subject: Making A Career As A Personal Assistant [print this page] A personal assistant, also known as a PA, is an individual responsible for providing on-going administrative support to the director or some other senior figure of a company. The personal assistant helps the directors and other seniors with their daily tasks for reducing their workload.
A personal assistant has to fulfil a wide range of duties and responsibilities and they are responsible for running an organisation smoothly. No matter if it is a small or a large firm, the role of a personal assistant can be quite wide varied and challenging.
If you are looking for office work in Essex, you can think about becoming a personal assistant. The services of a PA are required in many fields. Public figures such as politicians and celebrities often require the assistance of a personal assistant.
Working as a personal assistant means you would have to be responsible for managing both your employers personal and professional life.
How much salary can you expect as a personal assistant?
A personal assistants salary will depend on his/her experience and can significantly vary depending on the location. Being a personal assistant you may expect to earn a starting salary of 18,000 to 25,000 per annum. Those working for large organisations may expect to earn a salary of 30,000 to 40,000 per annum.
What responsibilities does a personal assistant have to handle?
A personal assistants responsibilities include many things and they have quite a demanding job. Some of the responsibilities of a personal assistant are:
Taking instructions that are provided by the managers and finishing required tasks
Sorting and answering telephone calls and also managing enquiries
Managing faxes, emails, posts as well as issuing responses where it is possible
Acting as a primary point of contact
Organising diaries and booking appointments
Assisting managers with meetings as well as arranging logistics such as accommodation and travel
Undertaking researches and producing documents for meetings
Taking notes at meetings
Producing letters, and if required, reports on behalf of the manager
Overseeing office procedures
Performing administrative tasks and other specific duties such as photocopying and filing and so on
As a personal assistant, you may also be responsible for:
Overseeing some financial aspects
Managing office teams and also monitoring project work
Maintaining personal diaries as well as running some other errands
Recruiting as well as training the other members of the staff
What qualifications are required to become a personal assistant?
A personal assistants qualifications may vary greatly. However, in order to become a personal assistant, you will generally require the following qualifications:
5 GCSEs including maths and English
IT proficiency
Audio typing and shorthand skills are always going to work to your advantage
Fluency or basic knowledge in foreign languages will always be a boost to your resume
Other than these, you can also get a diploma in administrative procedures or a higher professional diploma in business administration. Individuals looking to work in an office in Cambridge may apply for the post of a personal assistant.
