Free Online Executive Assistant Courses

1. Executive Assistant Skills

A very popular option, this course explains sought-after skills like how to manage the people who want to see your boss, how to manage your time and how to have exceptional telephone and email etiquette.

2. Administrative Assistant Training

Enrol in this course if you are an absolute beginner who has never worked as an assistant before. It shows how to set up meetings, run an efficient filing system and even what your day-to-day responsibilities will be.

3. Diploma in Administrative Processes and Support in the Office

Once you know this is a career you’d like to pursue, opt for a thorough diploma course to prove your executive assistant skills, especially when it comes to professional communication.

This is a very important role. Without assistants or corporate secretaries, many MDs, CEOs and businesses would not be able to function. You are often the ‘office brain’ and may start off with essential tasks like:

• Filing documentation
• Monitoring supplies
• Dealing with maintenance
• Tracking correspondence
• Doing reception duties
• Taking minutes in meetings
• Handling petty cash

Once you progress in your career, you might work for high-level entrepreneurs, performers and other people with demanding schedules. Your tasks could then shift to:

• Managing their diary
• Handling travel arrangements
• Travelling with them on business
• Greeting their visitors
• Ensuring they have whatever documentation or contracts they need
• Setting up meetings
• Facilitating introductions to other VIPs

Your job is to make sure they have everything in place so that they can do their job. Presidents, prime ministers, government ministers and even royalty all have assistants who work at very senior levels to help their bosses’ succeed.

‘Hard’ skills are ones that you have to learn to do the job; they often involve tools and qualifications. ‘Soft’ skills are as important and are connected to verbal and non-verbal communication, empathy, listening and being able to react to social cues in a culturally appropriate way. Here are courses to improve your hard skills:

• Taking Meeting Minutes 
• Gmail - Maximise Your Email Productivity
• Basics of Touch Typing
• Diary Management: A Guide to Effectively Managing Your Time