An executive assistant (EA) is the person who protects an executive's time and attention so the leader can focus on the work only they can do. Day to day, you manage a calendar, arrange travel, draft emails and documents, prepare for meetings, screen visitors and calls, and chase down details before anyone asks. No license is required, and about 58% of workers have an associate's degree or a high school diploma, so you can get hired by proving skill rather than collecting degrees. The path is simple: master the core tools (Outlook or Google Workspace, Excel, PowerPoint), learn clear business w
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Stage 1 of 4 · about 10 weeks
Get fluent with the core office tools and business writing. Type accurately (aim for 50+ WPM), manage a practice inbox and calendar in Outlook or Google Calendar, write clear short emails (lead with the request, give a deadline), and format a clean memo and letter in Word or Google Docs. Drill: schedule a mock week for a fictional executive with 15 conflicting requests, then explain your choices.
Fast, accurate typing and keyboard fluency
Almost every task you will do, from emails to memos to minutes, runs through the keyboard. Accurate typing saves hours each week and means you spend your attention on thinking, not hunting for keys. Employers often screen with a typing test, and 50+ WPM at 95%+ accuracy is a common bar.
Inbox and calendar management (Outlook and Google Calendar)
An executive's email and calendar are their control panel. If you can keep both clean, accurate, and easy to read, you become useful on day one. This is the heart of the role, and a messy calendar costs real money and goodwill.
Clear, short business emails
Executives read email on phones between meetings. If your message is long or vague, it gets skipped or answered wrong. Clear writing is one of the top skills in your O*NET profile (Writing, Reading Comprehension), and it is how people judge your professionalism before they ever meet you.
Clean memos and letters in Word or Google Docs
Memos and letters are the formal face of your executive. A well-formatted document looks careful and trustworthy, and a sloppy one reflects badly on them. Document preparation is one of the core tasks of this occupation.
Scheduling judgment and explaining your choices
Anyone can drop meetings into slots. A good assistant weighs priorities, protects the executive's time, and can explain why. This habit of clear reasoning is what moves you from clerk to trusted partner, and it is what interviewers want to hear about.
Then 3 more stages (about 68 weeks in all) with lessons, drills, projects, 10 interview questions with strong answers and free resources.