The Key Differences Between Administrative Assistant and Executive Assistant Roles
You’ve decided it’s time to add an assistant to your team. Exciting move! Now comes the next step, deciding between an Administrative Assistant and Executive Assistant. Which one has the skills you need, and what would be the best fit for your team? Dive in with me as we highlight the similarities and differences, and help you discover which one would be the best hire for you.
Administrative Assistants - Tackling the Nitty Gritty
Administrative Assistants are often the frontline for an office. They’re the person answering calls, greeting visitors, filing papers and ordering office supplies. Administrative Assistants I’ve worked with have also typed and mailed newsletters, entered financial data, and run reports. Their willingness to take on any kind of task, no matter how menial, is often what defines them. That’s terrific, because if you assign them a task, you know it will be completed on time and with due diligence.
An Administrative Assistant also typically reports to several people in the organization. They may provide overall office support, but not typically personal support to one individual. Depending on the size of your team, this could be an asset or a detractor.
Executive Assistants - Strategic Thinking at its Best
Executive Assistants often take on similar roles to an Administrative Assistant position, but they take it up a notch. They not only schedule meetings, they help you set up and organize your calendar to be practical for your needs. They can enter your financial data, but also help you track down any missing payments, and then help set up systems so that doesn’t happen in the future. They won’t just do the typing and proofreading of your newsletter, but they can design it, write it, and help suggest strategies to get it out to more people.
An Executive Assistant typically only reports to one person in the organization as well. They are a good fit for a high level executive that is looking for more one-on-one support. They don’t just do the tasks that are assigned to them, but they help their clients think through solutions and implement them.
Which One is a Good Fit for You?
What is your team most in need of right now? Are you looking for someone to complete tasks and let you know when they’re finished? Or are you looking for someone who will come alongside you and help strategize for more growth and efficiency? Either one can be a great asset to your team, just depending on what your business wants at this time.
At Auxo, we pride ourselves on offering high level executive assistance. Our team will work to complete your tasks with detail and accuracy, and also help you grow in your efficiency and strategy efforts. We work hard to champion your business and your goals. We’d love the opportunity to chat with you, at no cost, and see if our team of executive assistants would be a good fit for you.