Is Being an Executive Assistant the Right Career For You?

Becoming an Executive Assistant can skyrocket your career, but it comes with some challenges. Find out if it’s right for you.

Virtual executive assistants are in high demand, especially in today’s post-pandemic world. So, whether you have experience as an executive assistant or are considering a career change, you might be wondering if it’s the right choice for you.

Many executive assistants get the opportunity to partner with the world’s most powerful and influential leaders. Long-term success depends on your ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions for your client.

Executive Assistant Positives and Challenges

Becoming an executive assistant opens a lot of doors, but it requires a high level of dedication. As an executive assistant, you should expect specialized training, continued development, and job stability. But you also have to be prepared to juggle a demanding workload and excel in a fast-paced environment.

Let’s take a deeper look at the positives and challenges of becoming an executive assistant so you can decide if it’s the right career.

Positives
Mentorship: As an executive assistant, you’ll work closely with top leaders, so you learn from the best.
Skill Development: Handling diverse tasks like scheduling and project management helps you develop versatile skills that easily transfer to other roles.
Networking: You’ll make connections through your client and peer EAs that can lead to faster career advancement.
Job Stability: As an executive assistant, you become essential to your client’s daily life, ensuring job security even during economic downturns.
Sense of Accomplishment: You’ll feel rewarded by making it possible for your client to achieve more.
Challenges
Time-sensitive Workload: You have to balance multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

*Use this challenge to enhance your time management skills and adaptability.
Limited Autonomy: Depending on the client, an executive assistant has limited decision-making authority.

*Use this challenge to create a collaborative work environment where you add insights when appropriate.
Emotional Demands: Working so closely with your client and handling sensitive information can be emotionally taxing.

*Use this challenge to improve your interpersonal skills and increase trust.

Why become an Athena Executive Assistant?

Being an executive assistant is far from a dead-end job. You’re responsible for supporting your client across their professional and personal life. This is why a huge difference exists between an  Athena Executive Assistant vs. a traditional VA.

If you’re deciding what’s next in your career, here’s what it’s like to be an Athena EA:

1. Learning Opportunities

From getting access to cutting-edge tools to honing your communication and leadership skills, you’re always learning and exploring. Your growth and development are fast-tracked with intensive training programs, ongoing mentorship, a globally recognized MBA program, and endless networking opportunities.

2. Exciting Working Environment

You won’t simply be answering emails and booking meetings. You’ll be empowered to take on a wide range of responsibilities like event planning, travel management, financial organization, and more.

3. Valuable Mentorship

Our clients are encouraged to treat their executive assistant like a strategic partner who can help make strategic decisions for their lives. You’ll get to share your unique perspective and develop a deep understanding of your client so you can play a pivotal role in their success.

4. Endless Support and Resources

You’ll have a 1:1 Athena coach dedicated to your success and an extensive network of executive assistant peers you can lean on. Whether you need guidance on a challenging task or want to celebrate an achievement, you'll have someone cheering you on every step of the way.

Every executive assistant also gets access to delegation playbooks and corresponding training to help ace tasks like:

  • Creating a travel itinerary
  • Arranging home maintenance
  • Providing sleep training support
  • Creating listening/reading lists

Apply to be an Executive Assistant

If you're ready to help others achieve more and unlock your potential, apply to be an Athena Executive Assistant today.

Download Full Case Study