How to Become a Project Assistant: Career Path Guide
To become a project assistant, you need to begin by determining if this career is right for you. If you are interested in an entry-level career with plenty of room for growth, and you enjoy working in a team environment, this career may be well suited for you.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to succeed in a career as a project assistant. We've also included helpful information for a project assistant career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Project Assistant
The position of Project Assistant is an entry-level job staffed in almost every industry, and because of this, the education necessary to become a project assistant typically varies by industry. If you have topical education or interest in a certain area, you can typically apply for a project assistant in that area.
Please Note: The educational requirements to become a project assistant can vary greatly, depending on the nature of the project, the employer, and many other factors.
Project Assistant Job Description
Project assistants are responsible for providing administrative support to project directors and project managers to help ensure the project is completed within timeline and budgetary restrictions. They typically perform tasks such as creating reports, proofreading documents, conducting research, managing files and collecting data. Project assistants may work on small or large projects on behalf of private companies, government agencies and other organizations.
Project Assistant Job Duties
• Disseminate project information to stakeholders
• Develop and maintain project deliverables under the direction of the project manager or project director
• Collect and input data into databases
• Take notes during meetings
• Prepare meeting materials, including reports, presentations and agendas
• Make travel and accommodation arrangement for training seminars, conferences and other project related events
• Respond to stakeholder inquiries
Qualifications Needed to Become a Project Assistant
To become a project assistant, your resume will need to show that you have the competencies and work experience to be able to do the job effectively, while also demonstrating some level of interest in the industry the employer operates within.
The specific skills you will need to be an effective project assistant can usually be gained through college, university or trade school coursework, as well as previous work experience.
In certain professional and specialty industries becoming a project assistant often requires additional credentials. For example, some jobs will require an applicant to have experience with certain project management software, while other positions will necessitate formal education credentials, such as an associate's or bachelor's degree.
Project Assistant Salary
The salary levels for project assistants can vary greatly depending on many factors, such as the duties pertaining to the specific job, the level of experience and education of the assistant, where they work and many others.
It is difficult to determine the exact salary level of project assistants, as there is now specific and reliable data for this occupational group available. We can however provide salary information for the closely related careers of Administrative Assistant and General Office Clerk, as many of the duties are consistent with the duties of a Project Assistant.
Project Assistant Salary Alberta: According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the General Office Clerks occupational group earned on average from $17.14 to $28.85 an hour.
Project Assistant Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of workers in the Secretaries and Administrative Assistants occupational group is $34,660 per year (2010 figures).
Skills Needed to Become a Project Assistant
There are a few skills that are crucial to have if you want to become a project assistant, including:
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency with basic office computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel
• Must be punctual
• Must be able to take direction
• Must be highly organized
Industries of Employment for Project Assistants
Project assistants are hired by any type of organization that undertakes a special project large enough that extra administrative assistance is needed. These organizations are typically found in the following types of organizations:
• Public Administration
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• Educational Services
• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing
• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction
• Construction
• Management, Administrative and Other Support Services
• Repair, Personal, Religious and Other Services
• Wholesale Trade
Careers Similar to Project Assistant
Listed below are jobs that are similar in nature to that of a project assistant, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
References
Please consult the following references to learn more about what project assistants do, and how you can get started in this field:
Occupations in Alberta: “Administrative Assistant.” (March 31, 2019). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
Administrative Jobs: “Project Administrator vs. Project Assistant.” Lisa McQuerrey (July 1, 2018). Houston Chronicle website. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
Please Note: Some of the information for this career guide was gathered from actual job postings, which due to the brief nature of their online presence, are not listed here as sources.
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Scholarships for Becoming a Project Assistant
Scholarships listed for majors that apply to becoming a Project Assistant can be found on our All Scholarships by Major page.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Becoming a Project Assistant: Applicable Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point to becoming a project assistant. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
