Considering a Move from HR to Executive Assistant: Is It the Right Career Step for Me?

Hello, my name is Meenakshi. I have been working in HR and recruitment for the past 8-9 years. I have recently been offered an opportunity as an Executive Assistant (EA) in a very reputable company. I am seeking your advice on whether I should accept this position. Will it benefit my future career growth? Although the role involves some recruitment tasks, they are minimal. I find this position intriguing, but I am unsure about what decision to make.

Pros and Cons of Transitioning to an EA Role

I would appreciate it if you could outline the pros and cons of transitioning to an EA role. Can a Recruiter successfully transition to an EA role?

I am eagerly awaiting your prompt response.

Regards,
Meenakshi

The EA role is typically limited to the Secretary to MD position only. Firstly, you need to clarify with them whether they are offering you solely the EA role or if it includes some HR responsibilities.

In my opinion, the EA role offers less career growth potential compared to HR or Recruitment roles. After gaining experience as an EA, there may be a lack of further career advancement opportunities or the chance to handle higher-level responsibilities.

I have a friend with over 4 years of experience as an EA to a Director who is now actively seeking to transition into an HR role. She has even attended training programs to facilitate this career shift.

With Regards,
Ritu Rani
HR

I have worked in a similar profile. The exposure and perks may be very good, but in terms of career progression, it will be difficult if you eventually aim to get into an admin/HR role.

Career Growth Comparison: HR vs. EA

Look at it this way - an HR executive can grow and reach up to the level of manager, VP, or head-HR, but an EA can't really grow in terms of seniority. They can't become a manager or head of EAs. The career growth gets stunted, so give it a thought!  All the best!

Learning is everywhere, whether it is in the recruitment domain or in some other profile. But you have to decide what you want to do in your future. If you talk about the scope in recruitment, the possibility is a bit higher than in an office assistant profile. In terms of salary and incentives, recruitment will have better chances.

Both profiles are different. In an office assistant role, you may have the opportunity to transition into Admin or HR Generalist roles too, but that depends on the company's requirements. You can go ahead and seize the opportunity to learn new things, but make sure to check the job responsibilities first.

Good luck.