assisting a C-suite executive in a traditional industry.

Ultimately, the ideal EA experience is a combination of years in the role, the complexity of the tasks handled, and the ability to adapt to different environments.

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When You Don’t Need An Experienced EA

The difference between a virtual assistant and an executive assistant can be summed up as tasks vs. trust.

Not everyone needs the most highly experienced and most expensive executive assistant. A virtual assistant may serve your needs better.

What does a virtual assistant do?

Virtual assistants are more task-oriented. That is, you delegate tasks for them to do, and that’s their sole focus.

That might include:

• Data entry
• Maintaining a spreadsheet
• Research
• Updating customer records
• Basic clerical or admin support

Because a virtual assistant is task-driven, they don’t need a full understanding of the inner workings of your business. They just need to be prompt at completing tasks. Pooled virtual assistants are a popular option for those needing virtual assistants. You provide them with your tasks, and whoever is next available completes the task and gets it back to you. They don’t know you or your business but focus on getting things done and helping whoever is next in line.While these tasks are important because they would otherwise eat up your time if you were doing them, they don’t require the extensive experience an executive assistant has.

What does a remote executive assistant do?

Remote executive assistants are more integrated into everything you do, and trust in your executive assistant is a big component. We often say that growing businesses move at the speed of trust, and it’s true.

Remote executive assistants are more strategic and support high-level executives and leaders by:

• Using access to email, bank accounts, and passwords to accomplish tasks
• Arranging complex travel plans and meetings
• Managing your calendar effectively
• Handling confidential or proprietary information
• Communicating with clients and team members on your behalf
• Representing you to clients and partners
• Helping with project management, which may involve decision-making
• Knowing a lot about both your business and personal life

How To Get A Highly Experienced Executive Assistant Without The Hiring

A remote executive assistant will be a greater investment than a virtual assistant, and for good reason. Their extensive experience in working in the C-Suite has led to the development of “soft skills” that are required when the work is beyond simply checking off a task.

We also recommend hiring your executive assistant as a W2 employee — it’s worth the investment to avoid issues with compliance.

The good news is that you can get the benefits of a highly experienced executive assistant in a more budget-friendly manner by using Genie Pro. Our remote executive assistants are available to you on a subscription as fractional support, working for you remotely only for the time you need.

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