Driving Your Career: How EAs Can Take Charge and Get Promoted

Driving Your Career: How EAs Can Take Charge and Get Promoted

EA career progression isn't always linear or clearly defined, which means you're in the driver's seat. With the right mindset and strategy, you can transform your current role into a platform for growth and promotion.

Career Growth Options for EAs:

Career development might mean:

• Supporting more senior executives

• Taking on strategic projects

• Moving into a Chief of Staff or Operations role

• Expanding into specialised functional areas

• Becoming an internal trainer or mentor
  

Five Strategies for Career Advancement

1.     Own Your Development

• Reflect on what excites you about your role

• Identify skills that would make you more valuable

• Take courses and attend professional forums

• Define what you want to be known for
  

2.     Make Your Impact Visible

• Track your achievements and efficiencies

• Request and leverage feedback

• Share your expertise with others

• Connect your work to business strategy
  

3.     Seek High-Impact Projects

• Volunteer for executive offsites or board preparation

• Participate in business continuity planning

• Contribute to culture initiatives

• Join cross-functional projects
  

4.     Build Strategic Relationships

• Cultivate trust with senior stakeholders

• Find mentors who can offer guidance

• Develop your professional network

• Be known for adding value, not just task completion
  

5.     Ask for What You Want

• Have direct career conversations

• Express your ambitions clearly

• Request new opportunities

• Frame growth as beneficial for the business
  

Key Takeaway: Career progression for EAs isn't a waiting game—it's a leadership mindset. Whether you aim for promotion, increased influence, or a new role entirely, the first step is seeing yourself as the CEO of your own career.