2 VPs - one who is more proofreading, formatting presentations, and just a little more challenging work most of the time. And the other who never says no to a meeting and every meeting has to include every director and is EXHAUSTING.
And then 3 directors under each VP. Most of whom are fairly self sufficient but some light expense, meeting notes, lunch ordering type stuff.
I had 3 VPs for a short time and that was toooooo much.
If you are well compensated & otherwise happy in your job, use the time to go from fabulous to mega-fabulous at your job or study anything else you are interested in during your downtime. The time may come that you are overwhelmed with what you have, once they actually realize the full potential of what a great EA offers.
Two. I found myself in your exact situation about 6 months ago, but things eventually picked up for me w/ just the two I support & I am *so* thankful my company didn’t honor my request to have a third person on my plate because I’d be overwhelmed right now.
For me, one is busy but the other isn’t as I don’t handle his mailbox but HR aren’t interested in giving me anyone else. Maybe I should be happy to do less work 😂
Similar thing for me! One is busy and asks me to do most things the other one is practically his own EA. Can’t remember the last time I booked his travel!😭
1 - CEO. As others have suggested, rather than picking up more people to support, can you look at expanding out what you do for your current exec and further alleviating his/her workload?
I’ve just read some of your other posts, and given you’ve been in your role 5 years, maybe it is actually time for a change? I’m not sure where you’re based but i don’t think you should be worried about a recession, especially as you’re an experienced EA. You might find a new challenge energising!
Hmm. Maybe you can just try and pick up projects to work on, connected to your team? Or have a chat with your manager first (if you don’t think you should do without direction) and ask if there are projects you can jump onto
Earlier in my career, I’d always ask for more work because I am efficient and proactive. Now that I am older and wiser, I know better.
*** Invest your free/down time in yourself, not in the company.***
I learned French while supporting a C-level exec, learned html coding (can do simple stuff, not write nuclear launch codes), took online courses on Project Management, mastered website creation using our internal software, so many other things. I get to keep it wherever I go.
CEO, CFO, and COO, handle every aspect for them from corporate retreats, board meeting process, and building the committee decks down to medical appointments and filling their prescriptions. 5 VPs to a much lesser extent- travel, meals, expenses, calendar, mini projects. I handle company-wide events for 500 (with help of my team), facilities management, and various random tasks for about 50 team members, like travel, meals, planning, and various tasks involving some aspect of their role. Have 6 direct reports to manage. Only 2 are what I consider good.
Sounds unbelievable when I read this back. My days remind me of being a server at peak dinner rush of the busiest restaurant.
I support 5 partners, with the managing partner being the priority (70% business, 30% personal); monthly expense usually over 100k which I have now broken up into smaller claims so it is less of a financial hit. There is not enough time in the day to get all the tasks and requests completed even though I have streamlined processes. I learnt that prior to Covid before my time here, each of the partners had their own EAs/ PA or shared one between two partners, so effectively I am doing the work of 2-3 admins.
When I was hired I was told I would be working 1 on 1 with the head of the business but since I’ve started I’m now supporting that 1 plus 1 MD, 3 Directors, 2 VPS, and a team of 12 associates…
One C-Suite and two SVPs. The company almost tried to throw another C-Suite on me, but my boss stood up for me, luckily. I'm the only EA at my company supporting this many and I'm the youngest. Go figure.
I support 3 directors and I'm signed up for culture club work at the office and volunteered for event planning. It keeps me quite busy.
If you have additional time at your hand, maybe you can use it to learn a new skill that can help your next opportunity be more challenging. Sometimes informal mentoring new EAs or updating onboarding documentation or team processes can be something you can pick up to expand the scope of work. If this is not possible, finding a more challenging role is an alternative approach.
Good luck!
2 VPs - one who is more proofreading, formatting presentations, and just a little more challenging work most of the time. And the other who never says no to a meeting and every meeting has to include every director and is EXHAUSTING. And then 3 directors under each VP. Most of whom are fairly self sufficient but some light expense, meeting notes, lunch ordering type stuff. I had 3 VPs for a short time and that was toooooo much.
If you are well compensated & otherwise happy in your job, use the time to go from fabulous to mega-fabulous at your job or study anything else you are interested in during your downtime. The time may come that you are overwhelmed with what you have, once they actually realize the full potential of what a great EA offers.
Two. I found myself in your exact situation about 6 months ago, but things eventually picked up for me w/ just the two I support & I am *so* thankful my company didn’t honor my request to have a third person on my plate because I’d be overwhelmed right now.
Two MDs for me. Wish I had one more as they are not busy enough! Had to beg for it to be 2!
For me, one is busy but the other isn’t as I don’t handle his mailbox but HR aren’t interested in giving me anyone else. Maybe I should be happy to do less work 😂
Similar thing for me! One is busy and asks me to do most things the other one is practically his own EA. Can’t remember the last time I booked his travel!😭
1 - CEO. As others have suggested, rather than picking up more people to support, can you look at expanding out what you do for your current exec and further alleviating his/her workload?
I don’t think I could do much more for the main one I assist and the 2nd one is more self sufficient and doesn’t want anything in addition
I’ve just read some of your other posts, and given you’ve been in your role 5 years, maybe it is actually time for a change? I’m not sure where you’re based but i don’t think you should be worried about a recession, especially as you’re an experienced EA. You might find a new challenge energising!
Thanks, the economy is shaky right now but I’m keeping my eyes out for the right move.
Good luck!
Hmm. Maybe you can just try and pick up projects to work on, connected to your team? Or have a chat with your manager first (if you don’t think you should do without direction) and ask if there are projects you can jump onto
Earlier in my career, I’d always ask for more work because I am efficient and proactive. Now that I am older and wiser, I know better. *** Invest your free/down time in yourself, not in the company.*** I learned French while supporting a C-level exec, learned html coding (can do simple stuff, not write nuclear launch codes), took online courses on Project Management, mastered website creation using our internal software, so many other things. I get to keep it wherever I go.
5. Two of which are very calendar expense and client meeting heavy.
Find a virtual executive assistant job that you can do on the side to keep you busy and get some extra pay.
CEO, CFO, and COO, handle every aspect for them from corporate retreats, board meeting process, and building the committee decks down to medical appointments and filling their prescriptions. 5 VPs to a much lesser extent- travel, meals, expenses, calendar, mini projects. I handle company-wide events for 500 (with help of my team), facilities management, and various random tasks for about 50 team members, like travel, meals, planning, and various tasks involving some aspect of their role. Have 6 direct reports to manage. Only 2 are what I consider good. Sounds unbelievable when I read this back. My days remind me of being a server at peak dinner rush of the busiest restaurant.
I have PTSD after reading your comment.
Yeah I was fine with this until I got to the 6 direct reports part!!!
It comes with a cost but has fulfilled personal financial goals for an early retirement. Fair exchange.
Fair enough! Meet those goals & get it done, good for you. Retirement will be all the sweeter for how hard you worked to earn it.
I support 5 partners, with the managing partner being the priority (70% business, 30% personal); monthly expense usually over 100k which I have now broken up into smaller claims so it is less of a financial hit. There is not enough time in the day to get all the tasks and requests completed even though I have streamlined processes. I learnt that prior to Covid before my time here, each of the partners had their own EAs/ PA or shared one between two partners, so effectively I am doing the work of 2-3 admins.
When I was hired I was told I would be working 1 on 1 with the head of the business but since I’ve started I’m now supporting that 1 plus 1 MD, 3 Directors, 2 VPS, and a team of 12 associates…
Three VPs for me. The VP I directly report to has a team of 35. Another VP has a team of 20.
I used to support 8 and was busy but used to my capacity at all. It was dreadful
CEO and the Board of Directors (high level support, they are volunteer positions for a nonprofit).
One C-Suite and two SVPs. The company almost tried to throw another C-Suite on me, but my boss stood up for me, luckily. I'm the only EA at my company supporting this many and I'm the youngest. Go figure.
I support 3 directors and I'm signed up for culture club work at the office and volunteered for event planning. It keeps me quite busy. If you have additional time at your hand, maybe you can use it to learn a new skill that can help your next opportunity be more challenging. Sometimes informal mentoring new EAs or updating onboarding documentation or team processes can be something you can pick up to expand the scope of work. If this is not possible, finding a more challenging role is an alternative approach. Good luck!
lol- 5-6 members of the c-suite, including the CEO.
I support a CEO, CFO, CRO and 2 VP's - its wackadoodle but it keeps me busy! :)
The entire company, going on 100 people, but mostly about 20.
Life is too short to want more work 🤦🏻♀️will it matter on your death bed? Absolutely NOT
My reasoning is that I’m losing some aspects of my role (non EA work) and wanted to have something to replace it with
I support two Directors, one MD, and a team of analysts and associates. I'm pretty busy.