Requirements:Although this area of work is open to all graduates and those with a HND, a degree in business or management may increase your chances. Some subjects are more relevant for certain industries, e.G. English literature for publishing and law for legal work.
For HND holders, the following subjects may increase your chances:
-administration
-business
-management
-secretarial studies.
Entry without a degree, HND or foundation degree is possible as personal qualities, experience and general Office skills are typically considered more important.
GCSE English and mathematics (or equivalent) are standard entry requirements for many positions. A qualification in IT may also be required.
IT's unusal to enter directly into a PA position as a recent graduate due to the level of experience expected of you. However, IT's not impossible and one way of increasing your chances would be to study for a relevant qualification. These courses are designed to equip students with the skills essential for this profession:
-Institute of Administrative Management (IAM) - Level 3 Award in Professional PA and Administration Skills
-LCCI International Qualifications - Private and Executive Secretary's Diplomas
-Pitman Training - Professional Executive PA Diploma.
Skills
In addition to relevant experience and secretarial and administrative knowledge, you'll need to show evidence of the following:
-exceptional written and oral communication skills
-excellent Word processing and IT skills, including knowledge of a range of software packages
-the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
-good organisational and time management skills
-the ability to research, digest, analyse and present material clearly and concisely
-excellent interpersonal skills
-the ability to work on your own initiative
-honesty and reliability
-attention to detail
-flexibility and adaptability to juggle a range of different tasks and to work extra hours to meet deadlines
-discretion and an understanding of confidentiality issues.
There are also a number of specific skills which may give you a competitive advantage. For example, shorthand and audio typing are still widely used. Teeline and Pitman courses teach industry-standard shorthand systems and typing speeds - for shorthand lessons see Teeline Online.
Relevant vocational qualifications in business and administration are provided by the OCR Examinations Board. Knowledge of a foreign language may be useful in some positions.
Responsibilities:As a PA, you're often a manager's first point of contact with people from both inside and outside the organisation. Tasks are likely to include:
-devising/maintaining Office systems, including data management and filing
-arranging travel, visas and accommodation, and occasionally travelling with the manager to take notes or dictation at meetings or to provide general assistance during presentations
-screening phone calls, enquiries and requests, and handling them when appropriate
-meeting and greeting visitors at all levels of seniority
-organising and maintaining diaries and making appointments
-dealing with incoming email, faxes and post, often corresponding on behalf of the manager
-carrying out background research and presenting findings
-producing documents, briefing papers, reports and presentations
-organising and attending meetings and ensuring the manager is well prepared for meetings
-liaising with clients, suppliers and other staff.
In addition to supporting managers, their team and departments, many PAs also have their own personal workload and responsibilities. The scope of the PA's role can be extensive and additional duties may include:
-carrying out specific projects and research
-taking responsibility of accounts and budgets
-working more closely with management if taking on some of the manager's responsibilities
-deputising for the manager, making decisions and delegating work to others in the manager's absence
-being involved in decision-making processes
Benefits:Salary, Incentives, Bonuses and others respectively.
Salario: Negotiable
