What is the difference between a Secretarial Course and an Executive PA course?

More and more experienced secretaries are coming to Pitman Training Hammersmith to upgrade their skills. A number are finding that they are at the stage in their secretarial career to take a step up and become an Executive PA . This articles looks at some of the differences between secretary courses and Executive PA courses. 

First, it must be said that the exact role and duties of a secretary or PA can vary enormously from one organisation to another. However, there is a clear distinction between the role of an Executive PA and the role of a secretary. But, although there is a difference, the role of an Executive PA is an attainable career goal especially for an experienced secretary.

Many experienced secretaries will want to know what exactly is the difference between the two? What are they taking on? Will they be able to manage?    

It must be said, Executive PAs are becoming more and more, a part of management within a company. They often have to manage people and have a budget. The management and budgetary aspects of the role often distinguishes the PAs role from the secretarial role.

Executive PA courses now encourage candidates to take some accounts or book keeping courses so that the candidate knows and understands financial terminology and some of the relevant financial documentation.

More and more management skills are creeping into Executive PA courses which further distinguishes their role from the secretarial role.

Modern day executive Executive Personal Assistants, due to their salary and stature within a corporate often have some management responsibility usually over support staff. As soon as a person has a management role, a whole new skills set is required.

For example, managing people requires excellent communication skills, setting consistent reviewable SMART targets against which the work of a person can be assessed; allowing time for each employee to communicate with the PA as their manager and to ask the PA questions; training the employee to prioritise and manage their workload. These are just some of the responsibilities of executive personal assistants.

The level of responsibility will be greater. The executive will be able to actively assist the executive in some of their functions and provide clear added value to the organisation.

Thankfully secretarial course providers and executive PA course providers in particular have assumed responsibility for training both secretaries and PAs so there is help at hand for both those who wish to be secretaries and those who wish to be Executive Personal Assistants.

Mike Connolly is a well known author who writes on the topics related with secretarial courses and secretarial training and other administration and vocation courses. See http://www.pitmanhammersmith.com/ for more such articles.