Do you feel passionate about helping someone else with their daily routines? Do you enjoy working closely with someone else and providing service to others? If the answer is yes, then a PA job role will be perfect for you.
How to Become a PA?
A PA helps an individual or team manage their professional life. This means that they will arrange meetings, travel, and act as a point of contact for the person they support. The PA is also responsible for scheduling meetings, taking notes, and answering calls. It is common for a PA to have more than one manager.
The responsibilities of a PA vary from one company to another. This is because the manager that a PA supports will need their role to synchronise with the manager and the wider business. Therefore, every PA job will have its level of uniqueness. It mostly depends on who you work for, their line of work and the tasks they want you to handle.
Qualifying To Become a Personal Assistant
No specific degree or certificate is offered to people interested in becoming personal assistants. PA jobs are mostly provided to people who have studied other business and management courses and have experience in the field. Nonetheless, possessing a degree can go a long way in helping you stand out from other people applying for the same position.
But what are the required skills? Okay, we will answer the question by outlining some required skills expected of a Personal Assistant or PA.
Organisational Skills
Great organisational skills create the perfect foundation for any PA. This is because these skills are put to use every day. You will be required to organise documents, schedule meetings, book business trips, answer calls, send and respond to emails and do many other duties.
Time Management Skills
Being good at keeping time is also very important to become an excellent PA. You are responsible for your boss’s schedule, so you should always be on time. By being an excellent keeper of time, you ensure that your boss’s day goes smoothly all meetings and appointments are attended to.
Good Written and Verbal Communication Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential and will be used in your career. You need to converse clearly and efficiently in written or spoken words. Remember that you represent your boss. You need to be articulated in written and oral communication.
Excellent IT Skills
You must be able to use a computer and other gadgets that require IT knowledge. PAs must be proficient in Microsoft Office packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. You are also required to know your way around email clients, how to use the internet and even how to use an electronic calendar.
Fast Learner
When working as a PA, you come into an environment where you are expected to blend well with your boss’s everyday life. For this reason, you are required to be a quick learner. Within the first few days of your appointment, you need to be able to plan your boss’s schedule throughout the day.
Presentable At Work
As a PA, you need to remember that you represent the company and your boss. Therefore, you need to look at the part. You must dress well, look good and feel good about yourself and your job. Self-confidence can go a long way when you are a PA.
Good Team Player
A personal assistant should be able to work with a team. As much as your focus is mostly on your boss, you need to be able to work with other people in the office to complete tasks efficiently. Being a team player will go a long way in making your work easy.
PA Courses
With the above skill sets and qualifications, you can become the best PA anyone can have. Stop whatever you are doing right now, and start investing in your career as a personal assistant. At IEAA, we have several training providers that deliver our PA Courses. The PA Certificate Course – Level 3 and our PA Diploma – Level 3 are the main PA qualifications offered. Please review the pages for more information if you want to qualify as a PA.
