what is a personal assistant?
A personal assistant provides administrative support to a manager, executive, or individual employer. However, unlike other administrative assistants, you also complete personal tasks on behalf of your employer. As a personal assistant, you focus on one individual and help them with their routines. Personal assistants act as the first point of contact with other employees and relay information from a manager to a team.
As a personal assistant, your role is to handle repetitive tasks so that an employer can focus on strategic duties. You deal with phone calls and respond to emails on behalf of a manager or other professional. You manage schedules and organize meetings and appointments to control access to executives and managers. Personal assistants also relay information and prioritize correspondence.
Personal assistants often work for a company but can also work for private individuals to help them organize their schedules. When you work for an individual, you plan their professional and personal routines. Your duties extend to maintaining your employer's personal life, including hiring cleaners and home employees and scheduling home maintenance.
Whether you work for an individual or a company, the role requires irregular work hours, depending on the level of support the manager or executive needs. Working as a personal assistant requires excellent time management and organizational skills.
Would working as a personal assistant suit your time management skills? Then, read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a personal assistant role.
view jobs near youaverage personal assistant salary
The salary of a personal assistant ranges from about $23,000 to $80,000 per year. Entry-level positions pay a lower salary of $23,300 annually, while personal assistants with experience take home over $80,000 yearly. The average salary is over $50,000 per year. Apart from salaries, some employers provide benefits and allowances to incentivize workers.
factors affecting a personal assistant salary
Personal assistants' salaries depend on several factors, such as the industry, credentials, and work experience. You would probably earn more when you have experience working in a specific industry. For example, if you work in financial services, for law firms, or consultancy companies, your compensation package is higher due to the complexity of the role.
Your education, skills, and experience also influence your earnings. If you demonstrate the ability to alleviate administrative pressures and anticipate the needs of employers, you can demand a higher salary.
Your location also influences your earnings. For instance, personal assistants in San Francisco or New York have higher salaries due to the higher demand and cost of living. Personal assistants who work in rural areas earn lower salaries.
Wondering what you can earn as a personal assistant? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a personal assistant is.
types of personal assistants
There are several types of personal assistants, including:
- administrative assistant: As an administrative assistant, you provide administrative support to managers. However, your role focuses on helping manage office workers or the administrator's team. You handle phone calls and complete clerical tasks to ensure the office runs smoothly.
- executive assistant: An executive assistant is a personal assistant with a more complex role. Unlike a personal assistant, who organizes schedules and meetings, an executive assistant has such responsibilities as hiring and firing employees. Executive assistants are also involved in developing strategies for running the office and managing other administrative assistants.
- chief executive assistant: A chief executive assistant is like a personal operations officer for an executive. They know all the players in the business and advise managers on the best strategies to pursue. They also take meetings on behalf of senior-level executives and have more authority to make decisions.
working as a personal assistant
If you're interested in a dynamic career working with senior management in the top echelons of a company, you should consider becoming a personal or executive assistant. Your decision-making skills will be challenged as you balance keeping your employer on schedule and working with company staff, clients, and suppliers on multiple projects and events.
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personal assistant job description
The responsibilities of a personal assistant include:
- receiving phone calls and correspondence: As a personal assistant, you are the first point of contact for your employer. You are in charge of receiving phone calls from internal or external clients. You also read emails and prioritize communication for the manager or executive. All correspondence and communication with your employer go through your desk.
- managing work schedules: As a personal assistant, you are in charge of organizing calendars and managing the work schedule of the executive. For instance, you record the meetings, events, and appointments the manager needs to attend and remind them before the meeting. When the manager cancels an appointment, you inform the parties involved.
- taking meeting minutes and transcribing: As a personal assistant, you take minutes during appointments or meetings to ensure the executive has accurate records. You also take dictations from the manager and transcribe them.
- making travel arrangements: A personal assistant is in charge of organizing a manager's travel arrangements. You plan transportation and accommodations by booking flights, rental cars, and hotel accommodations, if necessary.
- planning events and conferences: If your executive is planning a conference or event, you complete most of the tasks and run errands to prepare for the event. Organizing an event can involve sourcing vendors, budgeting for various items, and sending invitations. You also organize transportation to the venue for those attending.
- preparing and filing reports: A personal assistant writes reports, sends emails, and prepares presentations on behalf of the manager. This role also involves filing reports and maintaining the database by backing up important office records.
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personal assistant work environment
Most personal assistants work in an office environment, but there are exceptions. Personal assistants who work with wealthy families, politicians, or celebrities work in homes instead of offices. Construction contractors sometimes employ personal assistants to help with paperwork and interface with clients. This role requires you to travel to work sites, work with laborers, and meet with clients.
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who are your colleagues?
Whether you work for an individual or an organization, your colleagues might include administrative assistants, office coordinators, typists, and office managers. You may also work with paralegals and bookkeepers, as well as other specialists like accountants, caretakers, and administrators.
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work schedule
Most personal assistants work regular business hours. However, you should be flexible when deadlines are coming up or during peak seasons. Many employers offer flexible time and work-from-home options. As a personal assistant, you can work remotely from home since many tasks are computer-based. There are also part-time opportunities in this field.
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job outlook for personal assistant
Most personal assistants advance to higher roles or specialize in particular sectors. For example, some personal assistants develop their skills to become executive assistants before moving on to office manager or administrator roles. Some personal assistants specialize in business sectors, then become legal assistants before progressing to paralegal roles. Executive personal assistants earn over $70,000 per year on average, an encouraging trend for this occupation.
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benefits of working for randstad as a personal assistant
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a personal assistant is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
personal assistant skills and education
To become a personal assistant, you need the following qualifications:
- education: Personal assistants usually have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate. Some positions require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business administration or related fields. To distinguish their skills, personal assistants also acquired certification from the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
- work experience: Personal assistants often acquire some administrative work experience in entry-level jobs such as a receptionist or administrative assistant. You should have experience using computers, MS Office, printers, and copiers and working in an office environment. Work experience in a specific industry, such as public relations, is also a benefit when applying for a job in that field.
skills and competencies
Personal assistants require specific skills, talents, and abilities to become successful.
- organization: Most personal assistants need to multitask and manage multiple projects in various stages of completion. Being able to prioritize tasks will help you succeed in this position.
- flexibility: Things rarely go as planned. This is true in business as well as in life. As a personal assistant, you should be able to think quickly and make decisions to keep projects on track.
- tact and discretion: Not all managers are easy to work with. It is tempting to vent frustrations to co-workers or on social media. However, it is always best to refrain from discussing the negative aspects of your job, except with the most trusted individuals.
- written and verbal communication: Any instructions you provide to staff, clients, and suppliers should be clear and concise, whether the instructions are written or spoken.
- attention to detail: Personal assistants make detailed plans related to schedules and travel arrangements. They also develop detailed presentations and documents for managers and executives.
- time management: To be a successful personal assistant, your manager must trust that any assignments are completed on time and efficiently. One of the main reasons managers employ personal assistants is to delegate administrative duties. A primary responsibility will be effectively arranging your manager’s schedule.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides helpful information about pursuing this career and the required skills and qualifications.
FAQs about working as a personal assistant
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about working as a personal assistant.
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what are the duties and responsibilities of a personal assistant?
A personal assistant acts as the point of contact between managers, clients, and the office. You will handle the calls and scheduling for a manager or an executive, make travel arrangements, and produce reports. Other responsibilities include using a computer, taking minutes and notes, managing a calendar, acquiring office supplies, and paying bills.
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what are the hours for a personal assistant?
A personal assistant usually works regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a 40-hour work week. However, you may need to sometimes work overtime and on weekends. Personal assistants also work different schedules during a busy season for a particular field, such as accounting.
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what is the difference between a personal assistant and an executive assistant?
A personal assistant works closely with a manager, and your work may require personal duties, such as grocery shopping or making personal appointments. Personal assistants usually perform some household-related duties, whereas executive assistants normally do not. An executive assistant reports to one or more executives and is primarily responsible for office-related duties, such as answering calls and preparing office documents and correspondence.
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what qualifications does a personal assistant need?
A high school or GED diploma is the standard requirement to become a personal assistant. However, many personal assistants obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to become a more compelling candidate. Personal assistants may also pursue a certificate program to gain education and real-life experience.
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is the role of a personal assistant a good career choice?
Being a personal assistant is both rewarding and challenging. As a personal assistant, you perform multiple duties and develop skills that allow you to succeed in business and other fields. A personal assistant interacts with many people, which allows you to build a professional network. Personal assistants gain access to multiple career advancement opportunities, but working as a personal assistant consists of deadlines and attention to detail, which can be challenging.
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how do I find a job as a personal assistant?
Applying for a personal assistant job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our financial analyst jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state of the art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
