When you’re searching through job listings on your favorite employment opportunities website, you may have come across both the terms ‘executive assistant’ and ‘personal assistant’, and wondered quite what the difference is between these two positions.
There’s a lot of crossover between the work of the executive assistant, and that of a personal assistant, however, there are also some distinct differences.
If your experience is in either field, you’ll have a lot to offer to both jobs, and if you’re job hunting, it’s always worthwhile expanding your search and casting a wider net.
If you’re a personal assistant, working as an executive assistant will likely be a step up for you, but with enough familiarity with the work involved to ensure you can successfully accomplish all that is expected of you in this new role.
With previous executive assistant experience, becoming a personal assistant may seem like a downgrade in status, but being a PA has its own rewards, and it may actually be a position you find you prefer.
So what’s the difference?
Simply put, the key is in the job title, executive vs. personal.
As a personal assistant, you are focused on the person themselves, while an executive assistant is more involved with their employer’s actual job.
There is usually a significant overlap, but this distinction is something you should be aware of when applying for either position.
The similarities between an executive assistant and a personal assistant
Both roles include a wide range of administrative tasks.
While each job is different, and each employer will have differing requirements, there’s a good chance that regardless of whether you’re a personal assistant or an executive assistant, you’ll be organizing your boss’s calendar, arranging meetings, preparing reports, and dealing with their correspondence.
There is a lot of overlap when it comes to the day-to-day tasks of the PA and the EA. To perform either role well you’ll need to be highly organized, be proficient in office software such as spreadsheets, databases and word processing packages, and be an excellent communicator.
The differences between an executive assistant and a personal assistant
But there are also many differences. While the personal assistant deals mainly with administration tasks, the role of an executive assistant tends to be more involved and more creative.
A PA is more likely to be booking travel and hotel accommodation, organizing an event, answering the phone, or running errands for their boss, while the executive assistant’s time may well be spent liaising with prospective clients, researching new ideas for the business, and representing their employer at meetings.
The role of the executive assistant leans more towards a partnership with their employer, and is less focused on the assistant role, while a personal assistant is purely there in an auxiliary capacity.
Overall, an executive assistant is considered to be a higher role than that of a personal assistant, and as such, will generally command a somewhat higher salary.
Which position should you go for?
The executive assistant role is generally considered to be of higher status than that of a personal assistant.
If you’ve previously worked as a personal assistant, then becoming an executive assistant is the logical next step.
However, if you have no PA experience, the chances of securing a position as an executive assistant are slim.
The best plan is to gain experience in a PA role first, then work your way up to becoming an EA once you have a wide range of personal assistant skills under your belt.
Once you’re an established personal assistant, taking on the extra challenges of the executive assistant should be easier to accomplish, and you’ll have the experience on your resume that will make you an attractive prospect to potential employers.
Is it easy to move from personal assistant to executive assistant?
Absolutely! Starting out as a personal assistant, with the goal of becoming an executive assistant is a sound career decision.
The experience and skills you’ll gain as a PA will be invaluable in the role of an executive assistant.
This is a common career track that will see you gradually gain more responsibility and command a higher salary as you progress.
How to gain an advantage when applying for an executive assistant job
Competition for executive assistant positions can be fierce.
If this is your dream job, then there’s plenty you can do to make yourself the most attractive candidate when you apply.
As we’ve already established, having experience as a personal assistant will certainly be a massive advantage, so this is where you should place your focus if you haven’t already worked in this field.
Most people don’t simply step into the role of executive assistant, they work their way up from being a personal assistant, so you should make this your priority.
But you shouldn’t stop there. While experience is very important, there are likely to be other people applying for the job you have your heart set on that will also have similar experience. So how do you set yourself apart further?
Qualifications and learning
One excellent option is to gain skills and certifications that are well-suited to the work you’ll be doing as an executive assistant.
The role is very business-focused, so a business management or business administration qualification will certainly help your resume glow.
You’ll also spend a lot of time connecting with clients and representing your employer. So any communication or public speaking skills you can acquire will also be a credit to you.
If you want to start as a personal assistant, then a personal assistant certification from our sister brand will help.
Look smart, exude confidence
You’ll need excellent communication skills, and you must be able to present yourself well, both in your personal presentation and your manner.
If you’re invited to interview, be sure to look smart and portray a sense of confidence.
Practice interview questions so you’re not left lost for words.
Gather information
When you’re applying for a job as an executive assistant, start going the extra mile.
Learn all you can about your potential employer, their role and their business.
You should also learn about their competitors, and keep abreast of business news in general, particularly anything relating to the specific sector that you’ll be working in if you are hired.
This knowledge can be highly valuable at interview as it will show you have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the job and the industry.
