Executive Assistant

AN Executive Assistant is…

A person employed to assist a high-level manager or professional with correspondence, appointments, and administrative tasks. A definition that is taken straight from the Oxford Dictionary; link: Oxford Dictionary.

Well Oxford Dictionary, the year is 2020, and I think you need to update your information from 2004!

Having worked with people who fit the title of ‘Executive Assistant’ in one way or another since then, it is clear that the role of an EA has changed beyond recognition. If I were to rewrite the definition of EA, it would read something like this:

A person who is employed to be a full-blown Superhero whilst not wearing any special outfit. A person who knows things magically about meetings they aren’t attending and commitments that were made but never communicated.

They are a person who, if utilised correctly, will find you more of your most valuable commodity; your time, and with that time you will be more productive, you’ll be less stressed and more efficient in every sense of the word.

You won’t miss anything EVER because your EA has your back, your front and everything in between. They will be your Project Manager, your Life Coach, your eyes, your ears and they will do it while rarely complaining. They will kick your ass when they need to, and listen calmly one minute after.

So, in short.

They are the most important person you’ll ever hire, and you’ll only realise that when you hire the wrong one.

What is clear in 2020, is that the role of an Executive Assistant bares little resemblance to the position it once was.

Gone are the basic level administrative tasks, replaced with assignments associated with a genuine Executive. The 2020 EA is a decision-maker, leader, partner and confidante to their Principal.

The founders of TalentSmiths have supported some of London’s leading EAs in their career search over many years, you can read about examples of this work on our Case Studies Page.

Below is a link to all content we’ve put together relating to the role of an Executive Assistant.

If you’d like to work with TalentSmiths to help you find your next EA role, please visit us here: EA enquiry

If you’re a Client who would like to see how TalentSmiths recruits EAs, and how we can add value to your process, then please visit our Client Page.