Becoming a Personal Assistant
What is a Personal Assistant?
A Personal Assistant, commonly referred to as a PA, is a junior member of staff that assists a superior member of staff. As a young graduate, a Personal Assistant position is a perfect place to start in a company. You will have the opportunity to ‘learn the business’ from your superior and also gain valuable insight into all the aspects of business that a tertiary education does not give you. Personal Assistants are now key players in all major businesses globally.
An efficient PA will assist with the ‘smaller things’ that will help the executive’s daily schedule run smoother. There is a broad spectrum of tasks that the Personal Assistant takes care of – scheduling meetings to organizing transportation are typical Personal Assistant duties. A personal assistant is also expected to monitor incoming calls and messages, assign tasks to other junior employees and prioritize his or her employer’s schedule. Running personal errands may also be part of a Personal Assistant’s duties.
How to be a good Personal Assistant
To do their jobs well, all Personal Assistants must apply excellent organizational skills, tact, diplomacy, and effective communication skills. PA’s will often be expected to maintain confidentiality in sensitive matters, and display excellent perception. These are the same ‘soft’ skills required for many other professional roles, such as middle management, public relations, and high-level administrative assistance. The best Personal Assistants have the ability to anticipate their employer’s needs and take care of them before they are asked to do so.
In many cases Personal Assistant jobs may present the opportunity for you to broaden your horizons in other positions within the company. Many business PA’s are asked to consider permanent positions elsewhere in the company depending on the level of ambition and education displayed.