Personal Assistant Level 3 Certificate

Discover the skills required for becoming a personal assistant (PA). You’ll learn about providing administrative support to staff within an organisation. In doing so, you’ll explore tasks you might undertake, workflow plans and KPIs. You’ll look at the process of maintaining office environments, health and safety, and risk assessments. Finally, you’ll consider technology in the workplace as well as look at examples of soft and hard skills.

Continue to look at examples of and the difference between hard and soft skills. You’ll learn the importance of transferable skills and the career options available to you as a PA. There will be closer examination of job titles, from legal and medical secretary to office assistant, receptionist, as well as working for high net worth individuals. Finally, you’ll consider the various responsibilities of a personal assistant, from taking minutes to booking flights.

Understand that the economy is split into three main sectors: Public, Private and Not-for-profit sectors. Looking at examples, you’ll gain insight into each sector, contemplate which is most attractive while identifying how that correlates with a chosen career path. Finally, you’ll consider the importance of setting career goals.

Appreciate the importance of effective diary management. Gain knowledge of the tools, benefits and uses of an office diary. You’ll also learn why diaries are vital elements for your executive’s working life when managing their daily activities. In relation to this, you’ll look at using diaries as gatekeepers, maintaining a professional approach, as well as respecting schedules, office hours and diary privacy. You’ll uncover settings in Outlook diary/calendar that require regular attention, such as privacy and syncing. Finally, you’ll learn about the term diary cascade.

Consider various factors required when coordinating business meetings. Discover the functions and limitations of the scheduling assistant on MS Outlook. You’ll also explore resource lists, information to include in the body of meeting invites, and what to think about before booking meeting venues. Finally, you’ll learn the difference between ‘water cooler’ and ‘general’ meetings, as well as the difference between ‘focus’ and ‘steering’ groups.

Review professional associations and the benefits of joining them for PAs. You’ll consider which associations are available globally, deciding factors for joining one, as well as levels of membership and membership application.

This unit focuses on business networking and looks at many channels of networking available. You’ll explore the benefits of networking, how to build contracts, and peer to peer relationships. Differentiate between specialist networking group and professional associations, as well as the difference between internal/external networking. Finally, you’ll know what’s meant by mentoring partnership and how to write elevator pitch for networking events.

Familiarise yourself with various elements of business travel, from where your manager may travel to the local transport infrastructure, airport hub, UK airports, and the research involved in planning successful travel. You’ll consider various classes of air travel, wi-fi for the business traveller, as well as the alternatives to business travel.

Gain knowledge of the City of London in further detail. You’ll discover the location of the London Stock Exchange and what is meant by the Square Mile. You’ll also consider rail travel, looking at London travel and principle fare zones, transport options the Oyster card can be used on, as well as the benefits of the Oyster card app. Find out more about the London Underground, the boroughs of each zone on the travel system, and London bus travel. Finally, you’ll look at postcodes in the City, serviced apartments and hotel accommodation.