Executive administrative assistants help manage an officer's schedule, book travel arrangements and create board meeting agendas. They also might have to complete invoices, perform research for a chief executive officer or other company leader and even draft correspondence on behalf of their supervisors. Although they do handle some clerical duties such as answering phones and filing, their main focus is on more complex administrative tasks such as arranging meetings, managing office records and maintaining computer databases. Executive administrative assistant training programs teach students how to perform these many skills.
Although no official training requirements exist for executive administrative assistants, students who complete two-year associate degree programs in subjects such as office management or office administration have an advantage. Many employers also look for upper-level assistants who have completed four-year bachelor's degree programs in a field related to their organization's industry. In addition, aspiring executive administrative assistants can complete certificate programs that last about a year and do not require general education courses as degree programs do. Executive administrative assistant programs additionally might require students to complete practical work opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field.
Courses in an executive administrative assistant training program cover topics such as business basics, economics and office computer applications. Students learn how to prepare documents such as statistical reports, perform accounting tasks and manage projects. In addition, classes focus on business writing and online communications along with business law, business management, keyboarding techniques and office procedures.
After completing an executive administrative assistant training program, students can find work in a wide range of industries such as the medical field, retail, law, education and the corporate field. Executive administrative assistants can work for small companies, big corporations, government organizations and even nonprofit agencies. They also can advance to positions such as those of a training director, office manager or even sales manager.
The demand for executive administrative assistants remains strong particularly in industries such as health care, educational services and social assistance. Employment of administrative assistants, which includes executive administrative assistants, is projected to climb by 11 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median annual wages of executive administrative assistants in May 2008 were $40,030, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.