Fresh Profile: Personal Assistant Jobs

Published on 2008-08-26

A personal assistant is hired by an individual to help relieve him or her of a busy workload. While once considered a luxury for the extremely wealthy, today more and more successful individuals call upon the aid of personal assistants to perform various duties. A personal assistant can be employed by top executives, high-profile individuals, celebrities, philanthropists, and socialites, just to name a few.

The specific duties of personal assistant jobs are determined by the person for whom the assistant works. The duties of a personal assistant to a business executive, for example, may include screening phone calls, scheduling appointments, answering letters and emails, writing reports and presentations, taking minutes, and making traveling arrangements. These positions may lead to more responsibility, especially for assistants who work in major corporations. But the characteristics of a personal assistant position go beyond the duties of a secretary. Sometimes, personal administrative assistants are required to assist in household duties and other personal errands such as picking up the dry cleaning and shopping. In fact, many people require assistants to make dinner reservations, manage their multiple homes and even call the handy man.

Personal assistants can also find jobs in entertainment and sports. Numerous celebrities and high-profile athletes hire personal assistants to help manage their professional and home life. These jobs combine skills that are usually associated with image consulting, marketing, public relations and technology services. Assistants must be able to handle everything from day-to-day business operations to crisis management issues.

Most job openings for executive and celebrity personal assistants usually require a college degree and years of experience. These positions tend to pay higher as the work load is very demanding. It is important to have thorough knowledge of the industry or company of the employer. Jobs can also be found by applying to agencies and firms that offer personal assistant services. Many agencies hire professionals from various fields. There are many part time jobs available for personal assistants for people who cannot afford to hire someone on a full time basis.

Since personal assistants are in fact lifestyle managers, they must be well organized and dependable. They must be able to handle a fast-paced environment and have a positive attitude at all times. Assistants should have excellent written and verbal communications skills and should be able to multi-task.

If you are looking for a personal assistant job, begin your job search today at Fresho.com. Find personal assistant jobs in Los Angeles, New York, or anywhere else in the U.S. in our extensive classifieds section. Don't forget to get a head start and post your resume online at Fresho.com!