5 key skills of effective personal assistants

If you’re looking for work as a personal assistant, certain skills will serve you well. The good news is that many can be learned and perfected. Read on for the 5 key skills you’ll need to be a great personal assistant.

The best personal assistants are great at paying attention to details. This isn't just about what’s said at meetings — you’ll also need to get to know your boss’ likes, dislikes, tastes and favourites. Over time, you should be able to anticipate their needs and wants.

When your boss mentions things about him or herself it’s a good idea to take notes, at least when you’re starting out. For example, jot down what they order at a restaurant, where they shop for clothes, or the name of their preferred coffee shop. Noting these preferences can help you get to know their personality, and in turn, perform better.

The best personal assistants are very discrete with information about their bosses. This builds trust and your boss will feel they can share even the most confidential of information with you.

Being discrete also means not disclosing personal information about your boss or day job with your friends. Make sure you keep that information somewhere safe, like a locked cellphone or laptop with a login password.

One of the key components of a personal assistant's job is managing their boss' schedule. A great personal assistant knows their boss' calendar like the back of their own hand.

You should always be aware of upcoming events and remind your boss of their schedule: you want to be sure nothing takes them by surprise.

A personal assistant shouldn't simply be a helper to get menial tasks done. The truth is that you’ll be in a great position to pick up valuable professional skills from the person you work for. Because you’ll be paying close attention to detail, you’ll really be able to learn a huge amount. As such, you may find yourself in the position to advance in your career after finishing your job as an assistant.

One way an assistant can learn from their boss is by watching how he or she interacts with colleagues. Observing professionals is a great way to pick up an industry's internal lingo.

Personal assistants don't only have to handle the details of their own life, they’ve also got to worry about their boss’. That’s why it’s so important to have excellent organizational skills. You’ll need to keep both of your schedules, spaces and priorities under control.

A clean, well-organized office space is thus of great importance. Keep all files labelled, make sure office supplies are sorted, and ensure all materials are easily accessible. In this way you’ll be able to effectively manage both your boss' time and schedule, and your own.