Executive assistant

An executive assistant or personal assistant gives secretarial and administrative support to managers.  Having a science and engineering background and working with science and engineering managers can mean that the assistant is able to take on a high level of responsibility and carry out science based and technical support activities relating to the field of work, and deal directly with many of the day to day enquiries.As an executive assistant you may dealing with phone calls and enquiries, organising your managers diary and activities, and dealing with office tasks such as emails, letters, records and arrangements for meetings.  Your role at a high level may mean you stand in for the manager at meetings, deal with accounts and budgets, take on project work – research, producing reports and presentations.You will need good organisational, communications, and IT skills. Maths, and English qualifications are important, and a foreign language can be useful.  A degree may not be necessary, but the pay and responsibility will depend upon your qualifications and experience.Personal and Executive Assistants can earn £18,000 to £50,000 pa.