Assistant jobs are excellent career paths for individuals looking to get their foot in the door and gain valuable experience and knowledge. Additionally, many talented individuals have made a career out of the assistant role, and work in extremely high level support roles for CEOs, celebrities, and other similar types of individuals.
There are many types of assistant jobs in a variety of industries. Before jumping into an assistant position, you want to be sure it’s the right based on your skills and the job requirements – this is where you will find not all assistant posts are created equal.
You want to find the position that suits you well and a company you could learn and grow with. You will want to know the job duties required of you daily to ensure you will be happy in the position.
Types of Assistant Jobs
Personal Assistant
Personal assistants help individuals save time and increase productivity by completing essential tasks, allowing them to focus on more pressing tasks.
The duties of a personal assistant can be for both business and personal matters. Typically assistants are in charge of administrative tasks like managing the calendar, scheduling meetings and appointments, taking and screening phone calls, and running errands.
Some personal assistants are required to travel with their boss to business meetings or events. There’s no actual set schedule or duties for a personal assistant—it varies based on the professional’s needs.
Celebrity Personal Assistant
A celebrity personal assistant works directly for a celebrity or high-profile individual to save them time and help their day run smoothly. The assistant will perform many personal and business-related tasks, including taking calls and acting as the gatekeeper, deciding who gets through to the celebrity.
The assistant will also manage the celebrity’s schedule, schedule appointments, run errands, book meetings, and events, and even help transport the celebrity’s children to and from activities.
The assistant typically travels with the celebrity, which has its perks like attending red carpet events, eating at fine restaurants, and trying some of the best wines available.
As a celebrity personal assistant, it is highly critical to keep information private to protect the celebrity and their image. Some assistants will complete marketing functions, including managing their social media accounts.
Real Estate Personal Assistant
A real estate personal assistant assists a real estate agent or broker with various administrative tasks like taking calls and booking appointments, managing emails, conducting market research, completing marketing functions, and writing listing descriptions.
A real estate assistant with marketing knowledge, including social media, graphic design, or print, is extremely valuable for their employer. An assistant who handles successful marketing campaigns that add to the employers’ success is worth more than only administrative duties.
Virtual Personal Assistant
A virtual personal assistant performs many of the same tasks as a personal assistant, but they complete the duties remotely. There are benefits to both the employer and assistant for working virtually, including reducing overhead costs and the assistant having a healthy work-life balance.
A virtual assistant could effectively complete many administrative tasks such as handling emails, making travel arrangements, booking appointments, managing calendars, and conducting research and reports.
There are many training programs and resources to help a virtual personal assistant increase productivity and efficiency.
Executive Assistant
Executive assistants provide administrative support to top executives to maximize productivity and have the time needed to focus on their most important responsibilities. Some of the typical duties include basic clerical duties such as answering calls and taking messages, welcoming visitors, scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and making travel arrangements.
When an executive has the tedious and time-consuming essential tasks completed for them, they can focus on more pressing duties that will directly increase their efficacy and success. The executive could use the time to make business decisions, including company growth.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistants typically work in an office performing various secretarial and clerical duties to help an organization run smoothly and increase productivity. Responsibilities often include clerical, specialized, and personal tasks, including filing documents, booking appointments, answering the phone, greeting visitors, and providing training and general support to other office employees.
The best administrative assistants are typically friendly people with excellent organization and time management skills, strong attention to detail, a self-starter, and carry a positive attitude.
Successful individuals in this role sometimes get promoted and assist higher-level leaders as executive assistants, train and manage other administrative assistants, or work as office managers.
Office Assistant
Office assistants provide administrative support for an office to ensure smooth working order. The duties vary depending on the business and its needs but could include clerical tasks, answering calls, customer service, filing, booking appointments, making spreadsheets, and marketing functions.
An office assistant is a great choice for an individual with little to no experience since it offers training in basic office functions.
Medical Assistant
Medical assistants assist doctors and nurses by performing routine tasks related to medical care, including completing patient medical histories and intake forms, taking blood pressure and temperature checks.
The position typically works in a doctor’s office but could also work in a nursing home, long-term care facility, hospital, or rehab center. Medical assistant jobs are projected to grow 19 percent in 10 years, which is faster than the average growth for all occupations.
Certified medical assistants include phlebotomists, radiology assistants, and pharmacy assistants. Many certified medical assistants continue their studies to enter higher fields like nursing.
Legal Assistant
Legal assistants help lawyers with the paperwork and administrative tasks needed for court and legal cases. Responsibilities for a legal assistant include preparing documents, subpoenas, and reports, researching laws, taking calls, booking appointments, and making court appearances with the lawyer to take notes.
Many legal assistants continue their education to become a certified paralegal or even a lawyer. This role requires high levels of professionalism and attention to detail.
Veterinary Assistant
A veterinary assistant works at a veterinarian office, assisting the doctor with caring for the animals and the smooth running of the office. Duties vary but could include administrative and clerical functions as well as hands-on and laboratory tasks.
While working as a veterinary assistant learning about the care of animals, some continue their education to advance their career and become a veterinarian. A veterinary assistant is a fantastic choice for the caring animal lover.
Photography Assistant
A photographer’s assistant helps a professional photographer with the setup and execution of photoshoots, including props and lighting.
Some assistants also have the photographer’s eye and assist with taking shots and editing the photos.
A photographer’s assistant doesn’t typically work in the standard office setting with 9-5 hours. The hours and location of work vary depending on the employer and their individual needs.
Requirements of an Assistant
Some of the assistant positions require specific degrees or certificates, others require several years of experience, whereas others are entry-level and provide on-the-job training.
Assistant jobs are in demand and offer a stable career for individuals with excellent communication skills and the ability to follow directions. Assistants should have general typing and computer skills to complete the required tasks the position entails. It is also beneficial to have a working knowledge of programs that manage calendars, scheduling, and other office tasks.
No matter the education or experience level, it takes the right individual to be an exceptional assistant. A great assistant is a problem solver, a self-starter, works well under pressure, an excellent communicator, and a people person with a positive attitude.
An assistant that saves its employer time while increasing efficiency and productivity makes for an exceptional assistant. With the many different types of assistant positions, the pay varies based on the type of position, the company, experience, location, and the benefit the assistant provides the employer.
Assistants could make on average $50,000-$150,000+ annually. The more an assistant saves its employer time and adds to their success, the more they are worth.
Conclusion
There are many types of assistant jobs; some help a business with their processes while others directly help one individual. Assistant’s job duties essentially are to perform necessary tasks needed for a company or individual to be productive and successful. Some of the job duties are mundane and time-consuming, and others offer a variety and excitement.
Finding the right assistant role for you or the right assistant for your open position will help foster a successful long-term business relationship. If you are looking to hire an exceptional assistant or feel you are a fantastic candidate, contact Pocketbook Agency, and we will find you your best match.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics | BLS.gov
Virtual Assistant Resources | Office Skills
15 Essential Calendar Management and Scheduling Skills You Need to Master | Calendar.com