There are several employment agencies placing Personal Assistant and other household staff. We’ve listed some on the Personal Assistant Resources & Insider Info page. Expect to pay agencies 25% or more of the first years’ salary. Some function as retained search firms, requiring a fee up front.
Many employers choose to hire direct by using online job posting sites or rely on word of mouth referrals. You’ll have to put a little more work into the screening and hiring process if you go this route.
Here’s a helpful and thoughtful article about working with a Personal Assistant: Would You Really Be More Productive With A Personal Assistant?
What to look for when hiring a Personal Assistant:
A good Personal Assistant “sees around the corners.” He or she should have a high level of emotional intelligence.
If your assistant will be handling a lot of your personal affairs and acting as a representative, you probably want to be sure that you share the same core values. A lot can be learned on the job, and your Personal Assistant may come to you with a toolbox full of skills and knowledge they’ve picked up along the way — but if you are looking at the world from a completely different perspective it is unlikely to be a rewarding partnership.
Nobody comes completely assembled and perfect right out of the box. Like any working relationship, it takes time and effort. Once you have ironed out many of the kinks, you’ll be amazed how wonderful it is to have a partner who can keep it all running smoothly.
How to determine what you need in a Personal Assistant:
Consider whether you need help with day-to-day life management such as:
- Laundry
- Dry cleaning and other basic errands
- Childcare
- Housekeeping
- Keeping your house stocked with supplies and groceries
- Eating healthy, balanced meals
- Bill paying, basic accounting
- Making personal care appointments
- Getting to/from airport or other driving in your area
- Basic vehicle maintenance
- Gift purchasing
- Gift wrapping
- Other miscellaneous items that are bogging you down — but things that must be done to lay a foundation for you to operate at a high level
** If you find most of what you need falls on this list, you could focus on hiring an entry level Personal Assistant, sometimes referred to as a “Family Assistant” or “Household Manager.” Expect to pay $70K to $100K per year.
OR do you need higher-level help:
- Calendar management — professional and/or personal
- Travel arrangements/creating detailed itineraries
- Travel escort
- Meeting coordination
- IT issues
- Project management
- Financial and investment management
- Budget management and purchasing
- Written communications
- Answer phone/email/reply to concerns when you’re not available
- Manage household staff
- Manage vehicle fleet, aircraft, boats
- Hiring outsider vendors — sourcing, negotiations, project oversight
- Entertainment planning
- Event production
- Supporting philanthropic ventures
- Property management — maintenance, design and construction oversight
- Gatekeeper
- Personal and property security
***If you find most of what you need falls on this list, you’ll probably want a full time Personal Assistant or Estate Manager – salaries typically range from $100K to $150K and up, with a full benefits package.
Posting a job opening to The Personal Assistant Network:
We welcome job postings to the member base of The Personal Assistant Network. There is no fee for employers hiring directly, or for The Personal Assistant Network members. Standard referral fees apply for recruiting agents. Please submit your “Help Wanted” ad to gwyn@thepanetwork.com.
No fishing please — legitimate job openings only. We may contact you to verify information.