Personal Assistants need to possess certain skills to be successful in what they do. These skills include:
- Communication Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Organisational Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Ability to Multitask
Personal Assistants have to perform many duties to ensure that businesses run smoothly, which will require certain Personal Assistant skills. Managers are dependent on them to assist them with most departments of the business.
Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills are among the most important skills that Personal Assistants should have. This role requires you to be able to communicate with managers and clients.
You will need to ensure that your manager is aware of all important information, deadlines, or meetings, thus communication skills are essential.
Time Management Skills
Time management is also an important skill in a Personal Assistant role. You will be responsible for delegating tasks and ensuring that each task is completed in the specific timeframe. You will also have to manage your own time while managing your manager’s time, to ensure that everything operates smoothly.
Organisational Skills
Organisational skills are key for all Personal Assistants. As a Personal Assistant, you will be responsible for managing tasks based on their importance and priority. You will also need to perform some administrative tasks, which may include organising filing systems and databases.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills allow you to interact with a number of people. As a Personal Assistant, your duties are to communicate with others, whether they are clients, managers, or fellow staff.
You might need to learn more about your manager’s personal life to be able to perform all duties assigned to you.
Attention to Detail
Details are a very important factor in planning. Personal Assistants have to do a lot of planning, from day to day planning to weekly or monthly planning. Every detail counts, especially when travelling, accommodation arrangements and timing are involved.
You will need to be able to pay special attention to detail to ensure that your manager does not miss out any vital information.
Ability to Multitask
Personal Assistants may have many duties that they need to perform in a day. You will need to be able to dedicate time for everything, even if it means multitasking to get everything completed.
There may be tasks that need to be prioritised like setting up meetings, creating to-do lists, and other administrative tasks which might require you to multitask.
What Is A Personal Assistant?
A Personal Assistant is responsible for the clerical or administrative duties in a company. They work closely with the Senior Managers in a company to ensure that they can complete all business duties and the company runs smoothly.
How Can I Become A Successful Personal Assistant?
If you are interested in helping Senior Managers with running a business, you can start off as a Personal Assistant. We offer Management Assistant courses that will equip you with all the skills and knowledge you will need.
How Can I Build My Skills As A Personal Assistant?
Our Management Assistant National Diploma programme aims to assist students with building and improving their skills. Our courses can help you build scarce and transferable skills that will allow you to become successful in your profession. Register for our Management Assistant courses to build your Personal Assistant skills.
What Are The Benefits Of Working As A Personal Assistant?
Working as a Personal Assistant can expose you to many people and many career opportunities. Here are the benefits of working as a Personal Assistant:
- Career Exposure – Personal Assistants work closely with their Managers, thus they might understand their role and duties. You will get exposed to other types of careers because you will be exposed to many roles.
- Great Income – Personal Assistants earn a good income as they have many duties to fulfil. However, your income might be determined by what your employer requires from you and your experience.
- Opportunities For Growth – You can start your career as a Personal Assistant. After getting exposed to many people and a range of careers, you may be interested in something else, and you will have the connections to pursue it.
- No Formal Experience Required – PA’s do not typically need any work experience. This however will depend on your employer and the type of industry you will be working in. Having a qualification will significantly better your chances of landing a job.
Where Can I Study A Personal Assistant Qualification?
There are many institutions where you can study a qualification that can help you become a Personal Assistant. At Bellview Institute of Distance Learning, we offer courses that are designed to help students pursue careers in Management.
What Courses Can Help Me Become A Personal Assistant?
Bellview Institution of Distance Learning offers NATED Management Assistant courses aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a Personal Assistant. Here are the Management Assistant courses that we offer:
- Management Assistant: NATED N4 National Certificate
- Management Assistant: NATED N5 National Certificate
- Management Assistant: NATED N6 National Certificate
- Management Assistant: NATED N6 National Diploma
How Can I Qualify For The Courses?
To register for our NATED Management Assistant courses, you are required to have a Matric Certificate, which is a National Senior Certificate or an Amended Senior Certificate.
If you do not have a Matric Certificate, you can obtain one by applying for our Matric Programmes. Our Adult Matric and Matric Rewrite courses can help you get your Matric Certificate.
How Long Are The Courses?
Our Management Assistant theoretical courses can take you between 18 and 36 months to complete, depending on how you study. Each course is broken down as follows:
- Management Assistant N4 National Certificate: 6 – 12 Months
- Management Assistant N5 National Certificate: 6 – 12 Months
- Management Assistant N6 National Certificate: 6 – 12 Months
- Management Assistant N6 National Diploma: 18 Months
What Jobs Are There In Management Assistant?
If you have registered for the Management Assistant courses, there are many careers you can pursue. You can even apply for jobs after completing the first level of your course. Here are the jobs in Management Assistant that you can pursue:
Salary Expectations
The salary expectations for each job position are determined by your employer, roles and responsibilities, experience and your job location. Here are the expected salaries for each career:
- Personal Assistant: R 18 000 monthly average
- Office Administrator: R 15 000 monthly average
- Receptionist: R 13 500 monthly average
- Secretary: R19 162 monthly average
Duties
People who pursue careers in Management Assistant may have different duties based on their job position. The typical duties that you may expect include:
- Scheduling meetings
- Recruiting and training of employees
- Data capturing
- Answering phone calls
- Compiling documents
- Working with clients and staff
- Creating and maintaining appointments and travel arrangements
Gain Your Personal Assistant Skills With The Help Of Bellview Institute Of Distance Learning
Bellview Institute of Distance Learning offers a wide range of courses that can help you build your Personal Assistant skills. Our Management Assistant courses can help you gain a deeper understanding of what being a Personal Assistant entails.
Why Should I Study At Bellview Institute Of Distance Learning
Studying at Bellview Institute of Distance Learning allows you to take control of your studies. We are a distance learning institution that focuses on helping you reach your career goals. There are many other benefits of studying at Bellview Institute of Distance Learning, which may include:
- Study from anywhere in South Africa at any time
- Study at your own pace
- Receive high-quality and affordable education
- Access to a great student support system
- Wide range of courses on offer
- Gain valuable and scarce skills
If you want to get your Personal Assistant qualification, you can apply for our Management Assistant courses by completing our online application. If you need advice or have any more questions that we have not answered, you can either:
- Speak to a course specialist
- Call us on our toll-free number at 080 039 0027
- Call or text us on WhatsApp at 065 656 9818
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be stressful. Personal Assistants have many duties that they have to perform, which may be time-consuming and hard. They also have to adapt to their manager’s management style and workload, which can be difficult.
The challenges of being a Personal Assistant may include:
- Working long hours
- Maintaining a work/life balance
- Too much workload
While being a Personal Assistant may not require you to have a qualification, it would definitely be an advantage to have a Management Assistant qualification. Most employers look for people who have completed National Diplomas, as they have more knowledge on how to handle the pressures of the job.
Yes, it is. Being a Personal Assistant can be rewarding as you will be exposed to many people and many careers. It allows you to grow in the workplace and build a strong professional network, especially if you are good at your job.
The number of hours that Personal Assistants can work will depend on their employer and the duties that they have to perform. Some PA’s may need to be available 24/7.
Author: Wanele Sibiya
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: July 18, 2022