How To Become A General Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a general assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A general assistant provides support to a company or individual. They perform administrative duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, managing emails, data entry, and organizing paperwork. They may also assist with event planning, travel arrangements, and social media management. A general assistant adapts to the needs of their employer and multitasks often. They work to ensure the smooth operation of an organization and may serve as the first point of contact for clients and customers.

ScoreGeneral AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,718

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 9.19%

Hispanic or Latino 16.09%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.32%

Gender

female 47.92%

male 52.08%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a general assistant?

Pros

Flexibility in terms of work location and schedule
Possibility of earning above-average pay
Variety of tasks and responsibilities
Ability to assist and support others in their goals
Sense of satisfaction from completing tasks and helping others

Cons

Potential for long hours and overtime work
May be seen as less skilled or important compared to other roles within an organization
May require extensive travel or relocation for certain assignments
Can be physically demanding, such as in manual labor roles
May require working outside of regular business hours, including weekends and holidays

Key steps to become a general assistant

Explore general assistant education requirements

Most common general assistant degrees

Bachelor's

51.0 %

Associate

15.8 %

High School Diploma

15.4 %

Start to develop specific general assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	17.41%
HR	12.27%
Payroll	6.93%
General Assistance	6.33%
Dental Procedures	6.16%

Complete relevant general assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a general assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general assistant resumes.

Gain additional general assistant certifications

General assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific general assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for general assistants include Dental Assistant (RDA) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research general assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage branches providing information technology support, logistics, training and operational support.
Improve and prepare visual presentation materials for executive-level meetings using PowerPoint.
Handle VIP arrangements, coordinate all interdepartmental meetings and correspondence, compile and produce reports for internal and external management.
Create personalization with customers through``Facebook"uploading various photos and upcoming events.

Prepare your general assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a general assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable general assistant resume templates

Build a professional general assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your general assistant resume.