HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A common pathway starts in secondary school with courses in business, English, French, computer applications, and office or communications skills. Students often build experience through part-time work, volunteer roles, or co-op placements that involve scheduling, customer service, note-taking, filing, and using office software. Some employers may prefer post-secondary training in office administration, business, or a related field, but requirements vary by employer and by the type of executive support role. Strong writing, organization, teamwork, and discretion are important, along with comfort handling schedules, reports, meetings, and research.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Establish and co-ordinate administrative policies and procedures for officials, committees and boards of directors
- Analyze incoming and outgoing memoranda, submissions and reports and prepare and co-ordinate the preparation and submission of summary briefs and reports to executives, committees and boards of directors
- Prepare agendas and make arrangements for committee, board and other meetings
- Conduct research, compile data, and prepare papers for consideration and presentation by executives, committees and boards of directors
- Meet with individuals, special interest groups and others on behalf of executives, committees and boards of directors to discuss issues and assess and recommend various courses of action
- Liaise with departmental and corporate officials and with other organizations and associations on behalf of executives, committees and boards of directors.
SKILLS TO BUILD
Skills used in this Career
Computer LiteracyLeadershipSupervisory ExperienceTeam Work