Should You Hire a Part-Time or Full-Time Executive Assistant?
When choosing whether you need a full-time or part-time Executive Assistant, it’s important to make the right decision for your business. In addition to the regular differences between full-time and part-time employees, assistants have special considerations you should think about: like your own experience in working with an assistant, your goals for the position, or the nature of your specific business.
At 33Vincent, we have extensive experience with both full-time and part-time Executive Assistants, so we know the nitty-gritty details of how different types of employment will affect your level of support. This full list should help you decide which is right for you!
The Pros of Part-Time Executive Assistant Support
Your Candidate Pool is Greatly Expanded
Many people don’t realize that part-time work has a hidden benefit: it opens the door to a talent pool you would otherwise totally miss!
There are many different kinds of people with incredible talent and experience that have long been overlooked by the standard 9-to-5. Part-time work allows you to consider people like moms re-entering the workforce, caregivers who have disabled family members or aging parents, grad students still studying, or those that are extremely skilled but not-quite-retired. The list is endless—and so is your talent pool when you open it up to part-time work!
It’s Perfect for Flexible or Seasonal Support
Depending on your type of business and your specific needs, you may not want EA to support year-round! If that’s the case, a part-time EA is a perfect solution. With a part-time EA, you can get high-quality, experienced support when you need it without being locked into paying a salary and benefits when you don’t.
Organizations in the education field are a perfect example of when seasonal or flexible support is the solution. While those in higher education often do work year-round, they might need less support during spring or summer breaks.
33Vincent’s services shine particularly bright here; even if you temporarily decrease your hours, you won’t have to re-hire your Executive Assistant!
Part-Time is More Economical
Let’s be honest, the cost is a major factor in most business decisions. Not only are full-time workers more expensive in general, but there are also many hidden overhead costs from benefits like healthcare, workers comp, sick leave, etc.
For some businesses, a part-time Executive Assistant is the most economical solution! Hiring support that is high-quality, efficient, and experienced without the hidden overhead costs can be a game-changer—especially for small businesses.
It’s a Great Way to Try-Out Support
Maybe you’re not sure if you need an Executive Assistant—or you’ve never had one before. Whatever the case, adding a part-time EA is a great way to determine your specific needs. There is nothing worse than hiring a full-time EA only to realize that you don’t really need that level of support!
Taking EA support for a test drive with a part-time Executive Assistant allows you to figure out if having an assistant is right for you, and it’s also a great way to figure out the level of support you require. Trust us—there is nothing worse than downgrading someone’s hours or letting them go because you overestimated your needs!
The Pros of Full-Time Executive Assistant Support
Dedicated, Long Term Support
Whether you’ve worked with an Executive Assistant before or just know you need the support, hiring a full-time EA is a great way to ensure you have the dedicated support you need for the long haul. One of the perks of making the jump from part-time to full-time support is that your EA is now your employee—which can lead to more long-term project ownership and a greater commitment to your business.
Support is More Consistent
Full-time Executive Assistant support builds consistency and can lead to better long-term planning. A full-time EA will be better tuned into the inner workings of your business and the day-to-day operations. This enables them to make more proactive decisions on your behalf because they are in tune with your work rhythms. This also leads to greater consistency in scheduling, communication, and work product.
Full-Time Assistants Are More Cost-Effective
While a part-time EA may be more economical, a full-time EA is equally, if not more, cost-effective. Depending on your company policies, the larger your pool of employees is, the lower your cost of benefits per employee becomes. The extra overhead can also pay for itself, since full-time employees also produce more work products, take on more responsibilities over time, and develop skills that help scale your business.
Full-Time Assistants Have an Increased Capacity
One big perk of a full-time Executive Assistant is the increased capacity. They are not limited by a block of hours and can generally handle larger and more complex projects or responsibilities. By leveraging their skills and time, they can tackle the long-term or ongoing projects and tasks that a part-time assistant just doesn’t have time for.
A great example of where a full-time EA can lean in to achieve results is in project management. They will know the stakeholders, the goals, and can effectively manage a specific project from start to finish—freeing up large amounts of executive time!
33Vincent’s Unique Part-Time Solution
Our "Virtual Executive Assistant Support” service is best-in-class.
We excel at providing the most flexible, highest-quality assistance possible. All of our Executive Assistants are highly skilled and US-based. We’re also very selective: our applicants face a rigorous testing period that only around 1% pass! Then we use our custom matching process to ensure you get paired with an EA that shares your goals and values.
Our part-time Executive Assistants are all virtual, allowing us to attract the best talent in the industry while also being extremely flexible. We offer varying hourly packages so you can scale your support up, down, or sideways as your needs change—all while keeping the same assistant so no retraining is involved!
33Vincent’s Custom Full-Time Solution
Our Executive Assistant Search is a turnkey solution for recruiting full-time Executive Assistants—whether in-person or remote.
We’ll work with you to understand your organization’s culture and goals—creating a custom job search to match your specific needs. Then we utilize the same testing and vetting process we use to find our own world-class EAs, rolling up the top 3-5 candidates for you to review and choose who you believe is the best fit!
Whether you need full-time, part-time, in-person, or virtual—we have you covered! We’ll help you identify the best option for your needs, and then match you with a rockstar Executive Assistant that shares your mission, vision, and values.
“We've been working with [our 33V EA] for a year now, and she has become an essential part of our team. In addition to being super smart, attentive, and proactive, she's taught us how to be more efficient with our work. She's been steady and responsive amidst the natural ebbs and flows of our business in a way that feels like an art form. I am grateful for [her} assistance Every. Single. Day.”
- Julianna Christie CTO | Crafted Leadership
33Vincent has many other resources to help you maximize your time and communication with your executive assistant.