We surveyed 7,938 executive assistants to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical executive assistant. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as an executive assistant?
Low
High
Working as an executive assistant typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.
Can I learn to become an executive assistant?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as an executive assistant typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as an executive assistant?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as an executive assistant. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for executive assistants.
Do executive assistants work full-time or part-time?
87% of executive assistants work in full-time roles while 13% work part-time.
Is being an executive assistant stressful?
Low
High
Stress is not uncommon amongst executive assistants, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.
Is being organized important as an executive assistant?
Low
High
Organization is considered a very important trait for executive assistants, and is critical to success in the field.
How competitive is the workplace for executive assistants?
Low
High
Competition at work is not common for executive assistants.
Does being an executive assistant require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Executive assistants will see frequent time pressure on the job, likely contributing to an occasionally stressful work environment.
Are executive assistants allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Executive assistants rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.
Do executive assistants have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
Executive assistants tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.
Is being an executive assistant physically demanding?
Low
High
Work as an executive assistants is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.
Are executive assistants exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
The workload of an executive assistant changes frequently, with their day-to-day rarely being the same.
Does being an executive assistant require attention to detail?
Low
High
Attention to detail is a vital skill for executive assistants, as small mistakes can make or break one's ability to succeed in the career.
Does being a good executive assistant require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as executive assistants.