Being a PA or EA can often feel like a very individual role – and many companies only keep one PA even as they grow and scale up. You’re likely the person everyone turns to for answers while having very few people who understand what your day-to-day work actually involves. This is why joining a professional PA network can make a difference. Connecting with other assistants allows you to share ideas, learn from other people’s experiences and build long-lasting relationships. From executive assistant networking to mentoring and informal peer support, there are plenty of reasons to get involved.
Why does networking matter for PAs and EAs?
Networking isn’t simply about meeting as many people as possible or collecting LinkedIn connections. For assistants, it can be an opportunity to connect with people who understand the challenges and responsibilities of the role.
Other PAs and EAs may have dealt with the same situations you’re facing – from managing a particularly demanding diary to finding your next career move.
A strong professional network can give you access to:
- Advice from people with similar experience
- New perspectives on common challenges
- Industry knowledge and best practice
- Career opportunities and introductions
- Mentoring and professional development
- A sense of community and peer support
If networking doesn’t come naturally to you, our practical guide to networking at events for PAs has some simple ways to make it feel more comfortable and worthwhile.
Learn from others
One of the biggest advantages of joining an assistant network is the opportunity to learn from your peers.
A PA working in financial services may have completely different responsibilities from an EA supporting a CEO in a technology company, but there will often be plenty of overlap. You might wonder how they manage their executive’s diary, how they organise complex travel of what tools they use.
These conversations can introduce you to approaches you may not have considered yourself.
Professional networks can also help you keep up with changes affecting the role, from new technology and AI to evolving expectations around the strategic contribution of assistants. Professional bodies such as the Institute of Administrative Management also provide resources, development opportunities and support for people working in administrative and business support roles.
Consider PA mentoring
Sometimes you don’t need another course or qualification to get better at your job – you simply need to talk to someone who has been there before.
PA mentoring can provide a more personal form of professional development, giving you the opportunity to learn from someone with experience in the role or at a career stage you’re working towards. A mentor can help you with a career move, when you’re taking on additional responsibilities or dealing with a difficult situation at work. They don’t necessarily need to have all the answers either. Sometimes having someone ask the right questions can help you work out your own next step.
For EAs, executive assistant mentoring can be particularly useful as the role becomes more senior and strategic. Speaking to someone who has already navigated that progression can provide a different perspective on where your career could go.
Build confidence through your network
Networking can also help you become more confident in your professional identity.
When you regularly speak to other assistants, you get to hear how they describe their roles, responsibilities and achievements. This can be particularly useful if you’re preparing for a performance review, asking for a promotion or updating your CV.
You may also discover that responsibilities you consider “just part of the job” are actually valuable skills – stakeholder management, project coordination, problem-solving, negotiation and strategic support, for example.
Our guide to networking dos and don’ts explores how to build genuine professional relationships rather than treating networking as a numbers game.
Find opportunities through your community
A professional network can also open doors that you wouldn’t necessarily find through a traditional job search.
People recommend people. A conversation at an event could lead to an introduction, a mentoring relationship, a new supplier contact or even your next career opportunity.
That doesn’t mean you should approach every networking event thinking about what you can get from it. The strongest professional relationships tend to develop naturally when you contribute as well as receive – sharing your own experience, recommending others and staying in touch.
How PA Life Club can support your network
For PAs and EAs looking to build their professional network, PA Life Club provides a dedicated community where assistants can connect with peers, attend events and access opportunities designed around the assistant profession.
The Club gives members opportunities to meet other PAs and EAs through networking events such as our FAM trips and experiences, while also providing a space to share knowledge and build professional relationships.
For someone who works in a role where you’re often the only assistant in the room, having a wider community to turn to can be particularly valuable.
Make networking part of your career development
You don’t need to attend every event or become the most outgoing person in the room to build a useful professional network.
Start by finding communities and events that are relevant to you. Speak to people whose careers or experiences interest you, follow up afterwards and stay in touch. Over time, those individual conversations can develop into genuine professional relationships.
Whether you’re looking for a mentor, career advice, new ideas or simply other people who understand the role, an assistant network can become a valuable part of your professional life.
Your network doesn’t have to be huge. It just needs to be made up of people you can learn from, support and stay connected with as your career develops.
