Personal Assistant
Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.
| Job Prospects |
Openings 5 years to 2016-17: 25 000 < 50 000 |
| Salary Range |
Median weekly earnings: $951 to 1150 (Source: DEEWR Australian Jobs 2012: www.deewr.gov.au/australian-jobs-publication) |
| Brief |
After all, her responsibilities not only include organising her employer's diary, but also making sure that the whole office operates smoothly.
There are approximately 3,000 Personal Assistants working in South Australia. Employment is largely full-time and most work in the Property and Business Services industry. Over half of persons in this occupation are females and most are employed in the Adelaide metropolitan area. |
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TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for: Personal Assistant
Accredited (Award)
Introduction
There's a good reason why many of the company executives you spot in the central business district look as if they have everything so under control. Most have personal assistants, who make sure their executive's daily routine is well organised. Personal assistants perform administrative and secretarial duties, which generally include drafting letters and reports, and operating office equipment such as computers, photocopiers and facsimile machines. They may also have to organise travel arrangements for their executive or other company directors. It's a matter of prioritising. You may have to look after more than one director. You have to be ultra organised because you're handling a variety of tasks at once and you need to be able to communicate with people on all levels. And discretion is important because you're handling a lot of confidential documents.
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Education Requirements
Of those currently employed there are 20% who have either a Certificate I or II, 9% who have either Certificate III or IV, 9% have either an Advanced Diploma or a Diploma, 7% have Bachelor Degrees an 51% have no post school qualifications.
To work as a personal assistant, it is usually necessary to complete an office or secretarial course, which includes shorthand, typing, word processing, and computing skills.
TAFE SA offers the following courses to assist you gaining employment in this and related occupations:
Certificate IV in Business
Certificate IV and Diploma in Business Administration
For further information go to the TAFE SA website www.tafe.sa.edu.au
Career Path
Employment growth in this occupation is not expected to be strong in the medium term. Recruitment officers suggest that uncertainty in the labour market means that people are tending to remain in their positions for longer than normal periods.
Industries
Finance and Insurance, Manufacturing, Property and Business Services
Interview
To be updated.
Nature of the Job
Personal assistants work in offices and may find employment in a variety of industries. Most work in the financial and investment, property, legal and accounting areas in the private sector, and in government administration. Most of the personal assistants working in South Australia, work in the metropolitan area.
There may be opportunities to travel, as some employers who travel interstate or overseas regularly, may find it necessary to take along their personal assistant.
Typical Physical Working Environment
The Australian Institute of Office Professionals says skills in word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software are required, as are Internet research abilities. One recruitment agency manager reinforces this, saying employers are increasingly looking for people with excellent computing skills. As more and more senior personnel in organisations become computer literate, personal assistants have been freed from duties such as typing and printing dictated/written letters, leaving them more time to take on other duties such as research activities using computers. If you possess good written and oral communication skills, are able to work well in a pressurised and unsupervised environment, and can meet deadlines, then you should enjoy this type of work.
Typical Occupational Example
It takes many years to progress to the position of personal assistant. Typically, you will have started in an administrative assistant role, then progress to personal assistant. Some work in a combined receptionist/secretarial role before advancing to her current position. From a receptionist/secretary point of view, being a personal assistant is a career move.
Earning Potential
Recruitment agencies indicate that personal assistants employed by the resources sector are likely to earn higher salaries. They may earn between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, while those working in the finance, accounting and legal industry may earn between $35,000 and $50,000 per annum.
Further Information
For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or enquire online