Resources

Hiring a Personal Assistant can be transformative, boosting productivity, enhancing operations and giving you back valuable time. But finding the right person isn’t always straightforward. That’s why we created this expert-led guide.

Based on decades of specialist experience placing high-calibre PAs across the UK, our How to Hire Your Perfect PA guide walks you through the full hiring journey, from writing the job spec to onboarding your new hire.

This isn’t a generic hiring checklist. It’s a detailed, actionable guide written specifically for hiring PAs and Executive Support professionals. Inside, you’ll discover:

• The key benefits of hiring a PA—and when it’s the right time
• What today’s top PAs really want (salary benchmarks, flexibility, training and more)
• How to write an effective job description that attracts the right candidates
• Interview questions to assess skills, cultural fit and real-life thinking
• Sample tests to help you choose between finalists
• Onboarding tips to ensure a smooth transition and long-term success

A high-performing PA can become an extension of you, protecting your time, driving productivity and creating space for strategic work. The wrong hire, however, can be costly. Our guide helps you avoid common mistakes and gives you clarity on:

• How to define the role
• How to pitch it competitively in the market
• How to assess beyond experience (think: personality, values, and adaptability)
• How to stand out as an employer of choice

At Lily Shippen, we specialise in placing exceptional Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants and business support professionals across London, Manchester and throughout the UK. We understand what makes a great PA and what it takes to recruit one.

This guide draws on our deep experience working with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to FTSE-listed organisations. Whether you’re hiring for a remote-first role or a fast-paced board-level position, we’re here to help.