Achieving an executive assistant career development plan

The Career Path for Executive Support - Why it’s not so obvious and what you can do about it.

You don't have to be a seasoned executive or personal assistant to attest to the rewards a career in business support delivers. Many have landed in the role with rookie experience to hit the ground running. Their innate ability to find solutions and flex their strong people skills is recognised and rewarded by organisations prioritising strong competencies over a lack of experience.  

The idea is that rookies can learn the role on the go. But this is often a big ask, especially when there is no rule book for executing the complex role that is an executive or personal assistant. 

Job handovers are generally about pending tasks and who's who. Still, the nuanced nature of any new role can leave even experienced assistants feeling a little out of their depths.  

Titles and more titles and the EA career path 

Office Assistant, Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, Senior Executive Assistant, Business Assistant, Business Advisor, Business Partner, Chief of Staff, Executive Officer - the list of titles is expansive! 

The meaning of these job titles and the responsibilities they include can be very fluid. Emphasis on the very! The names of the roles are not self-explanatory. And to complicate the issue, the titles are often interchanged and misused - used as a dangling carrot for an executive position in lieu of a salary raise.

To compound the problem, title alignment with the key responsibilities is lacking. Many position descriptions are so broad that they struggle to provide clarity and make it difficult to establish an executive assistant career development plan. It leaves those looking for an executive position wondering, what exactly is the personal or executive assistant career path? And for those just starting out, what other jobs can executive assistants do?

The demands of the role.

There are multiple levels in executive support positions. These levels are based on years of experience, industry exposure and vocational vs degree qualifications. There are also industry-specific criteria and proven expertise with core technical skills. In summary - the variables are many. 

Senior-level roles demand a firm grasp of soft skills rather than technical skills, but that's not always the criteria for hiring someone in a senior-level position. 

The diversity in position titles, attributes, and skills varies across industries, companies and cultural contexts. It's not unusual to see an Admin Assistant role described as an entry-level position within one organisation. At the same time, in another, the description has all the hallmarks of mid to senior-level responsibilities.  

Cultural context matters.

In many countries, the 'Secretary' title carries the esteem and responsibilities of a senior role, while in others, professionals in the field are fighting hard to eliminate it from the lexicon! Autonomy is not always expected with assistant positions, and leadership styles also differ.

The Hybrid EA role.

Over the years, business support roles have opened doors to different career paths. Hybrid EA or PA roles provide opportunities to transition easily into other disciplines. These roles require you to extend your competencies into other areas such as Marketing, Events, HR, Operations and the like. Career pivots have been possible by leaning into any EA-acquired competencies.    

In this regard, developing a diverse skill set has been a double-edged sword. While adding to the career EA's ever-expanding capabilities, it has unintentionally contributed to the ambiguity of the executive support function. This has led to subjective interpretations of the EA or PA role based on the organisation's needs. The broad interpretations can be career limiting or, at worst, unable to provide a clear job description.

The flip side.

On the other hand, the hybrid EA role has benefited both organisations and professionals. Companies recognise the added value these broadly skilled EAs offer. The EA can see more opportunities to step out of the role into other areas. It's just one reason why executive support is a competitive field. The degree-holding business graduate is an attractive hiring option, but so is the degree-holding EA or PA. 

A clear career path

Does this actually exist in executive support? Anyone looking for a defined trajectory to a senior-level position in business support may find that such an obvious pathway doesn't exist. And that can be a little disconcerting for dedicated career professionals looking for their 'fair go' at professional development.

While the opportunities for career growth in business support are many, establishing a clear direction for development is tricky but not an impossible task. 

It takes thought, discipline and dedication to have a well-defined and solid career path in any industry.  

Learn to articulate your skill set and communicate with clarity

Being able to articulate your skillset beyond the stock-standard and often outdated position descriptions is necessary. It is critical to be confident to showcase your competencies, define your strengths, and know how to communicate them. In doing so effectively, you can clearly illustrate how your skills align with the business's needs. 

Changing perceptions

The present time is essential to determining your path.

Credit must go to the individuals and associations working consistently for many years to change how administrative industry roles are categorised and evaluated. And how the industry is perceived. However, the reality is that there is still a way to go to achieve the desired calibration. In the meantime, career pathways for executive support professionals remain subject to variables.  

Take ownership

Taking ownership of your career development is essential. You can begin by defining your goals. You can further seek support through a mentor, an HR colleague, or an independent coach. They can effectively challenge your assumptions and help reevaluate your skills to identify the real gaps or deficits.

Career development is a journey best shared. 

You can start designing your unique professional development roadmap through careful analysis and consideration of what motivates you. By holistically addressing your mindset and hard and soft skills, you'll be able to advance your career to reach your full potential.