Tips for Being Effective
A secretary who is assigned to one executive represents that executive to the public. Get to know your boss’s key contacts and use their names when they call or come into the office. Improve your computer skills, especially with basic Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, to make yourself more valuable. Take courses at your local community college to improve your skills in English, journalism, math and computer software; some companies pay tuition if the courses are relevant to your work. The faster you type, the more work you can do, so improve your typing speed. Arrive at work before your boss and stay until he leaves if your boss works reasonable hours. Anticipate your boss’s needs, asking questions such as, “Do you have all your travel arrangements completed for next week’s meeting?” or “Do you need me to the quarterly report for the upcoming board meeting?” Keep a work diary and create a calendar of your boss's recurring activities and tasks. Check the calendar frequently to stay one step ahead of your boss so you become indispensable.
The Top Five Characteristics to Being a Good Executive Assistant
by Jennifer Alyson, studioD