Have the ability to work to tight deadlines, in an everchanging environment
Be confident and articulate when speaking to clients
Have a high standard of written English
Be an excellent multi-tasker
It's always a good idea to add an overview of the company at the start of the job spec and a summary at the end, to sell the role to the potential employee.
Hiring a Personal Assistant can have a multitude of benefits for you and your wider business. Personal Assistants are a fantastic way of getting the most out of your day, ensuring that you utilise your time as effectively as possible and can focus on growing your business, whilst they adeptly manage the everyday demands of seamlessly running an office.
We know that as a busy executive or overworked entrepreneur, with a seemingly never-ending "to-do" list, your time is precious. In fact, we'd argue that time is your most valuable asset. We constantly hear business owners say that there aren't enough hours in the day or that they wish they had another pair of hands. Hiring a Personal Assistant is the perfect solution to this problem; the right PA hire will be indispensable to you and your wider company, maximising your time and productivity and ensuring you prioritise the tasks that motivate you and enhance your business.
Every moment you can free up to focus on the growth and development of your business counts. A successful PA is a true extension of you and, over time, will be able to anticipate your needs and have everything in place, without you having to think about the minutiae.
Personal Assistant salaries can range depending on location, responsibilities and the level of experience that you are looking for. In London, PA salaries range from £35,000 to £45,000, on average, for permanent roles, with contract rates of £17 - £22 per hour. Whereas, in Manchester, permanent PA roles typically attract salaries of circa £28,000 - £32,000, with contract rates coming in at £14 - £16 per hour. This is a similar story across the UK, with permanent PA positions in the regions averaging at £27,000 - £32,000, or £14 - £16 per hour for temporary contracts.
The role of a Personal Assistant and Executive has evolved so much in the last decade. Technology has aided this evolution, as PAs and EAs can be far more strategic with technology replacing the typically more administrative parts of their role.
It is worth noting that job titles differ across industries and organisations, and someone who is carrying out an Executive Assistant role could have the job title of Personal Assistant.
A Personal Assistant (PA) is someone who supports their executive(s) with duties to ensure their personal life and/or business life runs smoother. These duties range from managing diaries to coordinating meetings, booking travel and more.
An Executive Assistant (EA) is typically someone who supports their executive in a more proactive way. An Executive Assistant should be an extension of their boss, and will often make important decisions on their behalf.
You can read more about the role of an Executive Assistant (EA) here.
What will the future of the EA role look like?
Our most extensive whitepaper to date explores how the role has evolved and what the future holds for the profession.
It won't surprise you that a bad hire can be expensive
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