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A career as a personal assistant

A personal assistant (PA) is a largely administrative role which requires an individual to provide support to a senior manager or director of a company.

The PA will need to develop a good working relationship with their boss, as the pair will need to operate on a one-to-one basis for much of their working day.

Furthermore, PAs will be expected to keep on top of their superior's needs and diary and often make arrangements for certain events without having been asked to - anticipating problems that may arise and ensuring they do not cause disruption to the smooth running of business operations.

In order to perform their job to the best of their abilities, PAs need a thorough understanding of their organisation and develop good relationships with key personnel.

On a typical working day a PA should expect to perform tasks such as screening telephone calls, meeting visitors of a variety of levels of seniority, organising diaries, taking dictation, noting the minutes of meetings, dealing with emails, producing documents and briefing papers, deputising for the manager and organising travel arrangements for their boss.

A PA applying for an online job and starting out in the industry should expect to earn between £17,000 and £24,000, depending on the size of the organisation they are employed by and the seniority of their immediate boss.

After ten to 15 years in the role their remuneration should rise to between £27,000 and £38,000, with salaries in London tending to be slightly higher.

Top personal assistants in London can earn up to £40,000 with additional benefits such as a company pension and private health care.

The hours tend to be nine to five, with some additional hours at busy times in the company, and PAs are usually employed on a contract basis.

However, there is scope for temp work, with PAs generally being hired on an hourly rate of between £10 and £15 per hour.

Furthermore, it is a profession largely dominated by women, although there is no reason a male should be unsuccessful in the role.

Key skills that PAs will need to demonstrate on their CV include shorthand, audio typing, foreign languages and excellent interpersonal skills.

Applicants for PA positions do not need to have a degree, but those who have studied for a degree in business studies may have increased chances of employment. Qualifications in subjects such as secretarial studies, business or management can also be an advantage.