Job Responsibilities
As an assistant you will be responsible for many parts of your employers day. Therefore you will have to make business calls and send and respond to emails.
Capturing data and doing some admin work is an important part of your job. This will include updating files and documents.
This might seem unimportant or like small task however it speaks to the professionalism of your employer. Supplies such as stationary and business cards will need to be ordered on a monthly basis. It is then your responsibility to ensure that they are recieved when needed.
Being an assistant means that you will be doing more than just the basic things. You might have to be help other employees around the office, with other tasks.
What to Study
Personal Assistant Courses
Medical Receptionist Courses
Receptionist Courses
What is an Assistant?
Assistants in the office can either help their manager, or other staff members in the office. They help with minor tasks that allows for a better working environment. Without an assistant, key responsibilities in the office space will be left unfulfilled.
How do I Become an Assistant?
Think you’re ready to take on the duties of an assistant? Well we’re here to help you achieve those dreams. Skills Academy offers amazing Office Management courses. Our courses will teach you all the skills you need to be successful in this position. These include:
Three Office Management courses:
- Short Course Certificate in Office Management
- Proficiency Certificate in Office Management
- Comprehensive Certificate in Office Management
We also offer accredited Management Assistant courses:
There are also Personal Assistant courses available:
Benefits of Being an Assistant
A career as an assistant comes with many benefits. Some of these advantages include:
Opportunity for Growth
As you work with your manager or colleagues, you learn valuable skills in the process. These skills will allow you to move up in your company and get a higher position. The experience gained will make you a valuable asset in the company.
Never a Dull Moment
Today you could be working with the manager. Tomorrow you could be assisting the sales team. Even though your have your duties, you’ll be able to work on a variety of tasks in the office. A career in this field will always be fun and exciting.
Attend Events and Travel
As a personal assistant, you may get an opportunity to travel with your manager for conferences. You may even be able to attend the events which you assisted in planning.
Skills Needed for this Position
Due to having a variety of tasks, you also need a wide set of skills. Below you can find some of the skills needed to be an exceptional assistant.
Organisational Skills
Whether it’s your work or the office, organisation is one of the key skills an assistant needs. This is due to the vast amount of duties an assistant has. You need to be able to keep track of all the work you are doing in the office, and this skill will help you achieve that.
Interpersonal Skills
Assistants do not only work with colleagues, they also have to deal with clients and guests. This skill allows you to effectively communicate with others.
Ability to Multitask
From making calls to helping colleagues set up for their meeting, assistants need to be able to multitask.
Excellent Time Management
With so many duties, you need to be able to effectively manage your time. This allows you to allocate enough time to each of your tasks. In doing this, daily task will be completed successfully and on time.
Solve Problems
Assistants should be able to solve minor problems in the office. An example of this would be calling a repairman to fix a printer. They can inform their manager about the problem, but also be able to take initiative.
How Much Does an Assistant Earn?
As with all other jobs, salaries earned depends on the industry you’re in and your level of experience. Below you can find the average monthly salaries of assistants in South Africa.
- Office assistant R9 000
- Junior office assistant R8 000
- Personal Assistant R11 000
Difference Between Assistant and Secretary
Most days, you will find the secretary behind the desk in the lobby. An assistant will have their own space within the office, close to the team or department they assist. A personal assistant will in some cases sit in the same office as their boss.
Secretaries have to make and take calls, as well as reply to clients all day. This includes making bookings and getting office supplies. Although an assistant does this to some extent, it will be closely related to the department they are working in.
In most cases, assistants are expected to assist or handle some aspect of a project. Secretaries would generally not have those responsibilities.Even though their duties are similar at times, assistants are ranked higher in a work spaces. They have more responsibilities and important duties in the workplace.
Think you Have What it Takes to be an Assistant?
We can help you make that dream a reality.
- Call us for free on 0800 39 00 27
- Fill in this registration form
- Chat to us on Whatsapp on 082 318 8892
Author: Charnell Ward
Last updated: May 07, 2020